Hello Andrew, This is Allium neopolitanum. On the Cote d'Azur (2hours east of here) a selection of this species (with very straight thick stem) is grown on a large scale for cut flowers. Flowers there from end of January, here it flowers March-April, very often naturalised in lawns. And we have snowdrops as well (mainly G. elwesii)! Greetings Lauw de Jager http://www.bulbargence.com/ South of France Mediterranean climat -----Original Message----- We don't have snowdrops here but we do get masses of these guys