Galanthus ‘Gelber Clown'

A little German humour to brighten the winter garden! Gelber Clown translates as ‘Yellow Clown’, although you won’t need a red nose to appreciate this character. Selected from the garden of German snowdrop enthusiast Günter Waldorf, this distinctive cultivar takes its name from the clown-face effect of the marking on its inner flower segments. It’s a charming example of how a small detail can turn an otherwise familiar snowdrop into something worth stopping to admire.

Like other snowdrops, it appreciates humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, ideally in dappled shade beneath deciduous trees and shrubs. Give it a chance to settle and develop into a clump, then get down to flower level to appreciate its cheerful markings. After all, even in the depths of winter, a little clowning around is no bad thing!

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