Shipton Bulbs

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.Freshly lifted Price 5/£4.50 10/£8.50

Galanthus plicatus A species native to the Crimea. The story goes that soldiers in the 1850’s war brought it back to Britain where it is now established in many large estates. Flowering a little earlier than G.nivalis, it is a larger plant with heart shaped green markings on the inner petals, and wider foliage turned back, (or plicate) at the edges.

Freshly lifted Price 5/£7.50

Galanthus Atkinsii A cross between Galanthus nivalis and G.plicatus, this fine plant is named after a previous owner of Painswick Rococo Gardens in Gloucestershire, where drifts of it are a famous feature in February. With handsome long pointed petals it is taller and earlier than the common Snowdrop, and is a vigorous grower.AGM

Freshly lifted. Price £3 each for large bulbs.

Galanthus Sam 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 Freshly lifted. Price £3 each for large bulbs.

Galanthus nivalis Maximus This old cultivated form of the common snowdrop stands out as it is so much taller than the species. It also flowers much later than the other big snowdrops,carrying on well into March. Price £3 each

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. Making large bulbs it flowers later than most, well into March. Freshly lifted Price 5 / £8.50

Galanthus elwesii This snowdrop is one of he 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 I 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. Price 20/£4 100 / £15.50

ERANTHIS
Eranthis cilicicus Another form of Winter Aconite (see Native bulbs). Although now considered by botanists as a subspecies of E.hyemalis this native of the mountains of Cilicia in Anatolia has striking differences. Its larger golden flowers appear later over a thinner leafed ruff. It naturalises as well under trees and shrubs. As with E.hyemalis tubers are freshly lifted on demand August to October. Price 10 / £4 50 / £17.50
These can also be sent in the green after flowering in March. Please add £1.50 for extra carriage in the green

CROCUS

Grown and loved for centuries as 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. Many are also scented and provide a welcome nectar source for early insects especially honey bees.

Crocus tommasinianus An early flowering crocus, silver violet outside, this species naturalises especially well in woods, but can be equally well accommodated in full sun.AGM Price 20 /£3 100/£9.50

Crocus tommassinianus Ruby Giant A rich darker purple variety of C.tommasinianus also growing well in woods or sun. Flowers profusely. Price 20/£3 100/£9.50

Crocus tommasinianus Whitewell Purple Equally free flowering this Crocus tommasinianus is a red purple with a silvery sheen. 1 Price 20/£3100/£9.50

Crocus tommasinianus Albus. This is the uncommon white form of the species. Price10/£6.50

Crocus tommasinianus Pictus A very old clone of the species, the violet flowers flecked with silver. Price 10/£8.50

Crocus ancyrensis Golden Bunch This is a free flowering form of the Ankara crocus, with up to 7 golden yellow blooms per corm, which has been grown in Dutch gardens for years. Price 20/£3 100/ £9.50

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 The earliest of the crocuses, these prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Plant 3" deep.

All varieties Price 20/ £3 100 / £9.50

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

C.crysanthus Ladykiller. Offered separately from the above. An odd name for a gorgeous lilac white crocu, stained dark purple outside. This is very strong growing AGM Price10/£3.50 20/£6

Crocus vernus hybrids The last Crocuses to flower, in March; these are mostly hybrids of Crocus vernus. 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 20/£3.50 100/£12.50

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 Blues Lilac blue flowers

Crocus 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. This is a very old variety which has been grown and loved for its cheerful blooms for centuries AGM

Mixed Mixture of the Crocus vernus varieties above

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 £3 100/£9.50

TULIPS As well as our native tulip (seeNative bulbs) other tulip species can be naturalized here. In general tulips hybrids are not great for establishing in our climate, and often flower beautifully and then disappear without special treatment, except perhaps in the drier counties of the South East. However it is worth trying some other tulip species as well as T.sylvestris in open drier areas or borders. Flowering in April the following natives of Asian mountains and steppes are some of the best at that. They are of course much smaller than the big showy hybrids.
Prices of all the following except Tulipa sprengeri 10 / £3.50 50/£10.50

Tulipa kaufmanniana The Waterlily Tulip. A robust species that grows well in sunny mixed borders. With attractive grey green leaves and bowl shaped flowers that are creamy yellow with a pink flush outside

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

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

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Tulipa linifolia The Flax leaved tulip. Easy to grow and flowering slightly later than the others, this has scarlet flowers and neat foliage. AGM

Tulipa saxatalis The Candia Tulip Coming from the Mediterranean this easy to grow species actually spreads by runners, increasing readily where happy, and producing 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 sprengerii This bright red species tulip is special in flowering much later than the rest, 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

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