Galanthus plicatus 'Golden Fleece'

One of the most famous yellow snowdrops of modern times, Galanthus plicatus ‘Golden Fleece’ is a remarkable inverse poculiform with broad, strongly plicate foliage and flowers carrying an exceptional concentration of golden-yellow colouring. The outer segments are broadly marked in yellow, while the inner segments are similarly suffused, surrounding a golden ovary. The combination of yellow flowers and the substantial foliage of G. plicatus makes this an especially striking and highly collectable snowdrop.

Origin: Bred by Joe Sharman of Monksilver Nursery, the result of around ten years of breeding work, followed by a further period of bulking before it was released commercially. It was introduced as the first yellow inverse-poculiform snowdrop, a particularly significant achievement in snowdrop breeding. 

A record-breaker: In 2015, a single bulb of ‘Golden Fleece’ sold on eBay for £1,390, setting a record for the most expensive snowdrop bulb sold at auction at the time. The price attracted considerable attention and helped establish ‘Golden Fleece’ as one of the legendary modern snowdrops. Its record stood until another Joe Sharman introduction, ‘Golden Tears’, reached £1,850 in 2022. 

In the garden: A connoisseur’s snowdrop requiring a little more patience than ordinary forms, but spectacular once established. The yellow colouring develops best in a good light position, although it should not be allowed to become excessively dry during growth. Plant in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil and leave undisturbed to build a flowering clump.

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