NARCISSUS 2025

[annew]

Now my feet are actually back on the ground, I can tell you how thrilled I was to have finally won my first Farrer Memorial Medal at the AGS Wisley show last weekend, after 40 years of trying!
I have been preparing for the show since last summer, when I potted up snowdrop seedlings in clay pots so they would be show-ready in February.
Then came the mild November and all the snowdrops started into flower several weeks earlier than usual. After taking advice from colleagues on the RHS Bulb Expert Group, who are experienced with timing displays for shows of daffodils, I emptied out the beer fridge and put the drops in there for 3 weeks. They said that once they came out of the fridge, they would be likely to forge ahead very quickly.
Then the weather turned very cold and dull, and the snowdrops just stubbornly sat there, not moving. Coming up to a week before the show, I had to resort to bringing them indoors under a lamp.....
While this was all going on, the daffodils were looking after themselves (although I did put an oscillating fan on them for a while to try and strengthen the stems). The Farrer-winning seedling got herself runway ready all by herself, becoming a perfectly symmetrical posy of flowers in perfect condition without any help from me, accompanied by her sister seedling Pallene.
The winning cultivar will be named this summer. There are 43 bulbs in the pot, from natural increase (not chipped)

[Maggi Young]

What lengths show exhibitors will go to for their plants - and then the Farrer winning narcissus does it "by herself" !!
That's a really gorgeous narcissus, Anne - which I think is even more beautiful than 'Pallene'.

[YT]

Congratulations on winning, annew

Your winning medal proves not only your growing skills but outstanding breeding work with your life!

[Maggi Young]

Anne Wright beside her Farrer winning plant, photo by Julia Corden

[annew]

Trying not to jump up and down high-fiving everyone 

[annew]

Here's a little hybrid between a tiny N. bulbocodium nivalis and N. triandrus concolor, sown in 2018 and now I finally have a little potful.

[annew]

I've been very busy recording seedlings over the last few weeks. Most of the latest ones are triandrus hybrids.
3955 is triandrus x rupicola
4507 is triandrus x cordubensis

[annew]

4936 is triandrus x scaberulus
4949 is triandrus x dubius

[annew]

Some x susannae types.
4216 is triandrus x cantabricus petunioides

[annew]

While I carry on counting the bulb harvest prior to my summer list being released (hopefully in a couple of weeks), it seems like a good time to introduce the new seedlings making an entrance in 2025. These will be offered only on EBAY in this, their debut year.
Starting with the hoops:
ALBIORIX  10 W-W
This stunning hoop petticoat won me my AGS Farrer Medal at Wisley this year - finally after 40 years of showing! Bred from N. romieuxii × N. cantabricus var. petunioides, it has fragrant, icy-white, upward facing flowers on short stems. The corona is widely conical, with the rim finely toothed, and the style and stamens well exserted. The narrow, erect leaves rise above, but never detract from the flowers.
HALIMEDE 10 Y-Y
Our second hoop this year is from Columba x Tethys, and like Albiorix, flowers on short stems, but the wide-open flowers are pale lemon, more gently crenate at the rim, with the longer perianth peeking out from behind the corona.
These two new hoop petticoats both flower very early in February - they need growing under glass so they can have a dry rest in summer, and will be stunning in your glasshouse during the dullest season in the garden.

[annew]

Next in line this summer, a varied group for the lower divisions 1 and 2:
BLUSH BABY 1 W-Y/O
Blush Baby will never win a daffodil show, with her wildly frilled trumpet and wayward perianth, but I have named this little treasure because her delightful peachy pink corona and tiny stature may hopefully lead to some interesting new miniature seedlings. Bred from award-winning Keira hybrid KB-M-1-2007 x asturiensis, she tips a nod of gratitude to Graham Fleming’s generosity in sharing his breeding work with beginners on this side of the planet. Hopefully Blush Baby can do the same.
PALEHEART 2 W-Y/W
Sister to Little Goldheart, Paleheart is similar in shape and stature, but more ethereal in colour. The perianth and outer corona are palest lemon, repeated at the cup’s inside rim which then deepens and becomes brighter towards the deep green eye.
TABILLA 2 Y-Y
The latest of our crosses using N. albimarginatus as pollen parent, this time with N. atlanticus as mother. As I’ve come to expect, it has the beautifully overlapping perianth and wonderful scent of N. albimarginatus, but, as yet, only a single flower per stem. The distinctive bulbs are almost oblong and multiply quickly. Excellent show form in an underrepresented division.

[annew]

Alighting next, a flighty pair of triandrus hybrids:
BEE FLY 5 Y-Y
A distinctive reverse bicolour triandrus x scaberulus hybrid, Bee Fly is named after one of my favourite insects (although with a rather unsavoury habit), like a fluffy little hummingbird hovering in front of flowers before darting in to sip the nectar. The neat little flowers, 2-3 per stem, seem to hover above the upright stems, the effect amplified by the semi-prostrate leaves. The cup is pale, creamy yellow, while the swept back perianth is bright lemon. It is sweetly scented, presenting the flowers to your nose on 19cm stems!
DAMSELFLY 5 Y-Y
Bred from N. triandrus subsp. triandrus × N. cordubensis pale form.
Although in my favourite pastel lemon shade, Damselfly is named after the little creatures flitting about my pond in brilliant colours in the warm weather. Like Bee Fly, the long reflexed perianth, and shorter cup on 20cm stems, give the impression that the flowers are taking flight. The leaves are erect but well below the flowers, so don’t spoil the effect. With up to four flowers per stem, just a few bulbs can give an impressive display. This lovely cultivar was a favourite in the nursery this year.

[annew]

Four of our new recruits are named for family and friends:
MISS EVELYN 5 Y-Y
Sister to Little Celine and of the same parentage as Little Jen, this charming x rupidulus cultivar is named for my new great-niece. Flowering at 15cm high, with 1-3 flowers per stem, the perianth is a stronger acid yellow, and the cup smaller, than her siblings, being a more distinct reverse bicolour. The three together make a delightful trio.
MASTER GEORGE 12 Y-Y
Bred from N. calcicola x N. rupicola subsp. watieri, and named for my great-nephew, Master George is a sweet little miniature, with up to 4 flowers per stem. Flowering at 16cm high over erect leaves, the outward-facing flowers sport an overlapping perianth and short cup in matching, glowing golden yellow, enhanced by a sweet scent. This will be only on EBAY in its debut year.
PAULINE ANNE 2-W-Y
Named for my lovely neighbour Pauline, who is the most skilled and fastest peeler of bulbs prior to chipping. Every year she saves me so much time by doing the fiddliest job for me, leaving me to do the actual chopping up. Her daffodil is a delicate lemon and creamy white bicolour, with the corona expanded and lightly frilled at the mouth. The flowers are held on erect, 12cm stems, with the flowers facing slightly upwards, giving an appealing posture. To add to all this, it has a delightful rich fragrance.
ANNE BLANCHARD 5 W-W
Bred from N. triandrus × Div 6 small white unregistered seedling
At last, I’ve given in and named one after myself, Blanchard being my maiden name. I bred this one aiming for a white version of ‘Andy Blanchard’, named after my late brother. Whereas Andy Blanchard is creamy lemon, Anne Blanchard is ivory white, with the perianth not as severely swept back, but sweeping back more gracefully (those who know me are allowed to laugh at this point). Flowering at 12 cm high, there are 1-2 flowers per stem. I’m happy that Andy and myself now make a unique pair of daffs! I need to bulk this up another year before I can offer any.

[annew]

Two sisters showing the variation you can get from a single seedpod continuing our popular x susannae-type hybrids:
FALCO 5 W-W
Bred from N. triandrus subsp. triandrus × N. cantabricus subsp. cantabricus var. petunioides
A very distinctive member of our new triandrus x bulbocodium section cultivar group, characterised by the long tube flushed yellow at the base and visible above the nodding white flowers. Flowering at 15cm high, the 52mm spread of the perianth tips it out of the miniature classes, but makes a stunning pot for an alpine exhibitor. The perianth is slightly reflexed and the cylindrical corona is fluted. Prostrate leaves and a light perfume completes the picture.

ICE CROWN 12 W-W
Bred from N. triandrus subsp. triandrus × N. cantabricus subsp. cantabricus var. petunioides and sister to Falco, Ice Crown has been placed in division 12, since it shows its cantabricus parentage more strongly, and the crown-like perianth is not reflexed.  Flowering at 13cm high over prostrate leaves, the strong stems each carry 1-2 flowers of pure white, the conical corona prettily fluted and richly scented.
Like Falco, it is just a little too wide in the perianth to be eligible for miniature classes, but makes a wonderful pot subject for an alpine exhibitor.

[Maggi Young]

Crumbs! I'm nearly speechless - and that almost never happens!! Anne, I didn't think you could come up with so many new beauties - they are truly lovely.Well done!!