Narcissus 2024

[ashley]

N. munozii-garmendiae is unusually early this year.

[MarcR]

Ashley,

I don't grow Narcissus; but that is very nice! There are a few I find atractive; but even with .875 acre, space becomes limited.

[annew]

A lovely small species, Ashley

[annew]

It's hoop city here just now. Trying to keep up with recording the seedlings. It's difficult to choose between them.

[Maggi Young]

Article from  October 2023 ......Kew Bulletin article summary "We report for the first time in the wild in the Iberian Peninsula the hybrid species Narcissus ×monochromus, resulting from a cross between N. cyclamineus and N. pseudonarcissus, both native species in the region growing close to where their wild hybrid has now been found. We characterised the hybrid morphologically and compared it with both parental species." Article by Ines De Bellard Pecchio, Rafael Díez Domínguez &  Fernando Urena Plaza.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12225-023-10129-5

[ashley]

'Polar Hunter', flowering now in the garden, is strongly scented.

[Yann]

very nice color!

Narcissus assoanus, another common species from south of France and Spain.







Narcissus x suzannae

[Robert]

Hi Yann,

Thank you for sharing your photograph of Narcissus assoanus. Below is a photograph of Narcissus assoanus currently blooming in our Sacramento garden. Our plants look very similar to yours. Many years ago many of the Narcissus “species” I received and grew from seed turned out to be unintended hybrids. I have to admit to a great deal of confusion regarding this species. In my research I have found a great deal of conflicting information. One authority lists 2 subspecies of Narcissus assoanus, ssp. assoanus and ssp. praelongus. 4 varieties of subspecies assaonus are listed. None of the descriptions match the plants blooming in our garden.

In addition, I have always considered Narcissus x suzannae as a cross of N. triandrus x cantabricus. I am finding a great deal of conflicting information in this regard too. By any chance do you know where I can find up-to-date taxonomic information regarding the genus Narcissus in the English language?

[Yann]

Robert a good source, a bit outdated, is the book of Mike Salmon. I'll search this weekend among my pdf documents if i've something in english (most are in spanish and french, which won't help you)

https://webs.um.es/falcaraz/miwiki/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=narcisos_32.pdf

[Robert]

Hi Yann,

Thank you for the information and the link. I will see what I can do through our library system.

[annew]

Introducing Narcissus 'Maggi Young', named for a SRGC treasure. This little daff is just a ray of sunshine, like her namesake!

[annew]

A few favourite seedlings from the last few weeks.
3333 is a stunning white form of N. hedraeanthus.
3762-1-16 I have been calling 'Baby Gannet' because of the beautiful shading of the corona similar to a gannet's neck. It is smaller and more delicate than 3587-2-15 below, with a similar colour, which will be called 'Sula'.
4216-3-18 is sister to Ivory Ripple, named last year, from which it differs by the more widely flared corona.
3933-1-18 is overdue a name, having caught my eye because of its pristine white colouring present at first opening - most white cyclamineus hybrids are yellowish at first.

[Maggi Young]

Opened the page, was  so excited to see the white daffs, and was really enjoying the photos .... then:  WOW, a new "Me" !!
 Thank you Anne, this means a great deal to me - just delighted that you have chosen such a cute little thing to bear my name! I am greatly honoured.

[Maggi Young]

Personally, I find the white  N. cyclamineus hybrids prettier than the yellow ones. Seems a strange personal preference when I enjoy all other daffs equally whether white or yellow- these odd occasional preferences come out of nowhere, it seems! I have only recently come to properly appreciate N. cyclamineus in the garden - perhaps I should just keep taking the tablets!!

[annew]

Our miniature season is coming to an end, with triandrus hybrids now at their best.
The pot of x rupidulus Little Jen (named for my daughter) with 40 bulbs is the biggest potful we've ever had. Little Celine (named for her friend) is getting there too, with delicate reverse bicolour flowers.
The vase of mixed miniatures had to be banished from the living room as the scent was so powerful!
These clones of the cross triandrus x dubius have now been in flower for 5 weeks, so I finally got around to taking their portraits. Shown here in a compilation, and the vase just after I'd finished taking the photos.