Mendel’s Gardens

Galanthus elwesii

Giant Snowdrop · Elwes's Snowdrop · Greater Snowdrop

Family AmaryllidaceaeGenus Galanthus

About the plant

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

Safety

Toxicity
Low severity. Roots. Phenanthridine alkaloids.

The plant

Habit
BulbPlant Finder
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
0.5-1 ftPlant Finder
Spread
0.25-0.5 ftPlant 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 shade
Watering
Medium

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 Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

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

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

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.

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 sowing. Germination 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.

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%.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

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.

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 sowing.

0% germination.

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

This source doesn't state how long.

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.