Shipton Bulbs

John Shipton & Daughters, Y Felin, Henllan Amgoed, Whitland, Carmarthenshire , SA34 0SL
Tel: 01994 240125, Fax: 01994 241180, E mail bluebell@zoo.co.uk * Terms and conditions/Privacy Policy/©Alison Foot 2003  

 

Snowdrops,Crocus and Tulips

SNOWDROP                       

As well as the common Snowdrop (see Native Bulb section p.3) there are a myriad of named forms of both Galanthus nivalis and other Galanthus species.  We offer a small selection below for being strong growing and able to naturalise well in our gardens, and for a range of size and flowering times.  As with the common snowdrop these are freshly lifted on demand when dormant in the autumn (with the exception of Galanthus elwesii).  We can send them in the green in March as with the Common Snowdrops.  Please add £2 for extra postage per order ‘in the green’.  Galanthus elwesii is much better sent when dormant August – October

Galanthus nivalis viridapicis              This is a strong growing form of our common Snowdrop.  It is noticeably taller and is distinguished by striking green tips to its outer petals.                                                            Price    5/£7.50

Galanthus plicatus x              A species native to the Crimea. The story goes that soldiers in the 1850’s war brought it back to Britain where it crossed with our Snowdrop.  The tall vigorous early flowering crosses established in many large estates. Flowering earlier than G.nivalis, they make a larger plant with heart shaped green markings on the inner petals, and wider foliage turned back, (or plicate) at the edges.                                                        Price    5/£8.50

Galanthus Atkinsii                 One of the best known crosses between Galanthus nivalis and G.plicatus, this fine plant is named after the 19th Century plantsman James Atkins.  With handsome long pointed petals it is earlier flowering and much taller than the common Snowdrop, and is a vigorous grower.  AGM                           Price            £3.00 each

Galanthus Magnet                 This long admired robust Snowdrop  was first raised from seed in the 1890’s, again as a G.plicatus – G.nivalis cross. It stands out clearly with its fine long pedicel or flower stem and good sized elegant flowers.           AGM                                                                                                                           Price    £3.00 each

Galanthus S. Arnott              One of the more striking forms of G.nivalis, named after a 19th century Scottish Galanthophile. Appearing later in the Snowdrop season the large flowers produce an unusually strong honey fragrance. It has the great virtue of being a vigorous grower.            AGM                                       Price    £3.00 each

Galanthus nivalis Maximus   This old cultivated form of the common Snowdrop stands out again as very much taller but flowering  well into March, is much later than the other big Snowdrops.  Freshly lifted   Price    5/ £8.50

Galanthus nivalis White Dream       We have been growing on stocks of this vigorous large flowered form of the common Snowdrop which we acquired a couple of years ago from a Dutch gardener who has been growing it for many years.  It flowers later than most, well into March.                                                                  Price    £3.00 each

Galanthus elwesii                   This snowdrop is one of the earliest to appear.  With wide greyish leaves, the flowers are distinguished by mostly having two green spots on the inner petals.  These bulbs are from the Indigenous Propagation Project just started by the WWF in the Taurus Mountains of Turkey, to stop wild collection of bulbs, and which John twice visited at its inception.  Unlike the other Snowdrops listed here they don't mind drying out after lifting, reflecting dry summers experienced in their native habitat.       AGM               Price    10/£4.00            50/£12.50

CROCUS   

The most colourful of the early spring flowers.  Crocuses are not native to Britain but naturalise readily, often self seeding, in short grass and light woodland. 

Crocus tommasinianus and its cultivars are the earliest of all the crocuses we have, naturalising particularly well in both woodland and more open situations.

Crocus tommasinianus          Bravely showing its silvery violet flowers in spite of the winter weather, a glimpse of sunlight will have them opening for the insects and intrepid humans in the garden.  Once established they self seed freely and rapidly form a carpet of colour at the dreariest time of the year.  AGM   Price    20/£3.00          100/£12.50

Crocus tommasinianus Ruby Giant             A rich darker purple variety of C.tommasinianus this is neither Ruby nor Giant!  It also grows well in woods or sun, flowering and colonising profusely.            Price    20/£3.00            100/£12.50

Crocus tommasinianus Whitewell Purple    Equally free flowering this Crocus tommasinianus is a red purple with a silvery sheen.                                                                                                               Price    20/£3.00          100/£12.50

Crocus tommasinianus Albus            This is the uncommon white form of the species.                   Price    10/£11.50

Crocus tommasinianus Pictus           A very old clone of the species, the violet flowers are flecked with silver.

Price    5//£8.50

Crocus ancyrensis Golden Bunch    The earliest flowering golden crocus with a delightful honey scent attractive to both human and early insects.  Given a sunny position it will flower profusely.       Price    20/£3.00          100/ £12.50

Crocus flavus ssp flavus         This much sought after species packs a punch with its small, bright flame coloured orange yellow flowers.  These are freely produced as is the seed, making it ideal for naturalising.  AGM

Price    10/£4.50

 

Crocus chrysanthus varieties            Close on the heels of the “tommies” are the Crocus chrysanthus in a rainbow of colours.            Price  for all crocus chrysanthus varieties     20/£3.00          100/£12.50

 C. Blue Pearl             Soft lavender blue on the outside and shining silver blue on the inside.        AGM

C. Snowbunting         Pure white with orange stamens and a hint of purple outside.           AGM

C. Cream Beauty       Rich clotted cream flowers.    AGM

C. Advance                Most unusual soft buff yellow inside, washed violet blue outside.

C. Goldilocks             Charming butter yellow, honey scented flowers with bronze feathering outside.

Mixed                         Mixture of Crocus chrysanthus varieties above

C. chrysanthus Ladykiller     We have large clumps of this little beauty planted by mice several years ago. With its gorgeous lilac white flowers stained with purple at the base, this is a strong growing dependable variety.  AGM

Price    10/£3.50          20/£6.00

Crocus vernus hybrids are the last Crocuses to flower, in March.  We don’t understand why these have fallen out of popularity, as they are vigorous and trouble free, naturalizing in grass where they provide bold splashes of colour.

Price for all crocus vernus hybrids                10/£3.00          50/£10.50

Crocus Remembrance                       Shining rich purple, globe shaped flowers.

Crocus Pickwick                                White flowers striped with pale and dark lilac.

Crocus Jeanne D’Arc                        Pure white with showy orange stigmas

Crocus Queen of the Blue                 Lilac blue flowers

Crocus x luteus Golden Yellow        C.flavus was one of the parents of this vigorous large flowered hybrid, which accounts for its bright yellow colour. Although sterile, it clumps up quickly and can be easily divided.      AGM

Mixed                                                 Mixture of the Crocus vernus varieties above

Crocus Fantasy                      Bred many years ago in Eastern Europe this arrived in the west after the fall of the Berlin Wall. A hybrid between C.tommasinianus and C. Remembrance it has the best attributes of both, with the silvery outer petals intriguingly opening to reveal the glossy purple inside.                                       Price    5/£9.50

 

AUTUMN FLOWERING CROCUS         For delivery in July and August

Crocus speciosus        Of all the autumn flowering crocuses, we find this the most reliable at flowering in our climate.  It produces its rich purple-blue flowers in October, doing well in open meadow or semi shade where the flowers or the thin leaves (which appear in spring) will not be mown.          AGM                           Price    20/£3.00            100/£12.50

TULIPS 

As well as our native tulip (see Native Bulbs section p.4) other tulip species can be grown in the garden here in open drier areas or borders.  In general tulips are not always great for establishing in our climate as most species originate from the steppes and mountains of Central Asia, Iran and Turkey, where summers are often hot and dry.  However it is worth trying some other tulip species from environments with a climate regime a little closer to our own. These species are of course much smaller than the big showy hybrids, many of which disappear after the first year.

Price of all the following except Tulipa sprengerii                10/£3.50          50/£10.50

Tulipa humilis            This tiny tulip, which we saw in the wild on scree on a pass in the Taurus Mountains of Southern Turkey just below the snowline, also enjoys the sun. At 4”-6” high, it bears open deep violet pink flowers in mid spring.

Tulipa linifolia            The Flax Leaved tulip.  This beautiful scarlet flowered tulip coming from the mountains of Central Asia particularly Tajikistan is easy to grow and flowering slightly later than the others.      AGM

Tulipa saxatalis          The Candia Tulip.  Coming from the Mediterranean this easy to grow species actually spreads by runners, increasing readily where happy. It produces glossy green leaves followed by star shaped fragrant pink flowers in mid to late spring.

Tulipa biflora              Flowering from late winter this species has distinctive star shaped fragrant white flowers with a yellow eye and a thin red margin to each petal. Outside the flowers are flushed green in a remarkable and very beautiful combination.

Tulipa praestans         With cup shaped orange red flowers in April this tulip can establish well in our gardens being tolerant of a range of soils. It is a 19th century introduction from Central Asia by intrepid plant hunter Eduard Regel.

Tulipa clusiana var chrysantha         The Golden Lady Tulip.  This form of the elegant fine leaved species has long been grown in gardens in this country.  This form has vibrant bi-coloured flowers of yellow and red, enjoying a well drained spot in the sun.           AGM

Tulipa clusiana Lady Jane                With pure white flowers beautifully tinged with rose pink this is an exquisite form of the lady Tulip.

Tulipa kolpakowskiana                      With yellow flowers streaked with red this is one of the many tulip species that create floral carpets in the green foothills of the Tien Shan Mountains in Kazakhstan.

Tulipa sprengerii        This tulip species is special in appearing much later than the rest with gem like bright red flowers in late May and even into June. It is rare in the bulb trade hence the price, but is excellent at naturalizing in shady borders, and around shrubs. When established it seeds itself freely.   AGM                           Price £3.50 each