Galanthus plicatus ‘Sarah Dumont’

A particularly lovely golden form of Galanthus plicatus, ‘Sarah Dumont’ was selected from a naturalised population of G. plicatus in Scotland. The precise circumstances of its discovery are not well documented, but it is believed to have been found in Scottish woodland and was named by Joe Sharman of Monksilver Nursery for a long-serving employee. 

The flowers are large, rounded and beautifully proportioned, with a particularly attractive warm colouring. The ovary is rounded rather than elongated and a soft yellow to lime-green, while the inner segments carry a bright golden-yellow apical mark extending roughly a third of the way up the segment. The pedicel is also characteristically yellowish, adding to the overall golden effect. 

Although sometimes described simply as a ‘yellow snowdrop’, ‘Sarah Dumont’ is rather more subtle than the name might suggest. The outer segments remain predominantly white, while the yellow is concentrated in the ovary, pedicel and inner-segment markings. In good light the effect can be remarkably warm and luminous; in dull conditions, as with many yellow snowdrops, the colouring can become greener.

It is also an unusually good garden plant. Strong-growing, vigorous and prolific, ‘Sarah Dumont’ establishes readily and clumps well, making it an excellent choice for those who want something more than just collector interest from their snowdrops. The combination of a rounded flower, yellow ovary and brilliant inner marking gives it considerable distinction without becoming gaudy.

A lovely snowdrop with a suitably cheerful name and an intriguing history: apparently emerging from a naturalised Scottish woodland population before finding its way into cultivation through the snowdrop world of Joe Sharman. Not every snowdrop needs a complicated pedigree; sometimes a good plant simply turns up in the right wood at the right time.

Cultivation: Grow in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in partial shade or deciduous woodland. It is vigorous and prolific and should bulk up readily once established. Avoid prolonged summer drought and waterlogging, and allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering.

Flowering: January–March

Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C

Height: 15–20cm

Spread: 10–15cm