Narcissus March 2007

[Paddy Tobin]

Indeed, Maggi,
Narcissus condubensis has a lovely smell.

John  Blanchard makes a comment on the name - he cannot see how it became named as 'cordUbensis' when it grows around CordOba and should then, perhaps, be called N. condObensis. One of the peculiarities of plant namers, I suppose. Maybe a spelling mistake?

Paddy

[david m]

 
The attached photos are from a pot of AGS N. bulbocodium seeds sown in 2001 and which have flowered for the first time this year!
As you can see, one (the first to open ) is nicely flared and measures 4 cm in diameter, the other which opened a day or two later is just "ordinary". 
I was hoping that  it would resemble the first.
Unfortunately, a  since departed slug has had a snack.
How do they pick the most interesting plant?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

David,
what a monster flower !!!
But a beautiful monster at that - very good colour too - good thing you caught the slug before she could any more damage.

[Maggi Young]

How do they pick the most interesting plant?

David, this is very simple: pests, be they slugs, mice, whatever, always eat the most interesting plant, rarest plant, most precious plant for the same reason that we are unlikely to order beans on toast in a Michelin- starred restaurant: they fancy a change and something exotic!

[tonyg]

Many narcissus species from the spring brigade are looking good now.  Here are some which have featured in earlier posts.  Not sure if all of them are correctly named - what do you think?

Narcissus longispathus - ex Mike Salmon seed, about 13 years ago.  Nice medium sized (10") daff, the spathe is not especially long though ... perhaps it is N hispanicus?

Narcissus radinganorum - from exchange seed.  I think it looks very like yours JoF.

Narcissus pseudonarcissus eugeniae - Anne W, mine is roughly intermediate between your two in colour.  Much the same slightly 'dumpy' flower.  I like it.

Narcissus jacetanus - originally from Mike Salmon this is the next generation after the original 1994 raising went west after being ravaged by Narcissus bulb fly.  I still have one of the originals in the garden but they need careful placing being so small.  Here the garden has become a bit wild and overgrown.

[tonyg]

And a few more - shorter posts keep the thumbnail pics on the screen with the text.

Narcissus cordobenisis - raised from AGS seed in 1998.  Quite variable in flower form.

Narcissus wilkommii - small spares planted out 2 years ago are now flowering well in the garden.

Narcissus x susannae - from a friend of a friend who I met through this forum.  Proof if it were needed of what a great meeting place this is  I think it is N triandrus x cantabricus form memory, certainly looks that way.  Not sure which one is the seed parent ... answers please!

[Maggi Young]

My goodness, that N. wilkommii is early in the garden, Tony! Lovely daffs, all of 'em.

The wild x susannae are thought to be cantabricus x triandrus, it is not really known which way the cross goes, I think! Ian says he thinks triandrus is the seed parent.  In Ian's cross he used N. triandrus and N. cantabricus petunioides
I have seen a result of the cross made by Rannveig Wallis. This is 'Eira' which looks rather bigger and less dainty than x susannae. Officially the resulting hybrids are still all x susannae , there is an RHS note  stating, of 'Eira' : Declared not to be a clonal cultivar and may show some variation within the parameters of the cultivar. Falls botanically within N. x susannae.

[tonyg]

Thanks for the info Maggi.  The wilkommii are ahead of the ones in pots round the back.  I think the south facing wall 3 foot behind them might be to 'blame'

[annew]

Great pics Tony. Thanks!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great flowers and photos Tony - thanks for this glance into your Narcissus world.

[mark smyth]

Tony I didnt know you were infected with Yellow Fever!

This Sunday a few of us, in cluding Ann Borill, are off to Brian Duncan's to see this miniature breeding results. It better be a good day for photos. It's been rubbish for the last two years

[Anthony Darby]

Here is Narcissus cuatrecasassii (with flowers 2½cm across) and another pic of N. (triandrus) pallidulus.

[Lesley Cox]

Very nice Anthony. I saw today what looked like a host of golden daffodils but unfortunately it was a paddock full of ragwort.

[Paddy Tobin]

Anthony,

N.cuatrecassassii and N. (triandrus) pallidulus - is this a name change? - are two to die for.

All the daffodils posted above, Tony's etc. are fabulous. I think David has shown the valus of growing from seed. What a great trumpet flair on his N. bulbocodium above. Very nice indeed.

Paddy

[John Forrest]

Very nice Anthony but 2.5cm seems very wide for Narcissus cuatrecasassii.