While the memory of your early spring garden is still fresh, why not compile next year’s bulb list for fall delivery?
Narcissus should be at the top of your list, from the large-trumpet varieties to the tiny N. bulbocodium for your rock garden.
If you learn the different varieties and their flowering time, you can disprove the oft-heard remark, “Oh, narcissus have such a short season that it’s no use bothering them.”
We made an extensive naturalistic planting of narcissus in 1925. During the intervening years, our records reveal the first bloom showing color by March 20 and the latest bloom picked for decoration as late as May 22.
Such a two-month flowering period calls for careful selection of varieties and planting sites.
First Narcissus To Bloom
The first narcissus to bloom is on a southern slope, and the last is within 200’ feet of the seashore on a northeastern exposure.
The earliest of all is the old variety CERVANTES, the narcissus most like the wild daffodil of Europe. Its small yellow trumpet was covered with snow twice last spring but showed no ill effects.
The last variety to flower is N. POETICUS RECURVUS, with its strong stem, delightful fragrance, and pure white petals surrounding the pheasant eye center.
A bewildering array of new varieties has been introduced through the years, which for size and beauty of coloring, have largely superseded the older varieties, but a few of the older varieties should be retained in any naturalistic planting.
Naturalistic Planting
Our naturalistic planting was done largely in the grass and on the edges of woodland. A few favored spots have benefited from any garden fertilizer left over at the end of the garden year, with definite results in increased vigor and larger flowers the following season.
It is possible to find clumps in the planting that carry as many as 50 blossoms and would improve in vigor if it were possible to lift, divide and replant them.
For a naturalistic planting, it is better to concentrate on the short-cup type, such as the Barri, Leedsi, Incomparabilis, and Poeticus types.
The large trumpet varieties are not generally recommended for naturalizing in grass. These are definitely at their best in the mixed flower border, where they have the advantage of some cultivation. They are better planted toward the back of the border.
Then annuals may be planted to cover the unsightly narcissus foliage during its ripening-off period in June and early July.
The large trumpet varieties require more care and cultivation than any other narcissus; they are the only type that has decreased over the years.
Naturalizing Narcissus
In naturalizing narcissus, it seems best to mix the varieties before planting rather than separate plant groups of given varieties. With a careful choice of varieties, the flowering period may be extended over the whole area.
The bulbs are broadcast and planted where they fall, thus avoiding all formal patterns and regular lines and attaining a pleasing naturalistic effect.
When you plant narcissus in this manner in grassland, remember that the grass cannot be cut before early July. This ensures sufficient time for proper ripening of the narcissus foliage and for the bulbs to take in all possible sustenance for the next season.
Narcissus Bulb Mixtures of Varieties
Reputable firms list narcissus bulb mixtures of varieties adapted to naturalizing and wild garden planting.
For our mixture, we planned on the following:
- 20% percent of the mixture being N. POETICUS RECURVUS to ensure late blooms
- 10% percent, N. POETICUS ORNATUS for early-flowering pheasant eye blooms
- 10% percent, trumpet varieties of known vigor
- The remainder to be chosen from among the Barri, Leedsi, and Incomparabilis narcissus
Also, each year narcissus forced in the greenhouse for early use has been ripened off and added to the planting.
Leedsi Section
In addition to N. POETICUS RECURVUS, other Poeticus narcissus which is suitable for naturalizing are:
- HOMER
- QUEEN OF ENGLAND
The Tazetta hybrids worthy of inclusion:
- LAURENS KOSTER
- ORANGE CUP
- RED GUARDS
The Leedsi section includes such valuable varieties as:
- SILVER STAR
- QUEEN OF THE NORTH
- DAISY SCHAEFFER
- MISS NETTIE O’MULVANEY
- GERTIE MILLER
Barri Section
The Barri group is showy flowers with short red cups and almost perfect petal. If, when planting, you can give these the benefit of slight shade, the brilliance of the red cups will be protected from the scorching sun.
This is a section I would not want to be without. Some of the worthwhile varieties are:
- LADY DIANA MANNERS
- NOBILITY
- ALCIDA
- FIRETAIL
- DIANA KASNER
- BRILLIANCE
Incomparabilis Section
Such grand varieties may represent the Incomparabilis section as:
- BERNARDINO
- RED CROSS
- LUCINIUS
- FRANCISCUS DRAKE
- JOHN EVELYN
- MACEBEARER
- HELIOS
Large Trumpet Varieties
Many of the large trumpet varieties set the standard of perfection in their day. These include large yellow, yellow-and-white, and pure white flowers. The varieties are:
- EMPEROR
- EMPRESS
- VAN WAVEREN GIANT
- MRS. KRELAGE
- SPRING GLORY
- THE FIRST
- KING ALFRED will give a wide color range
Modern Narcissus Hybrid Varieties
The modern narcissus hybrids are at their best planted in clumps in the herbaceous border. Use them liberally through azalea and lilac borders, where they can benefit from some cultivation and a degree of fertilization not possible in naturalistic planting.
Try such top varieties such as:
- LORD WELLINGTON
- BABYLON’S MAJESTIC
- SOUVENIR
- BEERSHEBA
- ROXANE
- DUKE OF BEDFORD
Among the large-trumpet hybrid narcissus are
From the Incomparabilis Section:
- FORTUNE
- SCARLET ELEGANCE
- RED CROSS
- ACRA
- REVEREND A. M. BOYENGA
From the Barri Section:
- CROWNED BEAUTY
- SERAGLIO
- STRABO
- THERAPIA
Make a place for the first variety to carry the color pink in a trumpet.
From the Leedsi Section:
- Mms. R. O. BACKHOUSE
- and as a companion for it, WHITE WHIRL
- Include double-flowered narcissi such as TWINK and MARY COPELAND
- Reserve a special place for CHEERFULNESS, the only double in the poetaz group
Narcissus Triandrus
For the rock garden enthusiast and the lover of miniature flowers, there is a group that includes N. TRIANDRUS and its hybrids, represented by the varieties:
- QUEEN OF SPAIN
- SHOT SILK
- MOONSHINE
- And the unusual THALIA, a dainty pure white narcissus that produces three to four flowers on a stem.
Narcissus Cyclamineus
Also among the miniatures are N. CYCLAMINEUS and its hybrids such as:
- MARCH SUNSHINE
- FEBRUARY GOLD
- BERYL
Narcissus Bulbocodium
Its hybrid forms:
- CITRINIUS
- CONSPICUUS
Bring Life In Rock Garden in Spring
N. MOSCHATUS and the smallest of all, N. MINIMUS, bring life to the rock garden in the earliest days of spring. N. JONQUILLA has round rushlike foliage differing from the fiat leaves of most narcissus.
The true JONQUILLA SIMPLEX was at one time extensively planted in our southern states. A native of Spain, it does not thrive in our northern winter. However, a few of the jonquil hybrids with more stamina are worthy of trial, notably GOLDEN SCEPTER and CHRYSOLITE.
Select your narcissus judiciously now. Plant deeply in October, and enjoy their beauty from early March in the rock garden to the end of May in simple naturalistic plantings.
44659 by George H. Gillies