Narcissus 'Tete-a-Tete' February 2010
Narcissus 'Mite' February 2010
Narcissus 'W P Milner' February 2010
Narcissus poeticus 'Actaea' March 2010
Narcissus 'Itzim' March 2010
Narcissus pseudonarcissus 'Princeps' March 2010
Narcissus 'Seagull' March 2010
Narcissus are some of my favorite plants in the Cascadia Garden in Seattle. Narcissus is the birth-month flower for March, the month when I was born. I can't remember a birthday when I didn't receive a bunch of Narcissus. I'm very attracted to the very common Narcissus 'King Alfred'. But I really love them all. I'm particularly fond of the miniatures, which bloom earliest, often toward the end of February. I've included the bloom times for Narcissus in my garden, below. Narcissus have been grown for millennia. They appeared in the gardens of ancient Rome. Most are native to the Mediterranean Basin, many in Iberia & Morocco. Narcissus serotinus is a fall-flowering species which grows as far east as Israel. Narcissus pseudonarcissus, the Daffodil, grows as far north as England. The native range of Narcissus jonquilla, the Jonquil, is limited to the Iberian Peninsula. There are perhaps 45 species of Narcissus divided into 10 groups, the largest of which is the Pseudonarcissi. Most garden varieties are derived from Narcissus cyclamineus, Narcissus jonquilla, Narcissus poeticus, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, Narcissus tazetta & Narcissus triandrus. Species, hybrids & cultivars are divided into 13 horticultural divisions. A good source for Narcissus is John Scheepers, Inc. Heirloom Narcissus can be found at Old House Gardens.
Narcissus in the Cascadia Garden:
Narcissus ‘Beersheba’ derived from Narcissus pseudonarcissus, introduced in 1923. Bloom times: 3-01-10, 3-25-09, 3-16-08
Narcissus bulbocodium ‘Golden Bells’ Bloom times: 3-27-08, but not since.
Narcissus ‘Hawera’ derived from Narcissus triandrus & Narcissus jonquilla, introduced in 1928 Bloom times: 3-27-10
Narcissus ‘Itzim’ derived from Narcissus cyclamineus, introduced in 1982 Bloom times: 2-27-10, 3-17-09, 3-3-08
Narcissus ‘Jenny' derived from Narcissus cyclamineus but said to be a hybrid, introduced in 1943. Bloom times: 2-27-10, 3-25-09
Narcissus jonquilla 'Baby Moon' Bloom times: 3-13-08
Narcissus ‘King Alfred’ derived from Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. major, introduced in 1890. Bloom times: 2-27-10, 3-25-09, 3-3-08
Narcissus ‘Little Gem’ introduced in 1938. Bloom times: 3-13-09
Narcissus minor var. conspicuus Bloom times: 3-25-09, 3-3-08
Narcissus ‘Mite’ derived from Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. obvallaris & Narcissus cyclamineus, introduced in 1965. Bloom times: 2-14-10, 3-3-09
Narcissus nanus ‘Little Beauty’ introduced in 1965.
Narcissus x odorus a naturally occurring hybrid of Narcissus jonquilla & Narcissus pseudonarcissus. Bloom times: 3-03-10
Narcissus ‘Mite’ derived from Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. obvallaris & Narcissus cyclamineus, introduced in 1965. Bloom times: 2-14-10, 3-3-09
Narcissus nanus ‘Little Beauty’ introduced in 1965.
Narcissus x odorus a naturally occurring hybrid of Narcissus jonquilla & Narcissus pseudonarcissus. Bloom times: 3-03-10
Narcissus poeticus ‘Actaea’ introduced in 1927. Bloom times: 3-05-10, 4-04-09, 3-27-08
Narcissus pseudonarcissus ‘Princeps’ introduced in 1830. Bloom times: 3-12-10, 3-13-08
Narcissus ‘Seagull’ derived from Narcissus poeticus, introduced in 1893. Bloom times: 3-14-10, 4-06-09
Narcissus ‘Small Talk’ derived from Narcissus minor, introduced in 1965. Bloom times: 2-07-10, 3-2-09, 2-22-08
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ derived from Narcissus cyclamineus & Narcissus tazetta, introduced in 1949. Bloom times: 2-07-10, 2-27-09, 2-28-08
Narcissus triandrus ‘Ice Wings’ introduced in 1958. Bloom times: 3-16-10, 4-04-09, 3-27-08
Narcissus ‘W P Milner’ derived from Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. moschatus, introduced in 1884. Bloom times: 2-11-10, 3-5-09, 2-28-08
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4 comments:
Jordan,
Very informative post. Thanks. Do you have any favorite daffodils that perennialize well?
I am not familiar with the word perennialize. (I found this definition: To return year after year as a perennial.) All of the Narcissus in my post return year after year, most of them expanding by growing new bulbs. If you mean naturalize, only Narcissus minor has spread from seed.
Jordan, I love plants, I love writing about them. If I want absolute expert advice served up with a bit of humility you are the man I would turn to. The Narcissus and Daffodil, in spite of growing many of them I have not been so good with the names, in fact the only one in our garden which I can name, to my shame is Jetfire, a little beauty which would make a great addition to your collection.
I've often seen Narcissus 'Jetfire' mentioned. I really love any that are derived from N cyclamineus. I find something very charming in the reflexed petals. I have trouble remaining motivated during the lag between the time of bloom & the time to order bulbs in the fall. But I will definitely try to keep N 'Jetfire' in mind. Thanks.
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