Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => NARCISSUS => Topic started by: Gerry Webster on February 22, 2011, 02:52:10 PM

Title: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Gerry Webster on February 22, 2011, 02:52:10 PM
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to keep N. triandrus going? I have had it several times & always lost it after a year or two. Other people (including John Blanchard) seem to have had a similar experience.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Maggi Young on February 22, 2011, 02:54:06 PM
Ian and I wish we knew the answer to this one, Gerry!  :(
 It's a tough one for us... and we love it SO much.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Darren on February 22, 2011, 03:07:19 PM
My plants from AGS exchange seed did fine (and even reached a showbench) until I found out they were supposed to be difficult! Now I'm down to one bulb and (thankfully) a potful of seedlings.

The one bulb is about to flower so I'm saving pollen from cantabricus so I can cross them.

Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Susan Band on February 22, 2011, 03:50:14 PM
I have no problem growing them out in a field. So perhaps you are treating them too well, outside in the garden should be okay. Mum has a clump that must be at least 25 years old. Easy from seed as well, as long as you realise they germinate in Nov and have to be keep frost free from sowing until about now.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Gerry Webster on February 22, 2011, 04:25:56 PM
I have no problem growing them out in a field. So perhaps you are treating them too well, outside in the garden should be okay. Mum has a clump that must be at least 25 years old. Easy from seed as well, as long as you realise they germinate in Nov and have to be keep frost free from sowing until about now.
Thanks for the reply Susan. The bulbs I had from you were excellent but, alas, went the way of all the others I've had. They were potted but kept in an open plunge frame along with other narcissus species. I've never had plants long enough to get seed. I have wondered whether it is just too hot for them down here but if they don't thrive in Aberdeen........
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Rafa on February 22, 2011, 06:31:18 PM
subsp. triandrus, needs quite hunid dormancy in summer than subsp. pallidulus, but both species are hardy (not in an outdoor pot) planted directly in the garden as Susan mentioned. Is not a greenhouse plant.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Casalima on February 22, 2011, 06:37:48 PM
Where I always go to look for them near me, they are on hillsides that will certainly get light frosts every year. I'll try to get some seeds to plant in my quinta to see how they do there.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: ashley on February 22, 2011, 07:30:21 PM
Where I always go to look for them near me, ...

... and maybe post a few pictures Chloe, p l e a s e  ;)
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Gerry Webster on February 22, 2011, 08:28:25 PM
Where I always go to look for them near me, they are on hillsides that will certainly get light frosts every year. I'll try to get some seeds to plant in my quinta to see how they do there.
Are these very high Chloe, i.e., relatively cool in summer? I don't think hardiness is the problem - at least in my garden.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Rafa on February 22, 2011, 10:27:06 PM
I think the problem is the dormancy period. In the nature, subsp. pallidulus receive 4 or 3 storms in summer, and the rest in these months is absolutely dry. The amount of layers of papyraceus tunics and the depth make possible to resist the drought. subsp. triandrus is different as it has more percentage of humidity in the air all the year.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Casalima on February 22, 2011, 10:50:58 PM
The particular place I know I can find them is a dry, rocky but slightly shaded roadside embankment at an elevation of about 330 m. I'll try to find out about other locations.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Rafa on February 22, 2011, 11:17:04 PM
Where I always go to look for them near me, ...

... and maybe post a few pictures Chloe, p l e a s e  ;)

Ashley,  I enclose this picture of subsp. pallidulus,  if you can't wait one month  :D
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 22, 2011, 11:39:56 PM
My triandrus ssp triandrus (syn albus) has proved permanent in a hot trough, about 12 years so far. Seeds too.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Gerdk on February 23, 2011, 07:11:50 AM
Rafa,
What a beautiful display!
I often found triandrus in regions where the soil was in the range of a lower ph. Is this a rule for the whole species?

Gerd
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Gerry Webster on February 23, 2011, 09:35:29 AM
Rafa - I can only echo Gerd - supremely beautiful.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Rafa on February 23, 2011, 12:54:53 PM
Thank you friends!

I never measure the ph, but maybe both species (pallidulus for sure) are only silicicola, and I only know the var. alejandrei as calcicola triandrus species.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: ashley on February 23, 2011, 01:25:52 PM
:o Really magnificent Rafa; thank you.

But don't let this stop you posting too Chloe :)    We can never have too many photos from the wild.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: annew on February 23, 2011, 10:01:56 PM
A wonderful display! It seems there are 2 narcissus species present - were there hybrids?
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: Rafa on February 23, 2011, 10:46:57 PM
well spotted Anne! it is N. rupicola. In Guadarrama, grows in same ecological niche and is relatively easy to find  N. x rupidulus. I n this particular place, they also grow at the same time N. nivalis, N. graellsii and N. confusus. I discovered a new hybrid between N. graellsii and N. triandrus subsp. pallidulus.
Title: Re: Narcissus triandrus
Post by: annew on February 24, 2011, 05:27:55 PM
Very pretty!
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal