Galanthus plicatus ‘Clovis'

One of the great oddities from the Greatorex garden at Snowdrop Acre, and a snowdrop that refuses to make up its mind how many petals it ought to have. A variable Galanthus plicatus, ‘Clovis’ may produce the normal three outer and three inner segments, but in other years can have one or two outer segments with four or five inner segments. At its most spectacular it produces six inner segments and no outer segments at all, creating an extraordinary, almost double-looking flower. A mature clump can display several of these forms simultaneously — and individual bulbs may change their performance from year to year. 

‘Clovis’ was discovered in 1992 by Rosie Steele and Richard Hobbs in the former garden of Heyrick Greatorex, now known as Snowdrop Acre, and was named for Rosie Steele’s daughter. It remains one of the most entertaining and genuinely curious Greatorex garden snowdrops.

Hardiness: H6, –20 to –15°C
Height: 12–18 cm
Spread: 10–15 cm
Flowers: February–March
Species: Galanthus plicatus
Discovery: Rosie Steele & Richard Hobbs, Greatorex garden, 1992
Named for: Clovis, Rosie Steele’s daughter