Description
This clone was originally received in 1984 by Michael Hoog, from one of our then near neighbours, the late Mrs Netta Statham at Erway Farm, Ellesmere, Shropshire.
Michael received it under another name which both parties knew was not right, but it was passed on as “something different” and it was subsequently named by Michael’s son, Antoine, who coined the name ‘Christmas Wish’. It is one of the earliest flowering clones of nivalis affinity.
In the cold climate at Zwanenburg House in the Netherlands where Michael first grew this, it always bloomed around January 20th, elsewhere it is 2-3 weeks earlier. Sometimes the first flowers open close to Christmas, hence the name, in allusion to the hope that it will do so. The first flowers usually appear when the foliage is only slightly developed.
It is tall, around 15-20cm in flower. There is a faint median grey leaf stripe perhaps suggesting G. reginae-olgae in the bloodline. We offer this as a suggestion only, it is in no way proven. The leaf edge is slightly thickened and one could equally suggest a plicatus influence. What is evident is that this is almost certainly a hybrid plant and not just a nivalis form, hence we have dropped “nivalis” from its name.
for UK sales ONLY. NOT available for export.