DRYAD GOLD SNOWDROPS
Back in 2006, I had just begun collecting snowdrops, and being a beginner, tried to buy varieties that I could see were distinct. I was immediately attracted to the beauty, rarity and distinctiveness of the yellows. At the time, the only two yellow snowdrops readily available were G. plicatus 'Wendy's Gold' and G. nivalis 'Lutescens' (as it was then - now classed under 'Sandersii').
I had already been breeding miniature daffodils for 15 years and felt I had plenty of experience with the colour yellow (!), so I decided that a logical extension was to try crossing these two varieties with the intention of producing some rare new yellow snowdrops of my own. It seems I was very lucky as the seeds I produced by hand pollination produced 20 seedlings. When the seedlings first flowered in 2010, I was delighted to find that almost all of them were yellow. Despite a number of attempts to recreate the cross I have been unsuccessful and therefore these varieties are unique.
Over the next 12 years, I was propagating and assessing these different clones, both in my garden and with other expert growers, to ensure stability and exclude any potential for reversion. Following successful testing in the UK and in Estonia, I decided to name and release some varieties. The group name is Dryad Gold Group, and all varieties retain the first two words of the group name. With the parentage plicatus x nivalis, the hybrids fall under Galanthus x valentinei.
They are all good growers in the garden, with strong stems which remain more or less erect, unlike 'Wendy's Gold', which dips its flower stems after flowering. Their hybrid vigour makes them much easier to grow than other yellows such as 'Ronald Mackenzie', which can be difficult to keep.
They have been grown across the UK and in Europe and growers’ feedback is that they are strong garden plants - robust, stable, increasing well and making a stunning statement, both for collectors and in the spring garden.
The leaves of all the varieties are mostly applanate, with some showing a tendency to plicate edges on one or both sides. Markings on the flowers are stable. Like other yellow snowdrops, the inner segment marks can be slightly greenish yellow on first opening, but then quickly change to true yellow. The best colour is achieved out in the open, rather than under glass. The different clones vary markedly in size, from only 6cm high to over 30cm.
I believe these plants will become the new 'gold standard' in yellow snowdrops, both for serious collectors and for gardeners who want snowdrops which are robust, stable and make a bold statement in the spring garden.
See also my short article showing the Dryad Golds :
Descriptions of the registered cultivars are below, in alphabetical order. The registration details are in italics:
DRYAD GOLD BULLION
Dryad Gold Bullion, is a real charmer and so eager to grow for you, multiplying rapidly and flowering freely. Smaller and later than Sovereign, it would be a wonderful addition to your collection of yellows.
Flowering later, and shorter than Gold Sovereign, this more compact cultivar shares the same vigorous habit, bulks up very rapidly and is very free flowering.
Flowering height 8cm. Scapes upright, flower length including ovary 35mm. Leaves at flowering time 7x36mm, glaucous, arching. Pedicel straight, half as long as the spathe. 'Claw' 2mm long. Ovary yellow, cylindrical, just less than one third the length of the outer segments. Inner segments with yellow inverted U to 40% of the length, the curve of the U more acute than Gold Sovereign.
DRYAD GOLD CHARM
Dryad Gold Charm is one of the more diminutive Dryad Golds, but with some of the longest flowers - newly opening flowers are shaped like large, long teardrops. This dwarf-growing variety is especially suitable for pots and containers, although equally happy in the garden. Slightly larger in all its parts than Gold Star. The bulbs are also larger, vigorous and increase well.
Flowering height 10cm. Scapes very upright, flower length including ovary 40mm. Leaves at flowering time 5x50mm, glaucous, arching. Buds long and narrow. Pedicel almost straight, two thirds as long as the curved spathe. No obvious 'claw'. Ovary yellow, narrowly cylindrical, one third the length of the outer segments. Outer segments broad and smooth. Inner segments with slightly greenish yellow inverted heart to 50% of the length.
DRYAD GOLD INGOT
Probably our most requested of the Dryad Gold series, Ingot is a perky little snowdrop with shapely rounded flowers displaying well above short foliage at flowering time, this has been much requested because of its striking colouring – a yellow ovary and green inner segment mark which makes it, in effect, a reverse 'Blonde Inge'. The olive green inner mark often bleeds into a yellow zone towards the base.
Flowering height 9cm. Scapes very upright, flower length including ovary 30mm. Leaves at flowering time 9x45mm, glaucous, arching. Pedicel curved, two thirds as long as the straight spathe. 'Claw' 3mm. Ovary light yellow, cylindrical, almost half the length of the outer segments. Outer segments smooth and broad. Inner segments with olive green inverted U to 60% of the length, bleeding yellow almost to the base, and fading to yellowish green.
DRYAD GOLD MEDAL
Dryad Gold Medal is an ideal yellow to carry on the season from Gold Sovereign, flowering later, and with rounder and fuller flowers, this cultivar shares the same vigorous habit, is quick to increase and very free flowering. Flowering at 15cm, it has the typical extra-long ovary of the Dryad Gold group. The outer segments are smoother, broader and more cupped than Gold Sovereign.
Flowering height 15cm. Scapes upright to arching, flower length including ovary 40mm. Leaves at flowering time 7x70mm, glaucous, spreading. Pedicel almost straight, two thirds as long as the spathe. 'Claw' 4mm long. Ovary yellow, cylindrical, one third the length of the outer segments. Outer segments smoother, broader and more cupped than Gold Sovereign. Inner segments with yellow inverted V to 40% of the length.
DRYAD GOLD NUGGET
Dryad Gold Nugget was the first to be offered of the Dryad Gold varieties with a yellow ovary and green inner mark. One of the more diminutive Dryad Golds, it begins to flower at 8cm high. The shape of the flowers is compact and rounded, and the inner mark is chartreuse, contrasting nicely with the yellow ovary. In effect, a reversed ‘Blonde Inge’. A clump of this variety would be stunning in a container, but it will be equally happy in the open garden.
Flowering height 8cm. Scapes upright, flower length including ovary 26mm. Leaves at flowering time 3x45mm, glaucous, upright. Pedicel almost straight, half as long as the curved spathe. No obvious 'claw'. Ovary yellow, cylindrical, one third the length of the outer segments. Outer segments smooth. Inner segments with chartreuse inverted heart to 50% of the length.
DRYAD GOLD RIBBON
Dryad Gold Ribbon is similar in height to Dryad Gold Sovereign, though a little later in flower and with a larger yellow inverted heart on the inner segments, the flower is also more rounded. It has the largest inner mark of all the Dryad Gold group. It has always been singled out by visitors because of its prolific flowering and very upright habit.
Flowering height 16cm. Scapes very upright, flower length including ovary 45mm. Leaves at flowering time 10x70mm, glaucous, arching. Pedicel almost straight, half as long as the spathe. 'Claw' 2mm long. Ovary yellow, cylindrical, one third the length of the outer segments. Outer segments broad and lightly ribbed. Inner segments with yellow inverted heart to 55% of the length. Prolific flowerer.
DRYAD GOLD SCEPTRE
A Gold Sceptre is a gold staff or wand, held by a monarch as a symbol of authority. Beautiful and stately, Dryad Gold Sceptre is a proud example of a striking, gold snowdrop, which will distinguish any collection. it is a strong-growing, medium tall cultivar, whose flowers are among the largest in the group. It makes large bulbs which increase well.
Flowering height 15-20cm. Scapes upright, flower length including ovary 36mm. Leaves at flowering time 9x70mm, glaucous, arching. Pedicel straight, two thirds the length of the straight spathe. Outer segments 27 x 15mm. 'Claw' 3mm long. Ovary narrow, yellow, cylindrical, one third the length of the outer segments. Inner segments with yellow inverted deep horseshoe shape, occasionally slightly pointed, to 40% of the length of the inner segment. Bulbs very large. Large flowers, among the largest in the group, honey scented.
DRYAD GOLD SOVEREIGN
Dryad Gold Sovereign needs no introduction - quite simply my favourite of all the snowdrops I grow - early, elegant, robust, vigorous and increasing healthily - and yellow as well!
Dryad Gold Sovereign has performed exceptionally well in the garden, long lasting, noticeably large, elegantly long flowers on strong stems, with distinctive long narrow ovaries. The earliest of the Dryad Gold Group to flower, beginning early-mid January outside in normal years, and in fact by far the earliest of any of the yellow cultivars I grow. A group in flower catching the sunshine is a stunning sight.
We've had great feedback from growers about this variety, grown in the UK and in Europe.
Flowering height 15cm. Scapes upright, flower length including ovary 40mm. Leaves at flowering time 7x80 mm, glaucous, spreading. Pedicel straight, almost as long as the spathe. 'Claw' 4mm long. Ovary yellow, cylindrical, one third the length of the outer segments. Inner segments with yellow inverted U to 40% of the length.
Dryad Gold Sovereign right, Primrose Warburg left
DRYAD GOLD STANDARD
The Gold Standard established a benchmark and guarantee of quality and value and this snowdrop is a worthy inheritor of the name. A medium-tall, imposing variety with large bulbs, it has fine, large bell-shaped flowers, the incurving outer segments make them gently ‘quill’ into a point at their apices when mature. The large bulbs clump up quickly.
The ovary is shorter than Gold Sceptre and most of the rest of the group, and the pedicel longer. This has been one of my favourites since its first flowering.
Flowering height 15-18cm. Scapes upright, flower length including ovary 33mm. Leaves at flowering time 9x65 mm, glaucous, upright then arching. Pedicel straight, equal to the spathe. Outer segments 25 x 16mm,
incurved. 'Claw' 3mm long. Ovary yellow, one third the length of the outer segments. Inner segments with
yellow inverted heart, with a slightly rounded point, to 50% of the length. Bulbs large. Fine large bell-shaped
flowers, incurving outer segments make them gently ‘quill’ into a point at their apices when mature.
DRYAD GOLD STAR
One of our more diminutive Dryad Golds, Dryad Gold Star is a beguiling little snowdrop with relatively large flowers which open like drop-earrings from long buds, displaying an inverted heart on the inners. Only 8cm high at start of flowering, the blooms display well above short spreading foliage at flowering time. Planted in the open, the clump will glow bright gold in the winter sun. Excellent for pots and containers, though equally happy in the open ground. The small bulbs are vigorous and increase well.
Flowering height 9cm. Scapes upright, flower length including ovary 30mm. Leaves at flowering time 4x30mm, glaucous, upright to arching. Buds long and narrow. Pedicel almost straight, half as long as the straight spathe. No obvious 'claw'. Ovary yellow, narrowly cylindrical, one third to one half the length of the outer segments. Outer
segments broad and smooth. Inner segments with yellow inverted heart to 40% of the length.
