ColesbourneSnowdrops

G. elwesii 'Abington Green'

Colesbourne Snowdrops

G. elwesii 'Carolyn Elwes'

G. 'Colesborne'
The snowdrop collection at Colesbourne Park originated in the plantings made by Henry John Elwes (1846-1922). In 1874 he had discovered Galanthus elwesii while travelling in western Turkey and he became one of the prominent galanthophiles of his day. It is clear that he planted widely, as the garden today contains large populations of snowdrops, many of them hybrids, descended from those plantings. The present day collection, and the magnificent swathes of cultivars such as G.'S. Arnott' and G. 'Colossus' are the result of the renewed interest of Carolyn and Henry Elwes, who have devoted much time to replanting and expanding the groups. New cultivars have been added to the collection each year, with the collection now totalling some 160 cultivars. In particular, Colesbourne Park is renowned as one of the best places to see large groups of choice snowdrops. According to Country Life (1999) it is 'England's greatest snowdrop garden.'

Colesbourne is associated with several snowdrop cultivars. The clone called G. 'Colesborne' [sic] was found by H.J. Elwes growing in the grass amongst clumps of G. elwesii some time around 1911. It has a long, narrow ovary, and an entirely green inner segment, which gives it a very elegant appearance. It has never been a vigorous plant and clings rather precariously to cultivation, having been rescued from the few surviving bulbs by twin-scaling in the 1990s. Sadly, it does not now prosper at Colesbourne!

The patch of Galanthus 'S.Arnott' at Colesbourne is one of the sights of the snowdrop world, and to walk past on a warm day is a delight; all the flowers are wide open and releasing their fragrance. The original bulbs were sent to H.J. Elwes by the Scottish gardener Samuel Arnott, who raised several hybrid snowdrops.Elwes called it 'Arnott's Seedling', but the name was amended to the more suitable G. 'S.Arnott' by E.A. Bowles in 1951.

G. 'S.Arnott'

The Colesbourne patch is derived from a clump discovered under a bramble bush by Carolyn Elwes in about 1985. The identification was verified by the late Richard Nutt. Regular division and replanting of the clumps has led to the current magnificent sight.

G. elwesii 'Carolyn Elwes'
In the past few years several fine cultivars have been selected from among the seedling populations in the garden. Most surprising is G. elwesii 'Carolyn Elwes', accounted the first yellow G. elwesii. The inner segment markings, and often the tips of the leaves and spathes as well, are a soft limy-yellow. Its desirability was highlighted when, following the first Colesbourne snowdrop open days in 1997, the original large clump was stolen from the grounds. The theft was widely publicized, but no trace of the bulbs has ever been found, perhaps because the cultivar is too distinctive to be easily 'laundered'.

Members of the Elwes family are recognized in other clones. Galanthus 'Lord Lieutenant' is a hybrid whose flowers are held almost horizontally instead of drooping in the normal posture. The name commemorates Henry Elwes' position as Lord-Lieutenant for Gloucestershire, and is appropriate also in the formal bearing of the plant. Found entangled at the base of a lime tree, Galanthus 'George Elwes' is a handsome hybrid between G. plicatus and G. elwesii and is accounted one of the best progeny from this parentage. The large flowers have a green inner segment. It is named for the late son of Carolyn and Henry Elwes.

G. 'Lord Lieutenant'

G. 'George Elwes'
A very early-blooming snowdrop is G. plicatus 'Colossus', which has often finished flowering by the time of the open days. It has huge leaves that are ornamental in their own right. It was found at Colesbourne as a vigorous clump, and has since been divided into the large areas seen today.

Other snowdrops have come from friends such as Herbert Ransom, who grew snowdrops for the Giant Snowdrop Company, and numerous galanthophiles like Primrose Warburg, Richard Nutt and Ronald Mackenzie.

Further information about these cultivars may be found in Snowdrops by Matt Bishop, Aaron Davis and John Grimshaw, published by The Griffin Press (ISBN 0 9541916 0 9). For more information about the book click here.

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G. elwesii 'Abington Green'	Colesbourne Snowdrops		G. elwesii 'Carolyn Elwes'

G. 'Colesborne'		The snowdrop collection at Colesbourne Park originated in the plantings made by Henry John Elwes (1846-1922). In 1874 he had discovered Galanthus elwesii while travelling in western Turkey and he became one of the prominent galanthophiles of his day. It is clear that he planted widely, as the garden today contains large populations of snowdrops, many of them hybrids, descended from those plantings. The present day collection, and the magnificent swathes of cultivars such as G.'S. Arnott' and G. 'Colossus' are the result of the renewed interest of Carolyn and Henry Elwes, who have devoted much time to replanting and expanding the groups. New cultivars have been added to the collection each year, with the collection now totalling some 160 cultivars. In particular, Colesbourne Park is renowned as one of the best places to see large groups of choice snowdrops. According to Country Life (1999) it is 'England's greatest snowdrop garden.'
Colesbourne is associated with several snowdrop cultivars. The clone called G. 'Colesborne' [sic] was found by H.J. Elwes growing in the grass amongst clumps of G. elwesii some time around 1911. It has a long, narrow ovary, and an entirely green inner segment, which gives it a very elegant appearance. It has never been a vigorous plant and clings rather precariously to cultivation, having been rescued from the few surviving bulbs by twin-scaling in the 1990s. Sadly, it does not now prosper at Colesbourne! The patch of Galanthus 'S.Arnott' at Colesbourne is one of the sights of the snowdrop world, and to walk past on a warm day is a delight; all the flowers are wide open and releasing their fragrance. The original bulbs were sent to H.J. Elwes by the Scottish gardener Samuel Arnott, who raised several hybrid snowdrops.Elwes called it 'Arnott's Seedling', but the name was amended to the more suitable G. 'S.Arnott' by E.A. Bowles in 1951.			G. 'S.Arnott'
The Colesbourne patch is derived from a clump discovered under a bramble bush by Carolyn Elwes in about 1985. The identification was verified by the late Richard Nutt. Regular division and replanting of the clumps has led to the current magnificent sight.
G. elwesii 'Carolyn Elwes'	In the past few years several fine cultivars have been selected from among the seedling populations in the garden. Most surprising is G. elwesii 'Carolyn Elwes', accounted the first yellow G. elwesii. The inner segment markings, and often the tips of the leaves and spathes as well, are a soft limy-yellow. Its desirability was highlighted when, following the first Colesbourne snowdrop open days in 1997, the original large clump was stolen from the grounds. The theft was widely publicized, but no trace of the bulbs has ever been found, perhaps because the cultivar is too distinctive to be easily 'laundered'.
Members of the Elwes family are recognized in other clones. Galanthus 'Lord Lieutenant' is a hybrid whose flowers are held almost horizontally instead of drooping in the normal posture. The name commemorates Henry Elwes' position as Lord-Lieutenant for Gloucestershire, and is appropriate also in the formal bearing of the plant. Found entangled at the base of a lime tree, Galanthus 'George Elwes' is a handsome hybrid between G. plicatus and G. elwesii and is accounted one of the best progeny from this parentage. The large flowers have a green inner segment. It is named for the late son of Carolyn and Henry Elwes.			G. 'Lord Lieutenant'
G. 'George Elwes'	A very early-blooming snowdrop is G. plicatus 'Colossus', which has often finished flowering by the time of the open days. It has huge leaves that are ornamental in their own right. It was found at Colesbourne as a vigorous clump, and has since been divided into the large areas seen today. Other snowdrops have come from friends such as Herbert Ransom, who grew snowdrops for the Giant Snowdrop Company, and numerous galanthophiles like Primrose Warburg, Richard Nutt and Ronald Mackenzie.

Further information about these cultivars may be found in Snowdrops by Matt Bishop, Aaron Davis and John Grimshaw, published by The Griffin Press (ISBN 0 9541916 0 9). For more information about the book click here.
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