Glossary
Explanation of terms you'll encounter on our website.
B
- Breeding
- The targeted selection and cultivation of plants with special or desired characteristics, such as an alternative flower shape, color, or early blooming time. In snowdrops, breeding often occurs via seed or by keeping an eye out for spontaneous mutations in an existing collection.
- Bulb
- The underground storage organ of the snowdrop plant, from which new roots, leaves, and flowers emerge every winter. The bulb stores nutrients that help the plant through its winter dormancy.
C
- Cultivar
- A cultivated variety of a plant species created through selection or hybridization. Cultivars are distinguished by specific features like flower shape, color, or blooming period and are indicated by a name enclosed in single quotation marks, e.g., Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno'.
D
- Double Flower
- A flower with multiple rows of petals, contrasting with a single flower. In snowdrops, these are the Flore Pleno varieties, where the inner petals are multiplied to give a full, lush appearance.
G
- Galanthophile
- A lover and collector of snowdrops. Galanthophiles are often deeply involved in finding, tracking, and trading rare cultivars. The term is widely used in the snowdrop world, including by breeders like Matt Bishop, after whom one of our cultivars is named.
- Galanthus
- The scientific genus name for snowdrops. The name is derived from Greek: gala (milk) and anthos (flower), referring to the characteristic white flowers. The genus has about twenty recognized species, of which Galanthus nivalis is the best known.
- Galanthus elwesii
- One of the largest and earliest blooming species within the Galanthus genus, hailing from Turkey and Southeastern Europe. Elwesii is recognizable by its broad, grayish-green leaves and large flowers. Cultivars like Gabriel and Godfrey Owen from our collection are elwesii selections.
- Galanthus nivalis
- The most famous and widespread species of the genus, also called the common snowdrop. The plant grows 7 to 15 cm tall and has two narrow, grayish-green leaves. The solitary, hanging white flower consists of six tepals; the three inner ones are shorter, with a green V- or U-shaped mark above the tip. Blooming time: January to April. Naturally occurring from the Pyrenees to Ukraine and Turkey. The species contains galantamine, an active substance used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. View our nivalis cultivars.
- Galanthus plicatus
- A robust species native to Crimea and Turkey, growing about 15 cm tall. The leaves are blue-green to grayish-green, wider than most other species, up to 2 cm wide. A distinctive detail is the outward folded leaf edges, both in bud and afterwards. The species owes its name to this: plicatus means 'folded'. The nodding white flowers are some of the earliest in spring; the three outer tepals are completely white, the three inner shorter and notched, usually with a green mark above the notch. In some cultivars this mark is yellow instead of green, as with the yellow-tip Wendy's Gold. Colossus from our collection is also a plicatus selection.
- Galanthus woronowii
- A species native to northeastern Turkey and the Caucasus. Recognizable by its broad, shiny bright green leaves, a striking difference from the grayish-green leaves of most other species. The leaves are supervolute: upon emerging, one leaf is tightly wrapped around the other, and they can grow up to 25 cm long and 2 cm wide. The plant grows about 15 cm tall. The white flowers appear from late January to early April; the inner tepals have a single green mark at the tip.
H
- Hybrid
- A plant created by crossing two different species or cultivars. In snowdrops, hybrids occur between species such as Galanthus nivalis and Galanthus plicatus. Hybrids sometimes combine features from both parent plants and can possess qualities neither parent has individually, such as a larger flower or a longer blooming time.
I
- In the green
- A method where snowdrops are sold and planted while the plant is still in leaf, shortly after flowering. This significantly increases the survival rate compared to dry bulbs because the plant experiences less stress during transplanting. Please note: this particularly applies to temperate climates like the Netherlands. In regions with other conditions, such as parts of North America, the outcome may vary per situation.
N
- NPC (Dutch Plant Collection)
- A national system for the preservation of special plant species and varieties. NPC holders manage a recognized collection of a specific plant genus and contribute to the preservation of plant genetic heritage. Kwekerij Sela manages the NPC for the genus Galanthus
. - Nursery
- A business that grows, selects, and sells plants. A specialized nursery like Kwekerij Sela focuses on a specific plant genus and builds knowledge about cultivation, breeding, and collection management within that scope.
S
- Sela (סֶלַע)
- Hebrew word for rest, pause, slowing down, feeling, letting in, and being. Sela is used in the Bible after wisdoms, to let the preceding sink in. For us, Sela stands at the beginning of connection with yourself, others, and your surroundings.
- Snowdrop
- The common name for plants of the genus Galanthus. The name refers to the white, bell-shaped flowers that appear early in the year, often while there is still snow on the ground. Snowdrops are one of the earliest signs of spring and are appreciated for their delicate beauty and resilience.
W
- Winter hardy
- A plant is hardy if it can survive frost and winter conditions without protection. Snowdrops are naturally hardy in the Netherlands and most temperate climates; their bulbs withstand the cold and the flowers appear precisely in the coldest months of the year.
Y
- Yellow-tip
- A snowdrop where the inner petals are colored yellow instead of the usual green. Yellow-tips are relatively rare and therefore highly sought after by collectors. Well-known examples from our collection are Wendy's Gold, Primrose Warburg, and Madeleine.