Smaller Narcissus -Part 2 PBS and Alpine Topic of the Week
James Waddick (Tue, 10 Feb 2004 09:38:03 PST)

Dear Friends
As promised here is part 2 of the Topic of the Week on Smaller
Narcissus, a different view of a fascinating subject.

Smaller Narcissus PART TWO

Nancy Wilson - Miniature and species narcissus especially historical ones
have fascinated Nancy Wilson for decades. Her Northern California nursery
is the tip of the iceberg. She has kindly put down a few basics to tempt
readers and stimulate discussions on these Smaller Narcissus. To learn more
about her and her nursery look for http://www.asis.com/~nwilson/index.html .

Smaller Narcissus by Nancy Wilson

I have grown Narcissus since I was a child, some 65 plus years
ago. I always had a rock garden near by and the small varieties drew my
attention. My first home after marriage was is Berkeley, California. The
garden consisted of a steep rock bank with species Narcissus in the
pockets. I divided them and they increased easily. I learned that many of
these delightful species were native to Spain, Portugal, North Africa,
Morocco, Algeria and France. We have visited Spain and France and have seen
that endemic populations are rapidly being destroyed to make way for
monoculture and freeways. Goats and cattle forage on their leaves and boys
play soccer in the fields. I have devoted some of my gardening time to
preserving these bulbs and spreading their delight to others who might
carry on their preservation.

N. bulbocodium and N. cantabricus species grow from sea level to over 3000
meters. Many grow in alpine conditions and generally like acid soil and a
rocky terrain. Pockets in the rock garden are ideal for many species.

When growing rare bulbs it is worth your while to research their native
habitats and see if they will be compatible with yours. I live in Northern
California where the winters occasionally get to 15 degrees F. and the
summers are dry with mid day temperatures up to 100 F.. The nights always
cool off. I grow N. bulbocodium, N. cantabricus and N. jonquilla forms
well. They like my acid, clay soil and summer baking. I can neglect them in
the summer and do not have to water. From November to March we get a lot of
rain and they love it. In December and January N. bulbocodium albidus
zaianicus blooms with rich yellow flowers. N. cantabricus var. foliosus has
white flowers. They both like to grow in clumps and do not need to be
disturbed for years. They will self seed. A little later in the spring N.
bulbocodium var. conspicuus blooms with lemon yellow flowers and green
striped perianths. N. cyclamineus likes a few hours of morning sun and a
rocky wall that receives water all year. N. rupicola and N. rupicola ssp.
watieri grow in the mountains above 1500 meters where there is snow cover
in the winter and dry, well drained soils in the summer. They do well in my
screen house where the pots freeze for a few days in winter. If your
climate is colder you can plant the bulbs deeper than the usual three
inches and mulch them well.

The N. jonquilla species like winter rains and will tolerate wet feet but
they like to dry off in the summer and bake. N. fernandesii and N.
willkommii do well in the open. I have a clone of N. willkommii that came
from Michael Jefferson Brown many years ago. It seems sterile but tolerates
summer watering near a lawn or in the open rock garden and glows with
multiple headed, deep yellow flowers in early spring.

Most tazettas are too large for the rock garden. N. tazetta panizzianus and
N. tazetta canariensis are the exception. N. 'odoratus' and the Dutch form
of N. canaliculatus are under a foot tall and very floriferous.

I would suggest many of the hybrid daffodils. The newer, rarer ones are
well worth obtaining. Bill Dijk from New Zealand has introduced 'Little
Becky', 'Little Emma', 'Little Flik' and 'Dainty Monique'. Rod Barwick,
from Tasmania, has bred bulbocodium hybrids 'Smarple', 'Spoirot', and
'Kholmes'. 'Angel's Breath' and 'Angel's Whisper' are wonderful triandrus
hybrids from his collection. 'Mickey', 'Minnie', and 'Mortie' are his very
small cyclamineus hybrids. If you order bulbs from down under they will
arrive in February. Refrigerate them for a week and then plant them
immediately to acclimatize them. Roberta Watrous' 'Little Rusky' is a
jonquil hybrid with several green eyed, orange rimmed flowers to a stem.
'Toto' and 'Oz', bred by Bill Pannill in the US, are larger but very
floriferous and wonderful rock garden plants. A new introduction from Elise
Havens, 'Bumble Bee', is charming. Then there are the tried and true
favorites which are inexpensive and colorful, 'Little Gem', 'Little
Beauty', 'Baby Moon', 'Golden Quince', 'Hawera', 'Midget', and 'Sundial'.
These have been propagated by the Dutch and are readily available.

The best way to build up a collection is to buy several of the same variety
and plant them in clumps. Buy a few kinds each year and slowly build up
your stock. They can be divided every three years for increase. In mild
climates you can grow fall and winter flowering forms. Sometime in the near
future we will have green flowers and pink bi-colors. Enjoy these wonderful
flowers.

Sources: The American Daffodil Society web page has a good list of
suppliers listed under "Specialty Bulb Growers".

For specific bulbs contact Nancy R. Wilson, 6525 Briceland Thorn Road,
Garberville, CA 95542, nwilson@asis.com

Reading: Narcissus, a Guide to Wild Daffodils, John W. Blanchard, Alpine
Garden Society.

--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
E-fax 419-781-8594

Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +

--

Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
E-fax 419-781-8594

Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +