Galanthus nivalis Boyds Double

An unusual spiky variant of nivalis; the flower consisting of numerous narrow green segments, giving the appearance of a small shaving brush.

The original plant was found in a cottage garden at Ashiesteel  in the Scottish Borders over a hundred years ago and named by, or for, William Brack Boyd.

It grows well enough but is a shy flowerer and even slower to increase. We received a single bulb from Noel Pritchard who received it in turn from Primrose Warburg. After a settling in period of three years, our bulb has flowered annually. After a further few years, it began to develop an offset and after nine years we now have two bulbs. It is difficult to imagine how we will ever have a surplus.