Galanthus ‘Brian Mathew’

 A snowdrop with rather good botanical pedigree. This is a fine, substantial form of G. elwesii, producing large, shapely flowers on comparatively short scapes, with the widely spaced white outer segments allowing the bold green markings of the inner segments to remain visible even when the flower is closed. The foliage is particularly handsome: strong, upright and blue-grey, giving the plant a distinctive appearance even before flowering. It is reputedly a slow increaser, but one that rewards patience.

The plant originated with the eminent bulb botanist Brian Frederick Mathew (1936–), who passed it to Ray Cobb. With Mathew’s approval, Cobb subsequently named it in his honour; it was first offered commercially by North Green Snowdrops in 2008. 

A particularly appropriate namesake. Mathew worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, specialising in bulbous plants and the petaloid monocots, and became one of the most influential British writers on bulbs. His many publications included major works on Crocus, Iris, Helleborus, Daphne and Lewisia, as well as The Smaller Bulbs. He was awarded the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour in 1991 and an MBE in 2005. 

Hardiness: H6 –20 to –15°C
Height: 15–20 cm
Spread: 10–15 cm
Flowers: January–February