Nancy R. Wilson Daffodils, A Note from Nancy

April 2008

Dear Friends,

We have had an early season. The cold winter and fruitful rains have given us glorious daffodils. We continue to grow many bulbocodiums and discover they are hardier than we previously thought. Our main object this past year was to find a person to update our web site.

We have a number of new additions to this list. These continue to include Walter Blom’s new registrations. He is branching out into some triandrus and jonquils hybrids. Give them a try. He is anxious to find out how they do in different parts of the world. For us ‘Appollo Gold’ does very well. They like to be planted out in the garden. Our most stunning clump of daffodils this year was ‘N. cordubensis’. It is a bright yellow jonquil which is a good garden plant and very floriferous. My clump has over 100 flowers, multiple on a stem and with wavy coronas.

Jerry and I are slowing down. We are attending one show in Fortuna, California and spending the rest of the time in the garden. We have a new labeling system that seems to be holding up well. It includes a vinyl stakes and waterproof labels. My friend who told me about this system claims she puts hers in the washing machine! I am redoing all of my labels and am up to over 1,000. Hopefully this system will help the next person who inherits the lot. We wish you a wonderful year with many beautiful flowers and hope to hear from you soon. Nancy and Jerry

Nancy and Jerry R. Wilson

Narcissus are divided and color coded for identification.

Narcissus are classified by the Royal Horticulture Society into 13 Divisions. Divisions 1-12 are of garden origin.

Division 1: Trumpet

Division 2: Large-cupped

Division 3: Small-cupped

Division 4: Double

Division 5: Triandrus

Division 6: Cyclamineus

Division 7: Jonquilla and Apodanthus

Division 8: Tazetta

Division 9: Poeticus

Division 10: Bulbocodium cultivars (or hybrids)

Division 11: Split Corona (a) Collar, (b) Papillon

Division 12: Daffodils that do not fit into other categories

Divisions 13: Species and wild variants and hybrids

Color codes are as follows: y=yellow, w=white, o=orange, g=green, p=pink, r=red. If a daffodil is labeled y-y it means it has a yellow perianth and a yellow corona. These designations can become quite complicated if there are bands of color in the flower ie, Gipsy Queen 1 YYW-WWY.

Recommended Readings

American Daffodil Society, Modern Daffodil Cultivars, 4126 Winfield Road , Columbus , Ohio 43229

James S. Wells, Modern Miniature Daffodils, Species and Hybrids, IBSN 0-88192-118-1

John WW. Blanchard, Narcissus, A Guide to Wild Daffodils, Alpine Garden Society, Lye End Link, St. John’s Woking, Surrey, GU21 15W

Good luck. Happy growing. Attend your local Daffodil show in the spring. You will be amazed at the different kinds and colors. Join the American Daffodil Society, 4126 Winfield Road, Columbus, OH 43220-4606.