Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => NARCISSUS => Topic started by: mark smyth on July 30, 2009, 09:12:37 PM

Title: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: mark smyth on July 30, 2009, 09:12:37 PM: Last year I got a bulb of Narcissus pachybolbos from a reliable source. It is still quite green. How should I care for it?
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: arillady on July 31, 2009, 12:32:50 AM: My clumps do well left well alone in the garden with the paperwhites and the common narcissus.
Mine are lucky to get any water in summer - so very dry summers are needed.
On the other hand how do you get Narcissus canaliculatus to flower
Plenty of leaves but slow to flower.
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: Paul T on July 31, 2009, 01:17:55 AM: Pat,

I lamented the canaliculatus recently too. Total waste of space to me now, and I've pretty much given up after years of trying different possibilities. ::)
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: Anthony Darby on July 31, 2009, 08:34:14 AM: I suspect, like paperwhites, it won't be hardy so will need the alpine house?
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: Paul T on July 31, 2009, 09:48:10 AM: Anthony,

Both pachybulbus and canaliculatus grow fine outside here with no protection at all. No frost damage on either of them, it is just that canaliculatus does not flower regardless of conditions for me. Famed for it apparently, unless you have things exactly right. ::) I still don't have it right, obviously enough. :-\
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: mark smyth on July 31, 2009, 10:20:20 AM: I hate the smell of N. canaliculatus so I dont grow it. Most garden centres here stock 3 or 5 grown in a small pot from English or Dutch suppliers
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: Maggi Young on July 31, 2009, 11:24:09 AM: Quote from: Anthony Darby on July 31, 2009, 08:34:14 AM
I suspect, like paperwhites, it won't be hardy so will need the alpine house?

I think it will drown outside in Dunblane, Anthony!
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: Anthony Darby on July 31, 2009, 02:00:37 PM: Paul, or is it Mark, you can grow Narcissus viridiflorus outside. I rarely get it to flower in the bulb house. As Maggi say, it's not just the cold, but the wet that kills bulbs, and that's just the summer! :(
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: mark smyth on July 31, 2009, 02:31:29 PM: not me
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: Anthony Darby on July 31, 2009, 03:47:22 PM: ;D
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: Paul T on July 31, 2009, 10:41:06 PM: True, Anthony. I don't do well with flowering of it, but I grow it outside just fine. And Yes, wet and summer do tend to not be used together here. ;D
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: Paddy Tobin on July 31, 2009, 11:21:31 PM: Pat,

N. canaliculatus is not a dependable flowerer here either. However, I transplanted it to an area which is not as wet as the rest of the garden in the summer, near roots of trees, and it has flowered reliably now for the past 6 - 7 years though I must say that there is never great display, as though only a certain portion of the bulbs are flowering.

Paddy
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: arillady on July 31, 2009, 11:36:18 PM: Paddy I have them in a "wetter" area and a drier area and I think that the wetter ones seem to flower a bit more. They are not due to flower yet so I will keep an eye on them. You are in a far wetter area than here hence the """
Title: Re: Narcissus pachybolbos
Post by: Anthony Darby on July 31, 2009, 11:52:31 PM: .............but then Opuntia is a weed where you live. A plant that would rot here.