Galanthus Plicatus

The pleated snowdrop is a robust eastern European species with broad, dark green leaves folded sharply along their edges and often covered by a grey bloom. Sturdy stems carry large nodding white flowers in late winter, the shorter inner petals marked green at the tip and sometimes at the base. Native to the Crimea and neighbouring Black Sea regions, it has contributed vigour, leaf character and flower size to many garden snowdrops. It grows into handsome clumps in humus-rich soil that remains cool through summer and provides a welcome early source of pollen and nectar.