Rare new snowdrop discovered in Enfield

A rare new snowdrop has been discovered at the gardens of a historic house in North London, it has been claimed.

The plant was discovered by Matt Bishop, a snowdrop authority who runs a business selling unusual snowdrops, at Myddleton House Gardens in Enfield.

The plant, which was discovered during a public snowdrop sale, has distinctive green markings on the inner segments and outer three petals.

If it is confirmed as a new specimen, the plant will be the second new snowdrop to be discovered in 10 years in the gardens: the first was G. E A Bowles, named for the passionate horticulturalist who developed the gardens in the early 20th century, and who had a particular fondness for snowdrops. So far, the new plant has not been named.

Mr Bishop said the plant appeared to be a previously unseen cultivar of G.×valentinei, a hybrid between the two species G.nivalis and G.plicatus. "They are not an everyday occurrence and it is most unusual for one to show good green-marked outer segments and mainly green inner segments," he said.

" Providing it performs as it should, with the current vogue for snowdrops with extra green markings, this plant should have a bright future."

Unusual varieties of Galanthus – the Latin name for snowdrops – are so highly sought that a single bulb can be sold for hundreds of pounds.

Prized varieties can even fall victim to theft: in 1997, a yellow form of G. elwesii called "Carolyn Elwes" was famously stolen from Colesbourne Park in Gloucestershire.

The most expensive snowdrop ever sold was “Elizabeth Harrison”, a single bulb of which was auctioned on eBay for £725 in February 2012 - more than twice as much as the previous record.

Andrew Turvey, head gardener at Myddleton House Gardens, said: “We are delighted that E A Bowles’s legacy continues to surprise us with new hidden treasures from his garden.”

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