Hybrid Narcissi

Hybrid Narcissi - The species which have best lent themselves to the hybridisers art are N. pseudonarcissus, N. poeticus, N. montanus, N. triandrus, N. jonquilla, and N. Tazetta. The type hybrids are N. incomparabilis, Bernardi (both found wild), Nelsoni, Barrii, Burbidgei, Humei, Leedsii, Milneri, tridymus, and odorus. There are wild and garden hybrids between N. Bulbocodium and pseudonarcissus; N. triandrus and N. pseudo-narcissus; N. jonquilla and N. pseudo-narcissus; N. juncifolius and N. pseudo-narcissus; N. Tazetta and N. pseudo-narcissus; N. Tazetta and N. poeticus; N. poeticus and N. pseudo-narcissus; and N. montanus and N. poeticus; and also N. pseudonarcissus and N. montanus; while derivative hybrids have been obtained between some of these hybrids and some of the parent species. It is remarkable that while wild hybrids and garden seedlings usually enjoy richly manured soils, wild species and the white varieties of the Daffodil, N. triandrus and N. Bulbocodium, usually die out on deep richly manured borders, but frequently live on poor stony or sandy soils, on dry grassy banks, or amongst the roots on the sunny sides of hedges, shrubs, stone walls, and trees.

Related Flowers

Primrose Peerless

Primrose Peerless (Hybrid Narcissi Biflorus) - Similar in habit to N. poeticus, but has creamy-white flowers, two on a scape, and the rim of the primrose corona is scariose but colorless (i.e., not purple). N. biflorus is now known to be a natural hybrid between N. poeticus and N. Tazetta, having been found wild with its parents near Montpellier by Mr Barr; and also raised from its parents in the garden by the Rev. Mr Engleheart. N. biflorus is naturalised in England and Ireland, but is a native of Europe. It is one of the easiest of all the kinds to naturalise, and spreads rapidly, but is usually supposed not to bear seed. N. Dr Laumonier (Wilks) is a very fine seedling of this group.

Cyclamen Daffodil

Cyclamen Daffodil (Hybrid Narcissi Cyclamineus) - A dainty but not showy species, easily grown in a peat-earth rock garden or in pots of peaty compost. It seldom exists from year to year in the open air. It has lived on grass in peat, and, no doubt, could be naturalised easily enough on sandy peat soils which are wet in winter and spring and dry in summer and autumn. In April 1892 I saw a most lovely specimen low down in a damp little grassy bay beside a mill-race at Mount Usher in Wicklow. N. cyclamineus likes the sides of a stream, and is found by streams in Portugal. Like N. triandrus, it is readily raised from seed, and the seedlings flower the third year. It is 6 to 8 inches high, and the scapes are about the same length, each bearing a bright golden reflexed flower. It has sapgreen leaves. There are large and small forms, and a bicolor variety seems to have been known long ago. N. cyclamineus, although but lately re-discovered, was figured in French books early in the seventeenth century. Like N. Johnstoni, it came from Oporto in 1884-85.

Star Daffodil

Star Daffodil (Hybrid Narcissi Incomparabilis) - To this group belong N. incomparabilis, Barrii, Burbidgei, odorus, Backhousei, Nelsoni, Sabinei, tridymus, and the Pyrenean wild hybrid Bernardi, which is found wherever N. variiformis and N. poeticus occur together. Of N. incomparabilis there are over a hundred named kinds, the best being: Sir Watkin or Welsh Peerless, Gloria Mundi, Queen Sophia, C.J. Backhouse, Princess Mary, Gwyther, splendens, Beauty, Autocrat, Frank Miles, Cynosure, James Bateman, King of the Netherlands, Commander, Figaro, Goliath, Mabel Cowan, Mary Anderson (delicate, but of a splendid color), Fair Helen, Lulworth, St Patrick, and Queen Bess. Mr Engleheart has a large series of shapely seedlings with richly colored crowns, such as "Southern Star," Lettice Harmer, Red Prince, Beacon, and White Queen. There are three or four handsome double forms of N. incomparabilis, long known in gardens. The most abundant of these is incomparabilis fl.-pl. (Butter and Eggs). There is a white variety, with vermilion chalice segments, known as Eggs and Bacon or Orange Phoenix; and a pale sulphur double called Sulphur Kroon, which is exquisite if well grown. Sulphur Kroon is often known as Codlins and Cream.

Rush Jonquil

Rush Jonquil (Hybrid Narcissi Juncifolius) - A small plant, suitable only for sheltered borders, for stone edgings, and for pot-culture in a cold frame. It is very variable, and rupicola, minutiflorus, and scaberulus are well-known variations. Its small Jonquil-scented flowers have very large cups, often widely expanded, which are crenelate at their edges. The var. rupicola flowers and seeds annually in the Rock Garden at Edinburgh Botanical Gardens, and seems hardier than the type.

Great Jonquil

Great Jonquil (Hybrid Narcissi Odorus) - This plant, although found wild in S. France, Portugal, and N. Spain, is now believed to be a hybrid=N.jonquilla x N. pseudonarcissus. The leaves are rushy, and two or three yellow starry flowers are borne on each scape. The best kinds are N. odorus (Campernelle) and rugulosus, a more robust form, with larger flowers. A double form, very handsome on warm soils, is known as Queen Annes Jonquil.

Common Daffodil

Common Daffodil (Hybrid Narcissi Pseudo-Narcissus) - There are several hundred varieties of the Common Daffodil, either wild or cultivated. The only native of Britain is the common English kind, which extends from Cornwall to Fife, and is specially plentiful in the south-eastern counties. In Normandy, Daffodils by millions light up the woods in April, while many fine forms are wild in Spain and in the Pyrenean region, and the richest of golden Daffodils come from Spain and Portugal. The Rev. C. Wolley Dod found N. maximus growing between Dax and Bayonne, probably naturalised. Nearly all Daffodils do well on grass, if the soil be at all suitable; and as regards our wild English Daffodil, the grass is the only place in which to grow it permanently. Daffodils are usually divided into three groups—first, golden Daffodils, such as N. maximus, Tenby, and spurius; secondly, bicolors, such as John Horsfield, Empress, Grandee, etc.; thirdly, sulphur and white kinds, such as Exquisite, and the white Daffodils, such as the wild Pyrenean and N. moschatus. Nearly all the golden kinds are robust and easily grown, and the bicolor group are even more so, but, speaking broadly, the delicate sulphur and white sorts are tender and unsatisfactory, except on the most favourable soils. The following are the best in each group:—

Principal Species Of Narcissi.

Of Barr's Peerless (N. Barrii, hybrids), the best are Conspicuus and Sensation, but Golden Star, Crown Prince, Flora Wilson, Miriam, Barton, Orphee, General Murray, Albatross, Sea Gull, Maurice Vilmorin, and Dorothy E. Wemyss are all good, and are useful for extended culture on grass or for cut flowers.

The Burbidge hybrids are like the Barrii forms, but have small crowns. Their chief value lies in the freedom and earliness of their bloom, as they open days before even ornatus—the early April form of N. poeticus. The best varieties are Burbidgei (type), Agnes Barr, Beatrice Heseltine, Baroness Heath, Constance, Crown Princess, Ellen Barr, John Bain, Little Dirk, Model, Mrs Krelage, and Mary.

Of Leeds' Silver Star forms the best are exquisite on good sandy soils, and their whiteness, delicate purity, and grace render them most acceptable as cut flowers. The best are: N. Leedsii (type), amabilis, Beatrice, Hon. Mrs Barton, Katherine Spurrell, Duchess of Westminster, Madge Matthew, elegans, Minnie Hume, superbus, Princess of Wales, Magdalina de Graaff, Gem, Grand Duchess, Acis, and Palmerston. Hume's hybrids are deformed Daffodils, the best being Giant and concolor. Sabine's hybrid (N. Sabinei) is a bold white bicolor, with a shortened trumpet, and so are the socalled Backhouse hybrids—Wolley Dod and William Wilks, a shapely and effective flower of good substance and with vigorous leaves.

More starry, but with smaller cups, are Nelson's hybrids; tall, free, and distinct habit; the best, Nelsoni major, minor, pulchellus (perfect shape), Mrs C.J. Backhouse, aurantius (orange-red cup), and William Backhouse. Collected bulbs of N. Bernardi are very variable in size and form, and some, like E. Buxton, have fine orange-red cups, which resemble Nelsons aurantius. N. tridymus is a variable hybrid between the Daffodil and N. Tazetta, with two or three flowers on a scape.

Comment on Hybrid Narcissi

(Displayed with your comment)                        (Will not be displayed)

Verification Code: