Galanthus woronowii

Think spring, plant now! If you are imagining your garden with a ribbon of tulips running throughout, your beds awash in yellow daffodils, or enjoying the first signs of spring with emergence of snowdrops, start digging. Fall is the time to plant your spring bulbs. For this reason, Scott Arboretum’s members receive bulbs as their fall dividend. This year gardeners will be greeted by the fragrant white flowers of Galanthus woronwii.

Differing from the common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) G. woronowii has interesting and wide, shiny green leaves.

This species of snowdrop is native to Turkey, Russia, and The Republic of Georgia and named in honor of the Russian plant collector, Georg Woronow. Differing from the common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) G. woronowii has interesting and wide, shiny green leaves. The striking, nodding, fragrant white flowers reach 12 inches tall above the foliage. The flowers have three pendant white outer petals and the center inner floral segments are tipped in green. Snowdrops, like other members of Amaryllidacea, are resistant to browsing from rabbits, squirrels, and deer.

Galanthus sp. have naturalized along the paths of the Wister Garden. photo credit: R. Robert

This snowdrop will bloom in March. Small clumps make beautiful additions to an intimate courtyard or small garden. Larger masses can be used to create naturalized effects in the garden.

These bulbs can be planted in the garden in late October. Plant them 3 to 4 inches deep and space them 3 to 4 inches apart. Snowdrops prefer well-drained soil and will flower best with ample amounts of sunlight; however, they can be planted in deciduous shade because they flower before the leaves emerge on the trees.

This Sunday Scott Associates will receive their fall dividend, Galanthus woronowii. photo credit: R. Robert

To receive your own G. woronowii, join us for the Scott Associates Fall Festival on Sunday, October 21 at 4 pm in the Lang Music Building. David Culp, a well-known local horticulturist with an extraordinary home and garden in Downingtown, will be discussing his new book The Layered Garden and how he uses bulbs in his “layers.”