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Galanthus elwesii

Caucasian Snowdrop · Giant Snowdrop · Greater Snowdrop · Elwes's Snowdrop

Family AmaryllidaceaeGenus Galanthus

A nodding white snowdrop with green markings above broad gray leaves
FlowerДимитър Найденов / Dimìtar NàydenovCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Safety

Toxicity
Low severity. Roots. Phenanthridine alkaloids.Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

The plant

Habit
BulbPlant Finder
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-1 ft15-30 cmPlant Finder
Spread
0.25-0.5 ft10-15 cmPlant Finder
Flower
WhitePlant Finder
Blooms
February to MarchPlant Finder
Native range
Western Asia, eastern EuropePlant Finder
Hardiness zones
4-7Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun to part shadePlant Finder
Soil
Clay, High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
MediumPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

  • Henry John Elwes found it in the mountains near Smyrna, now Izmir, in April 1874: "the fine large snowdrop which now bears my name". Wikipedia: Galanthus elwesii

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    45% germinated here, in the 5th week.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    A further 3% in the second cycle.

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 6, in 35 days.

45% germination in 35 days.

Germination is hypogeal and happens at 40; the true leaf follows a week or two after the shift to 70.

This source doesn't state how long steps 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 last.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, GalanthusPublic domain
Show the original text
Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae). Germination was hypogeal and largely at 40. When the 3 m cycle at 40 was over and the seedlings shifted to 70, the true leaf developed in a week or two. DS is deleterious but not completely fatal. G.elwesii germ. 70-40(45% in 5th w)-70-40(3%)-70-40 and 40-70(25% in 3-5 w)-70-40(4%) using fresh seed. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 40-70-40(3/7) and none in 2 y starting at 70 indicating deterioration on DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Galanthus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

43% germination.

Dry storage did not stop this run, but the same seed gave nothing started at 70.

This source doesn't state how long steps 2 and 3 last.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, GalanthusPublic domain
Show the original text
Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae). Germination was hypogeal and largely at 40. When the 3 m cycle at 40 was over and the seedlings shifted to 70, the true leaf developed in a week or two. DS is deleterious but not completely fatal. G.elwesii germ. 70-40(45% in 5th w)-70-40(3%)-70-40 and 40-70(25% in 3-5 w)-70-40(4%) using fresh seed. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 40-70-40(3/7) and none in 2 y starting at 70 indicating deterioration on DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Galanthus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    25% germinated here, in 3-5 weeks.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    A further 4%.

Germination happens during step 4, in 35 days.

25% germination in 21–35 days.

Deno's chain repeats 70; the steps are as he prints them.

This source doesn't state how long steps 1, 2 and 3 last.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, GalanthusPublic domain
Show the original text
Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae). Germination was hypogeal and largely at 40. When the 3 m cycle at 40 was over and the seedlings shifted to 70, the true leaf developed in a week or two. DS is deleterious but not completely fatal. G.elwesii germ. 70-40(45% in 5th w)-70-40(3%)-70-40 and 40-70(25% in 3-5 w)-70-40(4%) using fresh seed. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 40-70-40(3/7) and none in 2 y starting at 70 indicating deterioration on DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Galanthus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    Nothing in two years.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2.

0% germination.

Dry storage is what killed it: fresh seed of the same lot germinated.

This source doesn't state how long step 2 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, GalanthusPublic domain
Show the original text
Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae). Germination was hypogeal and largely at 40. When the 3 m cycle at 40 was over and the seedlings shifted to 70, the true leaf developed in a week or two. DS is deleterious but not completely fatal. G.elwesii germ. 70-40(45% in 5th w)-70-40(3%)-70-40 and 40-70(25% in 3-5 w)-70-40(4%) using fresh seed. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 40-70-40(3/7) and none in 2 y starting at 70 indicating deterioration on DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Galanthus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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