Galanthus ‘Lord Lieutenant’

A distinguished Colesbourne snowdrop selected by Lady Carolyn Elwes and named in honour of her husband, Sir Henry Elwes, following his appointment as Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. The selection dates from 1994, with the name commemorating Sir Henry’s long-standing role as the monarch’s representative in the county. Colesbourne records ‘Lord Lieutenant’ among the cultivars discovered and named at the garden. 

An elegant, upright Galanthus with slender, strongly ribbed outer segments that open almost horizontally, giving the flowers a distinctive star-like profile. The inner segments carry a neat green X-shaped marking, while the flowers are held prominently above the foliage. A refined and historic Colesbourne selection, and an especially appropriate snowdrop for the garden of a galanthophile. 

Cultivation: Grow in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in partial shade or beneath deciduous trees. Avoid prolonged summer drought. Allow the foliage to mature and die back naturally after flowering.

Flowering: February–March
Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C
Height: 20–25cm
Spread: 10–15cm