IN THE GARDEN
SPRING SURGE Galanthus alpinus x Galanthus nivalis ‘Flore Pleno’ (left) and a lakeside snowdrop carpet (top)
hybrids and cultivars, satisfying the appetite of the most dedicated galanthophile. Spotting the differences Snowdrop species, hybrids and cultivars are common in having solitary white flowers and in usually displaying three inner tepals with green or yellow markings and three larger, unmarked outer tepals. Tepals are the flower’s petal- like segments. Botanists use this word because a snowdrop’s petals and sepals (the outer protective leaf-like parts that protect flowers when in bud) look alike. What makes each variety distinct is the size and shape of the green marking, the shape of the flower, the size and position of the tepals, the shape and
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK JANUARY 2026 85
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