Galanthus ‘Icicle’

A charming and distinctive snowdrop from Old Court Nursery, Malvern, Galanthus ‘Icicle’ was given to Tony Colmer by Percy Picton in the early 1970s, when it was known as ‘Mighty Atom’. Despite subsequently acquiring ‘Mighty Atom’ as a synonym, ‘Icicle’ has little in common with the true ‘Mighty Atom’ complex beyond its relatively small stature. It was renamed ‘Icicle’ shortly before its first listing by North Green Snowdrops in 1999, establishing the name under which it is now generally grown.

The flowers are particularly distinctive: remarkably chubby and rounded, the shape largely created by the hooked apices of the broad outer segments. This hooked tip is an unusual and highly desirable feature in a snowdrop, giving the flowers a rather fat, neatly finished appearance. The inner segments are broad and distinctly ridged, with a strong green inverted-V marking towards the apex. The combination of substantial flowers, rounded hooked outers and a compact habit makes ‘Icicle’ readily recognisable, although it can superficially resemble ‘Raveningham'. There are, however, sufficient differences in flower shape and marking to distinguish the two.

A lovely example of the way in which snowdrop names can acquire a history of their own. Originally passed from Percy Picton to Tony Colmer as ‘Mighty Atom’, this little plant eventually emerged under its own identity as ‘Icicle’ and was listed by North Green from 1999. Its very chubby flowers and hooked outer segments are its chief attraction, and the latter are precisely the sort of subtle character that can elevate a small snowdrop from merely good to genuinely memorable.

Cultivation: Grow in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in partial shade or deciduous woodland. Avoid prolonged summer drought and allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering. A good choice for planting where its compact habit and unusually shaped flowers can be examined at close quarters.

Flowering: February–March

Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C

Height: 12–14cm

Spread: 10–15cm