Friday, July 20, 2018

Australian Galanthus hybrids.

 Australian Galanthus hybrids.


We have quite a few Galanthus hybrids floating around in our Australian gardens that have nick names, but of course some are registered, some are not. So that most are really names that we all use to recognise what people are speaking about . When the flower just has the V or heart shaped marking, it is called Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus. Galanthus caucasicum is a synonym and is misapplied. Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus comes from Southern Turkey so no wonder it does incredibly well in Australia. It is a bulbous perennial growing 15cm to 20cm with glaucous leaves, with solitary nodding white flowers, with oval outer petals and shorter inner ones bearing the green V shaped mark at the tip in winter. My thanks to Paul Tyerman, Jon and Col for their help.


Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus 'Friedl' Otto's Galanthus that has come up in his garden.
Photo Otto.


 Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus 'Eric's Choice' (above and below) Photo Col and Darien growing in Canberra.



 Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus 'Margaret Taras' with very pale green markings.


Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus 'Genat's Giant', named after Eric Genat from Genat's Nursery who sold and still sells a large variety of Nerines, the Nursery now is being run by his son.


Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus 'Essie Huxley' named after the great gardener from Tasmania, distributed by Marcus Harvey above and below.





Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus 'Essie Huxley' a close up photo by Paul Tyreman.


Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus 'Carol's Mum'.

 Jon's Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus 'Carol's Mum' a very early flowering form, 22nd May 2018. Jon said "the same Galanthus in other pots around my garden were just emerging when this was taken". We will need to wait until next year to see if if it is going to be reliably open every year in Autumn.
Carol D says this Galanthus originally came from her Aunt Norma who passed it on to her mum. It grows in shade to full sun and its very tolerant of our hot dry summers. Carol's mum, Nell was a great gardener, along with her sisters Norma and Gwen. All three were previous AGS VG  members. Their brother, George was the father of another well known member Phyll Bear.



Galanthus elwesii var monostictus 'Wandin' photo from Paul Tyeman growing in Canberra.


Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus 'Gladysdale' another of Paul's Galanthus growing in Canberra .



Galanthus Angie Otto's hybrid that appeared in his garden. It regularly has 6 petals and is often 
multi headed.




Close up of Galanthus Angie.




Galanthus Caspar Ottos hybrid photo Otto.

Some European Galanthus in Australia


Galanthus Megan photographed in Otto's Garden from Marcus Harvey.


Galanthus Anglesey Abby Marcus Harvey import 2016


Galanthus Cecily Hall Marcus Harvey import 2013


Galanthus Corrine from Wallis seed, grown by Otto an absolutely lovely Galanthus.


Galanthus Dionysus from David Kennedy Clover Hills Rare Plants 2017.


Galanthus John Gray a very rare and lovely Galanthus Ottos Garden from Marcus Harvey 2016.


Galanthus Mr Big from Otto's friend Don.


Galanthus Ophelia from Plant Hunters Tasmania


 Galanthus plicatus ssp byzantinus


Galanthus rizehensis Otto's mass planting of this rare Galanthus, Otto introduced this Galanthus into cultivation in Australia, and it loves our conditions Otto said to me " I would have given this many away again over the years".


Galanthus Rosemary Burnham from Marcus Harvey 2013, I loved this Galanthus in Otto's garden.
We would not have nearly the amount of Galanthus in this country, if it were not for the late Marcus Harvey and his efforts to import Galanthus into Australia, Thanks Marcus.  Sadly I think we may have lost Galanthus Sibbertoft Manor in cultivation in Australia, Marcus imported it and it was a lovely large flowering form.
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2 comments:

Michael Barrett said...

Thanks you for such an interesting and informative blog Viv. I really enjoyed reading it. Michael.

Alpine Garden Society Victorian Group said...

Thank you Michael