Galanthus ‘Wisley Magnet’

A refined hybrid snowdrop found by C. D. Brickell at RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey, in the early 1960s, growing beside the steps to Seven Acres. It was subsequently named ‘Wisley Magnet’, reflecting its close resemblance to the classic ‘Magnet’ while remaining a distinct selection. 

Like ‘Magnet’, it has large white flowers carried on an unusually long, slender pedicel, but the pedicel of ‘Wisley Magnet’ is distinctive in projecting upwards at roughly 45° before bending downwards, giving the flowers a characteristic swinging movement in the breeze. The cultivar is somewhat smaller than ‘Magnet’ but retains its elegant flower shape and excellent garden character. 

Cultivation: Grow in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in partial shade or beneath deciduous trees. The long pedicels are particularly effective where the flowers can move freely in winter breezes. Allow the foliage to mature and die back naturally.

Flowering: February–March
Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C
Height: 15–20cm
Spread: 10–