Galanthus nivalis Viridapice

Galanthus nivalis 'Viridapice' is a robust variety of snowdrop with unusual and elegant flowers. This small bulbous plant forms slightly taller clumps than the species. Its beautiful white flowers are marked with green at the tips of the sepals and on the inner corolla. Its fragrant flowers appear in January-February, depending on the climate. This variety was cultivated in Holland for over 100 years. It naturalises easily and quickly in the garden and requires no maintenance.

Galanthus nivalis is a perennial herbaceous bulbous plant of the Amaryllidaceae family, native to Europe. Its beautiful blooms herald the arrival of spring. The variety 'Viridapice' is a vigorous and reliable form of this plant, discovered in the North of the Netherlands where it has naturalised. It forms a lovely clump measuring 15cm (6in) in height, composed of fairly dark green ribbon-like leaves with a touch of grey. In February, it produces one to two stems per bulb, each bearing an outward-facing flower inclined towards the ground. The flowers are composed of 3 long white sepals with green tips, crowning a small central white corolla marked with a dark green heart-shaped or "V" spot. The flowers are lightly scented. The foliage turns yellow and disappears at the end of spring. Snowdrops produce numerous bulblets that allow them to spread over time.

Galanthus nivalis 'Viridapice' is one of the first flowers to appear in late winter, along with Crocus chrysanthus, Christmas roses, and squills. It will thrive in a moist rockery, alongside creeping bugle, botanical narcissus, Iris reticulata, and an easy-to-grow fern called Blechnum penna-marina. These plants will occupy the space left by the snowdrops once their foliage has dried up, without suffocating the bulbs. It is ideal for light woodland, preceding the flowering of hellebores and corydalis. In cool climates, it tolerates sunny exposures at the edge of a border. It also grows very well in pots.