Galanthus elwesii ‘Deer Slot’

One of those snowdrops where the name is almost as entertaining as the plant. Deer Slot is an impressive Galanthus elwesii, historically associated with Nancy Lindsay and once known as Nancy Lindsay’s 'Persian Snowdrop’. Lindsay travelled extensively in Turkey and Persia, and the old association has persisted, although G. elwesii does not occur naturally in Iran, so it would be unwise to claim that this particular clone was collected there. 

The plant was subsequently grown in Primrose Warburg’s garden at South Hayes, from where it became established in cultivation. North Green Snowdrops described it as a much-coveted snowdrop, particularly eccentric in that its characteristic ‘deer slot’ marking may appear on only one inner segment, and generally becomes properly apparent only on mature bulbs. 

Large, elegant flowers are carried above broad, upright foliage, with the dark-green inner marking resembling, with a little imagination, the paired impression of a deer’s hoof. A charmingly idiosyncratic old clone.

• Nomenclature: Galanthus elwesii ‘Deer Slot’; recorded as G. elwesii var. monostictus ‘Deer Slot’ in the 2003 DNA study
• Historical name: ‘Nancy Lindsay’s Persian Snowdrop’
• Provenance: associated with Nancy Lindsay; subsequently grown at Primrose Warburg’s garden, South Hayes
• Flowering: February–March
• Height: c. 20 cm
• Spread: c. 10–15 cm
• Hardiness: H5, −15 to −10°