The miniature narcissi, or daffodils, are delightful flowering bulbs that grow from 3” to 12” inches in height.
All narcissi like moisture during their growing season, but none will tolerate places where stagnant water stands.
Although we have had success with late fall planting, we recommend early planting for all forms of narcissi. This practice ensures good root growth before the cold weather sets in and is especially important with the various miniature kinds.
Planting Depth
Small bulbs of the narcissus family should be planted 3” to 4” inches deep and 1” to 2” inches apart; larger bulbs, 4” to 5” inches deep and 3” to 4” inches apart.
In the middle Atlantic states, it would be 3” to 4” inches deep; further South, it would be 2” to 3” inches deep. The species and closely related hybrids produce smaller bulbs than the large-flowering hybrids.
Narcissus Asturiensis
The tiniest narcissi are perfectly formed, and the smallest of these (until recently, available only to the connoisseur) is Narcissus asturiensis, formerly known as N. minimus.
A veritable jewel of delicate proportions, it has to be seen to be appreciated, for it seems hardly possible that such small but perfect daffodils exist. Best described as a tiny replica of the giant King Alfred, it is a native of Spain.
Perfect, exquisite golden flowers are produced on 3-inch sterns, and the small trumpet is fringed at the rim and greatly enhanced by the twisted form of its perianth. Truly, it is a miniature jewel.
Narcissus Minor
Another gem 3” to 4” inches tall is N. minor (rearms), a little larger and taller than the preceding form. The trumpet is bright yellow and delicately plaited at the rim, and the perianth is a shade lighter, slightly pointed in form.
Hybrid Rockery Beauty
Comparatively little known is the hybrid Rockery Beauty. This 6-inch narcissus is astonishingly beautiful with its bright yellow trumpet with a pale yellow perianth.
A drift of a dozen or more at the base of a wall or foundation planting is a sight you will not soon forget.
Colorful Pepper
Slightly taller and the earliest of the large-cupped varieties is the colorful Pepper. It has a yellow perianth and deep, reddish-orange cup, which produces the effect of a copper glow, glittering in the sunlight.
This is an unusually decorative form when planted in groups, creating a pleasant splash of color on the border or in the rock garden.
Nor-Nor
Perhaps the most unique of all the miniature large-cupped kinds is Nor-Nor.
In this flower, the perianth opens almost as a self-yellow, aging to a creamy white. The three-quarter inch corona ages in color to apricot-orange with a suffused golden halo on the perianth surrounding the trumpet.
It is long-lasting and sun-proof; a good bloomer, it grows 9” inches tall.
The Triandrus Hybrids
Now let us consider the triandrus hybrids. Perhaps the most popular today is the variety Thalia. For newcomers, it is best to state that it has two or three flowers per stem, is glistening white, is of good substance, and is a good keeper and cultivar.
It is simply stunning in groups or drifts in the foundation planting or rock garden. Less widely known, but equally as beautiful with a larger flower, is the hybrid Moonshine.
Charming in form, with a star-shaped perianth, it has a longer and more open train pet than Thalia.
Rich, creamy-white pendant flowers are produced three to four per stein at a height of 10” to 12” inches. Like Thalia, it is in mid-May flowering.
A Few Charmers
There are many charmers in the cyclamineus hybrid series, but we are mentioning only a few.
Beryl has drooping, primrose-yellow flowers with a slightly refixing perianth. The small, globular, bright-orange cup is shaded yellow.
It is 8″ inches tall, blooms early, and is of good substance. Jan DeGraaff introduced February Gold, which is a superb lemon-yellow daffodil with pointed petals and a straight, delicately-fluted trumpet of a deeper yellow, tinged orange.
It truly makes a bright splash of gold in the early Spring garden. Rare, and one of the finest in this group, is LeBeau; as its name implies, it means “The Handsome.” The flowers are extremely well formed with long pointed petals and long trumpets with a rolling rim.
It is slightly nodding, of unsurpassable gracefulness, and its soft, pure-yellow flowers are of great substance. In semi-shade, it lasts three weeks.
Better known are the forms of N. jonquilla. Featured in our seaside rock garden at the 1952 New England Spring Flower Show, N. jonquilla flore pleno was unusually beautiful and dainty. It is sweet-scented and particularly effective when planted with blue muscari, the familiar grape hyacinths in drifts.
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