Galanthus hybr. ‘Dionysus’

Galanthus ‘Dionysus’ is a representative of the so-called "Greatorex Doubles". In the 1950s, Heyrick A. Greatorex of Brundall, Norfolk, England raised the first double snowdrop hybrids. He crossed Galanthus nivalis ‘Flore Pleno’ (the only double snowdrops at that time) with Galanthus plicatus. These hybrids produced regular double flowers, large and extremely vigorous plants, which was a real sensation at the time and caused great excitement.
Heyrick A. Greatorex named most of his double hybrids after female characters from Shakespeare’s plays. ‘Dionysus’ is an exception though, because this character does not appear anywhere in Shakespeare’s plays.
There was some confusion at the end of the 20th century when a variety was shown for the first time, got a cultivar name and even received a PC award (Premliminary Commendation). However, some snowdrop experts noticed that the characteristics of this "new" variety exactly matched the ones of ‘Dionysus’. The variety ‘Sybil Roberta’ has since been used as a synonym for ‘Dionyus’.
The variety is vigorous and has regular double flowers, with dark inner markings and fine green lines at the tips of the outer petals. Galanthus ‘Dionysus’ has a tendency to throw single flowers, even in established clumps.