Snowdrop

Lovely to see them out at this time of year, but, do you have one of these in your garden?

'Mutant' snowdrop sells for £725

The world's most expensive snowdrop bulb, cultivated "by accident" by an elderly couple in Scotland, has sold for more than £700.

The first specimen sold on eBay for £725.10 Photo: GEOFF ROBINSON

By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent

The unusual flower, with a yellow head and yellow markings on white petals, was spotted about ten years ago in a Perthshire garden among the more common green and white varieties.

Ian Christie, a local nurseryman, spotted the “one in ten million” plant and has managed to propagate a new variation from a single bulb named Elizabeth Harrison.

Yesterday, he sold the first specimen on eBay for £725.10, more than twice as much as the previous record of £350 achieved earlier this year. He said the money will go towards helping the elderly couple maintain their garden, which has become more challenging in recent years.

However they wish to keep a low profile because of the risk of the valuable snowdrops being stolen.

Mr Christie is also concerned about security at his nursery and has been asked not to name the UK buyer.