BOTANICAL: Galanthus elwesii

PRONOUNCED: guh-LAN-thus niv-VAL-us

Click on the pic for a close up.

COMMON: Giant snowdrop, Greater snowdrop.

BLOOM	HEIGHT	LIGHT	ZONE
Early March to April	9" - 1 ft.	Semishade	2 - 7

March - White

COMMENTS: From south east Europe, the 2-inch blooms have deep green markings at the base and the tips of the inner segments. The leaves are gray-green up to 9-inches long. Slower than other species to naturalize and one of the earliest to bloom, often in February. A generally sturdier plant than G. nivalis. All galanthus require a fertile soil.

BOTANICAL: Galanthus nivalis 'Simplex'

PRONOUNCED: guh-LAN-thus niv-VAL-us

Click on the pic for a close up.

COMMON: Common or true snowdrop

BLOOM	HEIGHT	LIGHT	ZONE
Early March to April	4" - 6"	Semishade	2 - 9

March - White

COMMENTS: Its two, gray-green 1/4-inch leaves appear pressed together at the base. The drooping 1-inch flowers have outer petals much longer than the green-rimmed inner cylinder. Naturalizes freely. New plantings should be made in the fall in woodsy, moist, well-drained, enriched soil. Suggested cultivars: G. nivalis 'Arnott's Seedling', fragrant, robust and 6- to 10-inches tall. G. nivalis 'Florae Pleno' is somewhat double. G.nivalis lutescens, Instead of the usual green, the markings on the petals are all replaced by sulphur-yellow/ G. nivalis plenus (4") is a hard-to-find double form.

BOTANICAL: Galanthus plicatus

PRONOUNCED: guh-LAN-thus ply-KAY-tus

Click on the pic for a close up.

COMMON: Crimean snowdrop, Pleated snowdrop.

BLOOM	HEIGHT	LIGHT	ZONE
Early March to April	6" - 9"	Semishade	2 - 9

March - White

COMMENTS: A very early-flowering snowdrop eastern Europe. A vigorous grower perfectly adapted for naturalizing. The dark green leaves have gray bands along the centers and a thin pleat down each edge. The flowers are large with a green patch at the tip of each inner petal. It readily hybridizes with other species, often giving fine offspring.

BOTANICAL: Helleborus foetidus

PRONOUNCED: hel-eh-BORE-us FET-uh-dus

Click on picture for a close up.

COMMON: Bear's foot hellebore, Stinking hellebore.

BLOOM	HEIGHT	LIGHT	ZONE
Early March to April	2 ft. - 3 ft.	Semishade	3 - 8

March - Greenish White

COMMENTS: A beautiful evergreen with self-colored blooms which hold great interest throughout the summer. As with most hellebores, it requires summer shade, and a rich, acid, constantly moist yet well-drained soil mulched each spring with a layer of leaf mold. Will require a couple of seasons to establish and in the right soil, the third year will surprise you with many seedlings sprouting up around the mother plant. After the second season, the mother plant turns black and dies leaving many sizeable new starters in its place.