Narcissus pachybolbus

[johnralphcarpenter]

Some years ago. I bought a huge bulb of this species, I think from Paul Christian. I potted it and it flowered  for a couple of years, but thereafter only produced leaves before disappearing completely. Some years later, in fact two years ago, I turned out the pot and found many small bulbs. These I planted in various places; some at the foot of a warm south-facing wall where Narcissus 'Paperwhite' grows well; some in pots; some I lined out in the vegetable garden. All produced leaves on cue. This week I turned out one of the pots and found bigger bulbs; more "normal" narcissus-size but not "pachybolbus".

My question is - how long before they are flowering size again? I haven't yet dug up any of the ones in the veggie garden.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Anybody?

[annew]

We are listening... but not grown it.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Ralph,
for us it seems to grow similarly to other "Paperwhites"; my concern would be that the bulbs "disappeared" and then re-appeared - are you sure that nothing else seeded itself into the pot?
cheers
fermi

[johnralphcarpenter]

Hi Ralph,
for us it seems to grow similarly to other "Paperwhites"; my concern would be that the bulbs "disappeared" and then re-appeared - are you sure that nothing else seeded itself into the pot?
cheers
fermi

Hi Fermi; sorry, didn't make myself clear! The bulbs didn't disappear, just stayed dormant, no leaves or flowers, probably because I didn't water the pot and it was in the polytunnel.

[Angelo Porcelli]

I got this species from the same source, but in my opinion it's not pachybolbus, it's just a normal N. papyraceus. Photo of true pachybolbus are present on daffseek.org, posted by Koopowitz
http://daffnet.org/n-panizzianus-vs-n-pachybolbus/

[Anthony Darby]

I grow garden centre papyraceus and panizzianus. Both flower well here in the garden.

[JPB]

Ralph, I compared the leaves of my Paul Christian "pachybolbos" with those of two clones of N. paryraceus from Spain and Portugal. My ''pachybolbos'' has keeled leaves as papyraceus has and general appearance of leaves is almost identical to papyraceus. Up to now, my bulb has not flowered yet. Hope this helps.

[johnralphcarpenter]

I think the evidence suggests it is papyraceaus, not pachybolbos as sold. Caveat emptor.