Galanthus ‘Mother Goose’

A wonderfully changeable yellow snowdrop, ‘Mother Goose’ produces beautifully rounded flowers with broad, pure-white outer segments surrounding inner segments that can develop a remarkable golden-yellow wash. At its best the inner segments glow from a paler yellow at the base to a rich, almost egg-yolk yellow towards the tips. The colouring can be fickle, however, with newly moved or unsettled bulbs often reverting temporarily towards green—snowdrops apparently like to keep their keepers guessing. 

Origin: Found by John Morley in his Suffolk garden at North Green. It is generally regarded as a hybrid, possibly Galanthus × valentinei, with some sources suggesting Czech ancestry. It was first offered commercially from North Green around 2014. 

In the garden: A choice collector’s snowdrop that rewards patience. The yellow colouring generally becomes stronger as the bulb settles and matures, although some seasonal variation is inherent in the clone. Best grown undisturbed in humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil. 

Height: 12–15cm
Spread: 10–15cm
Flowering: January–February
Hardiness: H5 (−15 to −10°C)
Aspect: Partial shade to sun
Soil: Moist, humus-rich, well drained