Galanthus ‘Martha Maclaren’

A handsome, substantial late-flowering snowdrop from the celebrated collection of Primrose Warburg at South Hayes, near Oxford. Found there by Dr John Grimshaw, it produces broad, grey-green foliage and large, beautifully proportioned flowers, with exceptionally broad, thick-textured outer segments of brilliant white and strongly green-marked inner segments. A robust garden plant which makes impressive clumps and, when established, commonly produces two flowers per bulb. The clean combination of substantial white outers and bold green markings gives it a wonderfully classical appearance — proof that a snowdrop need not be complicated to be memorable.

Named by John Grimshaw for his niece, Martha MacLaren. Although her identity beyond this family connection has become obscure in the published snowdrop literature, the South Hayes provenance and naming history are well documented.

• Hardy: H6 (-20 to -15°C)
• Height: 15–20 cm
• Spread: 15–20 cm
• Flowers: February–March