Narcissus April 2008

[Gerdk]

Speaking of which, ARE there any others out there doing their own daffodil hybrids? Please tell me I'm not the only one. I know Ian the Young does and has produced some lovely things.

I  too made a few crosses - but more or less fiddling around, nothing important.
One cross was N. cantabricus x white N. hedraeanthus, shown in this Forum. Unfortunately I realized that some forms of pure hedraeanthus were superior. Nevertheless the fertility of this plant is interesting because hybrids between bulbocodium and cantabricus are considered as to be sterile. So this indicates the close affinity between  hedraeanthus and cantabricus.
As I said before - more or less only for my own pleasure.

Gerd

[Michael J Campbell]

Narcissus curleylocks.

[annew]

I  too made a few crosses - but more or less fiddling around, nothing important.


Gerd

It's important if it gives you pleasure! I only fiddle around also - just out of curiosity to see what comes of the crosses. It is a bonus if something beautiful happens. I also use saved pollen, which I keep in little folded pieces of aluminium foil in a jar in the fridge.
I took Ian's advice and sow my seeds half way down the pot. I sow them as soon as they are ripe, in a layer of sand half way down the pot, and all clustered together, rather than evenly spaced - they seem to like being close together. I then top up with the compost (an ordinary gritty alpine mix) and top off with a layer of grit. The pots are left in a frame open to the elements throughout the winter, and usually germinate about the time their parents come into growth.
At this point I bring them into the alpine house and plunge the pots in sand to keep the temperature even. They get the odd feed until they start to die down, and then are not watered but the plunge is moistened occasionally, until they have the September and October 'monsoons' as recommended by Ian. I repot them into fresh compost after their second season of growth.

[Brian Duncan]

A few in bloom this week.
Narcissus nevadensis. can someone confirm ID please?
Narcissus nevadensis.02
Narcissus bantram.
Narcissus curleylocks
Narcissus Ice wings. With a  little weather damage.
Narcissus Lilac charm.

It certainly looks like N. nevadensis - though it is one of the few trumpet species to often have more than one flower to a stem.
Brian

[Michael J Campbell]

Tks Brian.

[Lvandelft]

ID required.
Can anyone identify this Narcissus,sorry it is a bit battered from the storm. I got it as Eystettensis (Queen Anne's Double Daffodil)
but Daffseek does not agree. Any ideas?

Michael, I made last week a picture of the real N. eystettensis.
Because I was away here is the picture today.
I copied your pict. from Narcissus March to compare.

[Michael J Campbell]

Thanks Luit.

[mark smyth]

You just never know who will drop in for a look. Hello Brian!

[Michael J Campbell]

Just had to include this one on account of its name.

Narcissus Clare

[annew]

Welcome Brian! Perhaps you could give us a description of your methods for hybridising and growing on seedlings? I know you do things on a much grander scale!

[Gerdk]

Here is Narcissus obesus - later than the other bulbocodiums

Gerd

[Tony Willis]

a couple of species in flower now.The scent from the polyanthos is amazing and fills the grenhouse

[David Nicholson]

Well, that's three more on my wants list.

[ChrisB]

I have this narcissus growing in a lovely clump beside the garage.  Its been here as long as we have, 13 years now, and goes from strength to strength every year.  I have no idea of its name, but it is the colour of butter and sugar to me, slightly lemony.  The photo colour is close but not spot on.  If anyone knows what it might be I'd be so grateful.  Also, a narcissus growing at Brantwood, home of John Ruskin, last week.  Is it the old wild one by any chance, it was certainly in a wild area, not cultivated at all....

[annew]

Narcissus abscissus is very noble-looking.