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Who among us is not ready to trade March snows for April
daffodils? Known as the "poet's flower," the daffodil's scientific name
is Narcissus after the mythological Grecian youth who was so
captivated by his own beauty that he turned into a narcissus
flower.
Among the many daffodil species are the Jonquils, particularly
fragrant and of the first flowers cultivated by American colonists.
Little wonder our forebearers grew them! Daffodils are easy.
You can pretty much plant 'em and forget 'em. They blossom freely
year after year with a minimum of maintenance and actually multiply
in numbers over the seasons. Foraging rodents and other animals
tend to leave them alone.
For daffodils to make the most impact, Gardeners plant dozens
-- even hundreds -- of bulbs in a single planting. At a cost
ranging between $30 and $70 per hundred bulbs, an extensive
daffodil planting is within the reach of most Gardeners.
How do you choose daffodils? The genus Narcissus is divided
into 12 distinct divisions by flower type with more than 70 species
and 25,000 cultivars.
In addition, daffodils are classified as to when they bloom,
either early, mid-season or late-season. Because daffodil bloom
lasts two to three weeks, the enterprising Gardener can extend the
blooming season by judicious selection of varieties from each
grouping.
Begin at the beginning by choosing some heirloom daffodil
varieties that have stood the test of time.
Colorado hockey fans will appreciate one of the oldest
varieties, Tazetta Narcissus, commonly called Avalanche, a daffodil
that dates back to 1700. Tazetta daffodils (Division VIII) are
among the oldest in cultivation and originally came from Turkey.
With white petals (perianths), a pale yellow cup (the center
trumpet) and a delicate fragrance, Avalanche can feature up to a
dozen or more small flowers per stem. It's ideal for growing
indoors in pots and "forcing" into early springtime bloom.
Other Tazettas, both heirloom and fragrant, are Silver Chimes,
(1914 vintage) and Geranium (1930s). Geranium is a white and orange
flower that holds up well when cut for bouquets and the fragrant
Silver Chimes features from eight to 12 creamy-white blossoms per
stem.
Poeticus (Division IX), with dogwood-like flowers and red-rimmed centers,
are spicy and fragrant. The variety, Actaea, (1927), is another excellent choice.
Jonquilla varieties (Division VII) are perhaps the most
fragrant of all daffodils, though their hardiness for Colorado is
questionable. It's safer to use Jonquilla varieties for indoor
forcing.
Double Daffodils (Division IV) grow well outdoors. Check out
varieties such as Cheerfulness (1923) and Yellow Cheerfulness
(1937). These display centers with multiple rosebud-like florets
that give off a sweet, musky fragrance. One is a creamy white, the
other a soft lemon. Both are excellent naturalizers.
Other Doubles to consider are Erlicheer, with 15 to 20 florets
on each stem, and Sir Winston Churchill, with three to five creamy
white and orange flowers per stem.
Finally, no Garden would be complete without a selection from
the workhorses of the daffodil world, the large-cupped varieties
from Division II. Though they give off much less fragrance, they
feature knock-your-eyes-out blossoms.
A few must-have varieties include Carlton (1927), a two-toned
yellow and the world's most widely planted daffodil.
Cabineer (also 1927), is lemon with an orange-red cup whose
colors intensify with age; Ceylon is bright, golden yellow with an
orange cup that lasts and lasts; Ice Follies, the world's second
most-used daffodil, features an extra large creamy white perianth
group centered with a flat yellow cup that matures to white.
The list could go on, and it does. If you didn't choose
daffodils last fall for this spring's bloom, begin now to plan for
next year. Select planting sites in advance, so you will be ready
when planting time comes this fall.
Purchase high-quality bulbs, which will produce the largest
and longest-lived blossoms. Don't mix bargain-hunting with buying
daffodils -- the two aren't compatible.
If you buy at a local Garden center, look for bulbs four to
five inches in circumference; buy the largest bulbs you can find.
Inspect the bottom of the bulb for any sign of fungus. This would
be indicated by a white powdery substance. Discard or reject these.
Many highly reputable bulb vendors are available by mail-order, too,
and may offer the most variety. Recommended bulb farms
include Wayside Gardens, White Flower Farms, Smith & Hawken and the
Daffodil Mart.
A final word: When buying and planting daffodils, think dozens
or even hundreds. And, remember, as a good cook can never have too
much garlic, neither can a good Gardener have too many daffodils.
For more information on Gardening, contact your
local Colorado State University Extension office.
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