Yet another new record price for a snowdrop

Galanthus 'Green Tear'

The last of three bulbs of Galanthus 'Green Tear' offered this year on Ebay by vendor Ramonhoi has just sold for a record-breaking sum of £360. As reported last month, the first one made 'only' £320, so it is surprising that the later offering should fetch this increased price.

'Green Tear' was discovered by Gert-Jan van der Kolk near Zutphen in The Netherlands, a locality more famous perhaps for being the site where Sir Philip Sidney proffered his waterbottle to another wounded soldier whose need was yet greater than his. Although found in a wood where only G. nivalis was growing, and discussed as a G. nivalis in the book, 'Green Tear' shows evidence of hybridity with G. plicatus in its folded-back leaf-margin. When we wrote Snowdrops it was a very recent discovery and there were only six bulbs in the world, but I'm glad to say there are rather more than that now. It is vigorous and robust in the garden and, I think, a very handsome plant.