Galanthus ‘Natalie Garton’

A distinctive and rather fascinating snowdrop named for Natalie Garton of Ramsden, Oxfordshire, a highly regarded plantswoman and, at the time, Secretary of the Oxford & District Alpine Garden Society Group. Natalie distributed this remarkable snowdrop from her beautiful garden before her untimely death in 1996.

A large-flowered Galanthus elwesii hybrid, ‘Natalie Garton’ is a robust and vigorous plant with very broad leaves and substantial, rounded flowers. The flowers are usually semi-double, with additional inner segments hanging beneath the strongly marked central petals, although individual flowers can vary considerably and may appear single, semi-double or, occasionally, more fully double. The inner segments carry a bold green marking, giving the flowers considerable presence.

Its identity has prompted some interesting discussion among snowdrop specialists. John Grimshaw described it as a “robust supervolute with semi-double flowers”, noting its exceptionally broad leaves and recording that some growers considered it might actually be a genuine G. elwesii rather than a hybrid. He also recorded an extraordinary bulb consisting of three noses still united within a single tunic — a good illustration of the vigour and potential of this cultivar.

A snowdrop with both horticultural character and a very personal history, ‘Natalie Garton’ is an especially handsome choice for those who appreciate large, rounded flowers, broad foliage and a degree of floral unpredictability. Its variability is part of its charm rather than a fault.

Cultivation: Plant in autumn, ideally as soon as possible after lifting, in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Choose a position in partial shade, such as beneath deciduous trees or shrubs, where the plants receive winter and early-spring light but are protected from drying summer sun. Avoid permanently waterlogged ground and areas that become excessively dry beneath dense evergreen cover

Height: 15–20 cm
Spread: 10–15 cm
Flowering: January–February