The flamboyant “crowd” that inspired Wordsworth to write about “A host of golden daffodils; dancing in the breeze” was not made up of aristocratic novelties from a modern catalog or even our old standby, King Alfred.
Instead, they were undoubtedly one of England’s native daffodils, perhaps the Tenby daffodil, obvallaris, or perhaps the lent lily.
Not only for their historical and literary association do some of the British daffodils deserve a place in our American gardens.
Many of them have merit aside from any distinction by Wordsworth, Shakespeare, or Masefield.
Introducing many British daffodils to our Missouri garden greatly added to the flowering season.
Various Examples Of British Daffodils
Narcissus Gracilis
I bought Narcissus gracilis under the name biflorus from a small grower in this state.
It is identical to those I got labeled gracilis from a famous English breeder last Fall.
The tall stems, with jonquil foliage, occasionally bear two and three tiny and fragrant flowers of soft yellow.
Vying with the old Pheasant’s Eye for the lateness of bloom and living up to the full connotation of its name, gracilis has a much greater appeal to me than many of the more popular and higher-priced novelties.
In all probability, gracilis will still be admired by many gardeners when today’s novelty has been forgotten.
Beryl
Beryl, though not a new variety, having been introduced in 1907, appeared in our garden for the first time last Spring.
Beryl is a delightful and dainty hybrid between a poeticus and cyclamineus, especially suited for the rock garden or the front of the border.
The perianth segments are slightly reflexed as expected from its parentage.
It opens a pleasing soft yellow that fades almost to a white.
Though this habit of fading has been referred to as an asset, I must admit that I prefer the original color. Even so, it is a charming little flower.
Poeticus Recurvus “Pheasant’s Eye”
Though the old poeticus recurvus, or Pheasant’s Eye, probably is not an English daffodil, it certainly came to us from England, where the Romans should have introduced it.
Its heavy fragrance conjures up pictures of early American and English gardens where it was sometimes called “primrose peerless.”
Its fragrance and late bloom season ensure it is a place for many years to come in the gardens of those who have learned to love it—no wonder the English cottage gardeners called them Sweet Nancies.
Triandrus Cernum
When the bulbs of triandrus cernum that I had ordered from London opened their first blossom in our garden last April, I was surprised and delighted to find it the same as an old favorite I had been growing for several years without knowing the name.
Mine had come from two sources. In both cases, the bulbs had been passed from one friend’s garden to another until the original source and name had been lost.
In one instance, they were incorrectly called White Lady. The name is as appropriate as it is incorrect.
It is a delightfully quaint little, pure white flower that captivates everyone who sees it.
The perianth segments drape loosely about the trumpet while the flowers look demurely down.
I always think of lovely, quaint old ladies when I see the flowers nodding in the garden. It has been credited with being the only wild white daffodil known to botanists.
Glitter is another old English variety that I prefer to keep. The stems are short, but the blossoms differ pleasantly from those of other daffodils to me.
Two Blooming English Doubles
Two old English doubles bloomed for us for the first time this year-Rip Van Winkle and Queen Anne double daffodil.
The latter, named in honor of Queen Anne of Austria rather than Queen Anne of England, was known to botanists as early as the 16th century.
Though not a native of England, it has grown in English gardens for centuries.
The first-year blossoms of Rip Van Winkle were disappointing. I am hoping they will improve another year.
Recently Introduced British Daffodils
British daffodils of somewhat more recent introduction that have won a place in our garden are:
- Yellow Puppy
- Butter Cup
- Lord Kitchener
- Croesus
- Cassandra
Though seldom seen listed, they are all definitely worthwhile to my way of thinking.
I especially like Yellow Puppy’s yellow and Butter Cup’s form. The latter is a trumpet-jonquil hybrid.
Blossoms undersized from crowding are equally as attractive to me as are those of full size.
Still, more recent introductions are the following:
- Beersheba
- Fortune
- Glen Ravel
- Thomas Hardy
- Lanarth
- Trevithian
- Goldilocks
Beersheba is an exquisite snow-white trumpet with rather short stems. Its pleasing form and clear white color attract the attention of all who see it.
Fortune is a large-cupped yellow daffodil deservedly popular on both sides of the Atlantic.
Lanarth and Trevithian are both in the jonquil class, small yellow flowers with short cups. Lanarth is the larger of the two. Though I like them both, I like Trevithian best.
Glen Ravel, an Irish bicolor trumpet from County Antrim, presented its medium-sized flowers of good texture in the middle of April.
If it could talk, it could undoubtedly tell us some tales of Erin in a nice Irish brogue.
Thomas Hardy, a poeticus from the same Irish grower, waited until the first of May to break out its pleasingly pure white and perfectly round perianth adorned with a brilliant red eye.
The Rose of Tralee is described as a pink-crowned daffodil with a white perianth.
The price is getting down now to where I think I will have to try it right soon.
With that name, one would certainly expect it to live up to the reputation of daffodils dancing merrily in the breeze.
Leprechaun, another one from the Emerald Isle, suggests the gold that the Irish fairy by that name is supposed to have hidden away from mortals.
Other Jonquil Varieties
Another jonquil, Goldilocks, from Carehays Castle, Cornwall, England, strongly appealed to me on the April morning when I first saw its yellow blossom with flaring crown on 12-inch stems.
The overlapping perianth segments are slightly deeper yellow than the fluted crown.
The catalog description gives it 18-inch stems, but it did not get that tall the first season in our garden. However, it arrived late the Fall before.
44659 by RR Thomasson