Galanthus ‘Shepton Merlin’

A particularly intriguing offshoot of the James Allen story. ‘Shepton Merlin’ was found in the garden of James Allen at Shepton Mallet during the 1990s, long after Allen himself had died. It is generally regarded as probably being a seedling of his famous ‘Merlin’, although the parentage has not been conclusively established. 

Distinct from the original ‘Merlin’, it has a notably upright, almost spear-like habit, with strong erect scapes and an unusually long, straight spathe rising conspicuously above the flower. The broad, cupped outer segments surround inner segments that are almost entirely green but neatly edged in white. The colouring is somewhat paler and the whole plant has a more vertically disciplined appearance than ‘Merlin’. 

There is something rather appropriate about finding this distinctive seedling in Allen’s old garden: James Allen, the celebrated ‘Snowdrop King’ of Shepton Mallet, raised and selected more than 100 snowdrops during the late nineteenth century, although most were subsequently lost. His ‘Merlin’ and ‘Magnet’ are the two selections that survived and remain in cultivation. 

‘Shepton Merlin’ therefore has a particularly attractive piece of provenance — a modern discovery from the historic garden of one of the great pioneers of snowdrop breeding, and quite possibly a descendant of one of his most famous seedlings.

Cultivation: A vigorous, reliable cultivar for humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, preferably in deciduous shade or dappled light. Excellent for naturalising and particularly effective where its remarkably upright habit can be appreciated.

• Flowering: January–February, mid-season
• Height: c. 25–30 cm
• Spread: c. 10–15 cm per bulb, increasing to form clumps
• Hardiness: H6, approximately −20 to −15°C
• Introduction/provenance: Found in James Allen’s garden, Shepton Mallet, in the 1990s; probably a seedling of Galanthus ‘Merlin’