Narcissus triandrus

[Gerry Webster]

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to keep N. triandrus going? I have had it several times & always lost it after a year or two. Other people (including John Blanchard) seem to have had a similar experience.

[Maggi Young]

Ian and I wish we knew the answer to this one, Gerry!  
 It's a tough one for us... and we love it SO much.

[Darren]

My plants from AGS exchange seed did fine (and even reached a showbench) until I found out they were supposed to be difficult! Now I'm down to one bulb and (thankfully) a potful of seedlings.

The one bulb is about to flower so I'm saving pollen from cantabricus so I can cross them.

[Susan Band]

I have no problem growing them out in a field. So perhaps you are treating them too well, outside in the garden should be okay. Mum has a clump that must be at least 25 years old. Easy from seed as well, as long as you realise they germinate in Nov and have to be keep frost free from sowing until about now.

[Gerry Webster]

I have no problem growing them out in a field. So perhaps you are treating them too well, outside in the garden should be okay. Mum has a clump that must be at least 25 years old. Easy from seed as well, as long as you realise they germinate in Nov and have to be keep frost free from sowing until about now.

Thanks for the reply Susan. The bulbs I had from you were excellent but, alas, went the way of all the others I've had. They were potted but kept in an open plunge frame along with other narcissus species. I've never had plants long enough to get seed. I have wondered whether it is just too hot for them down here but if they don't thrive in Aberdeen........

[Rafa]

subsp. triandrus, needs quite hunid dormancy in summer than subsp. pallidulus, but both species are hardy (not in an outdoor pot) planted directly in the garden as Susan mentioned. Is not a greenhouse plant.

[Casalima]

Where I always go to look for them near me, they are on hillsides that will certainly get light frosts every year. I'll try to get some seeds to plant in my quinta to see how they do there.

[ashley]

Where I always go to look for them near me, ...

... and maybe post a few pictures Chloe, p l e a s e 

[Gerry Webster]

Where I always go to look for them near me, they are on hillsides that will certainly get light frosts every year. I'll try to get some seeds to plant in my quinta to see how they do there.

Are these very high Chloe, i.e., relatively cool in summer? I don't think hardiness is the problem - at least in my garden.

[Rafa]

I think the problem is the dormancy period. In the nature, subsp. pallidulus receive 4 or 3 storms in summer, and the rest in these months is absolutely dry. The amount of layers of papyraceus tunics and the depth make possible to resist the drought. subsp. triandrus is different as it has more percentage of humidity in the air all the year.

[Casalima]

The particular place I know I can find them is a dry, rocky but slightly shaded roadside embankment at an elevation of about 330 m. I'll try to find out about other locations.

[Rafa]

Where I always go to look for them near me, ...

... and maybe post a few pictures Chloe, p l e a s e  

Ashley,  I enclose this picture of subsp. pallidulus,  if you can't wait one month  

[Lesley Cox]

My triandrus ssp triandrus (syn albus) has proved permanent in a hot trough, about 12 years so far. Seeds too.

[Gerdk]

Rafa,
What a beautiful display!
I often found triandrus in regions where the soil was in the range of a lower ph. Is this a rule for the whole species?

Gerd

[Gerry Webster]

Rafa - I can only echo Gerd - supremely beautiful.