According to an ancient legend, an unusually handsome young man, whose name was Narcissus, went to the stream and saw his reflection in it. He admired himself and could not take his eyes off the water. Narcissus sat at the stream for so long that he died there from self-love. Later, an elegant flower with a bowed head appeared at this place. His people called him a daffodil.
For a long period a haze of light sadness, lyrical loneliness and foggy dreams flew around the flower. That is why one of the first varieties of daffodils, which began to decorate gardens and parks, was called Poetic. Breeders continued to work to diversify such beautiful flowers as daffodils. New varieties of this plant - colorful and vibrant, strong and cheerful, sparkled in gardens and parks like spring
sunbeams. Gradually, the color acquired a completely different symbolism. He began to bring joy and affirmation of life.
Origin
Daffodils are perennial bulbous plants. They belong to the Amaryllis family. Where did the daffodil come from? Species, varieties of this flower are mostly from the Mediterranean. The homeland of some of them is considered China and Central Asia.
For many millennia, the daffodil has remained for man one of the most pleasing and exciting spring flowers. In the East, he is even compared with the bottomlessly beautiful look of his beloved. Each country has its own myths and legends of narcissus. This amazing flower is captured in the paintings of many artists. You can find it on other objects of art.
Europeans have always considered a daffodil a talisman that can attract love. In Italy, a spring flower is a symbol of passion.
Since ancient times, daffodil has been used to create perfumes. He found application in medicine. The essential oils of this plant and the substance alkaloid narcissin contained in the bulbs of a flower were considered therapeutic.
The useful qualities of the flower are not forgotten in our days. For example, it is massively grown in China and in other countries of the East. It is necessary to obtain natural essential oil. Without a fragrant daffodil, it is impossible to imagine the New Year in China. The inhabitants of this country decorate their homes with bright flowers.
The British also love daffodils. Varieties and diverse species of this bright plant in their popularity even managed to squeeze the recognized queen of the garden - a rose.
Classification
Today, gardeners know more than sixty names of natural species, as well as hundreds of names of hybrids and varieties of narcissus. How not to get confused in this large list? For this, experts developed the International Classification of Daffodils. A huge number of forms of this flower was divided into 13 groups.
Varieties of daffodils, photos and names, which can be found in this article, give a vivid idea of the available forms of these amazing flowers.
According to the International Classifier, each group is assigned its own digital designation. When daffodils are described, varieties have a specific code. It starts with the group number. Next through the dash follows the combination of color that crowns and perianth lobes possess. Also, the initial letters of English words are used in the code, which indicate the color of the daffodil. For example, if it is white, then the letter w is worth; if yellow is y, pink is p, orange is o, red is r, green is g.
Tubular grades. Group 1
It includes daffodils - tubular varieties. Their structure is characterized by the presence of one flower on the stem. In this case, the length of the tube is either equal to the length of the petals or exceeds it.
In the group of tubular daffodils, flowers with yellow and white color prevail. However, varieties can also be found with a different tone of perianth and tube.
You can find out this variety by bulb. It is large in tubular daffodils and reaches a diameter of more than five centimeters. Varieties tend to breed well. That is why they are widely used for decorating gardens, as well as forcing and cutting.
There are three types of flowers into which tubular daffodils are further divided. Yellow varieties belong to the first of them. Particularly interesting is the narcissus Maximus. It enjoys well-deserved popularity among gardeners and has been cultivated for a rather long period. Maximus is distinguished by large, brightly colored yellow flowers that adorn long (over 75 cm) stems.
These are the best varieties of daffodils that attract attention even when planted near larger species. At its base, the flower tube has a dark green color. Rising to the base of the perianth segments, the color gradually turns into bright green. For normal growth, this variety requires a permeable, loose, nutritious soil. At the same time, tubers need a deep landing.
The same type of tubular is Obvollaris. These are early varieties of daffodils with a characteristic undersized form. A distinctive feature of Obollaris is its flat, wide perianth segments and a significantly open tube. The coloring of such flowers stands out for its bright yellow.
Other representatives of the same type of tubular - Henry Irving, King Alfred. Golden spar also enters here.
The second type of tubular is white. The most famous varieties of such daffodils are Hight Knight, Mystris Creledge and Madame de Graf. There are other varieties of daffodils in the second type (see photos and names below). So, among the bushes and lawns often planted:
1. Milner. Flowers of this variety are distinguished not strictly white, but slightly creamy in color.
2. Peter Barr. These are daffodils with white and very large flowers.
3. Birshiba. This variety is easy to recognize by the very large flowers with brilliant whiteness, which in diameter sometimes reach 13 cm.
4. Kantara. This variety has larger flower sizes than Birshiba, but they have a surprisingly beautiful shape.
The third type of tubular daffodils is two-tone. In this group, the pseudo-narcissus stands out. In the wild, it is found throughout Europe, as well as in the territory of Eastern Transcaucasia. The flower is so undemanding that it is planted with pleasure on the darkened areas of parkland and lawns, which gives them more naturalness. Pseudonarcissus can propagate by self-seeding. It is characterized by slender stems and a pale yellow color of the perianth, turning into a darker tone at the crown (tube).
One of the best varieties for pot culture is Spring Glory. It deserves attention with its fragrant vanilla scent. Very famous are also such well-known varieties of two-color daffodils as Imperor and Impress.
Large-crowned. Group 2
It includes large-crowned daffodils. Varieties of this group have a single white or yellow flower on the stem. Its diameter reaches 10 centimeters.
The inflorescence of the large-crowned daffodil has six equal shares and a corrugated tubular elongated crown of bright orange color. It is located on a stem having a length of 30-50 cm. What is the difference between such daffodils? Varieties of large-crowned plants have a smaller bulb than in the first group. Its diameter is approximately 3 cm.
The most popular varieties of large-crowned daffodils are:
1. Velazquez. It features a large corrugated crown and contrast colors. So, the crown of this daffodil has a bright orange color, and the petals are soft cream.
2. Carleton. This daffodil gives off a bright yellow inflorescence with a tubular wavy yellow crown length.
3. China Made. In this daffodil, both the crown and the petals have a delicate white color. But the variety also has a bright spot. This is a yellow wavy border of the crown.
4. Professor Einstein. This is a snowy white daffodil, decorated with a fiery red crown.
5. Debutant. This variety is distinguished by a combination of snow-white petals with a deep pink crown.
Other popular varieties of large-crowned daffodils are Confuoco and Flower Record, Paola Verones and Rosi Sunrise, Kispruf and others.
Small-crowned representatives. Group 3
It includes daffodils, the varieties of which are of the small-crowned type. They are single flowers on the stem with a crown length not exceeding one third of the length of the petals. In this group, varieties with a white-cream color predominate. Such plants, as a rule, are medium in size and have a delicate aroma of flowers.
The most popular varieties:
1. Amor. This is a huge white daffodil with a large crown, the color of which is dominated by orange and red tones.
2. Audubon. The petals of this flower are painted white and the crown is creamy pink.
3. Edward Buchton. Daffodils of this variety have a greenish-yellow funnel-shaped crown with wavy orange-yellow edges.
All these varieties are intended for decoration of gardens, as well as for distillation and cutting.
Under the code 3-o-g, there is a flower called Sabina Hay. These fabulously beautiful daffodils are late varieties. They have a crown of saturated red color and orange perianth.
Amazing "terry" representatives. Group 4
It includes terry daffodils, whose varieties have extraordinary beauty. The stem of such a plant decorates one or several flowers at once. The crown of such daffodils is terry. The whole flower may have the same feature. The daffodils in the fourth group externally differ from each other, having a different shape and size. Their color is yellow, white, pinkish, orange or yellow-red. There are varieties and combined petals in color.
Terry daffodils were first received spontaneously. This was the result of an unexpected selection. But the unusual shape and beauty of the flower encouraged gardeners to further develop similar varieties. And if at the beginning of the 19th century. the list of species of terry daffodils was very small, today today they have already registered more than 1000. The most popular of them are:
1. Acropolis. This is a white daffodil with a residual red crown.
2. Outer Space. The variety has white petals and a pink crown.
3. Chirfness. Completely terry white daffodil.
4. Flower Drift. White flower with an orange crown.
5. Golden Ducat. Huge bright yellow terry daffodil.
6. Texas. Yellow terry flower.
7. Tahiti. Yellow terry daffodil with a red crown.
Terry daffodils are very beautiful. Varieties of this group are used to decorate gardens, forcing and cutting.
Group 5
It includes varieties of triandrus. These are low plants, whose stem reaches 25 cm. Such a daffodil adorns 2-3 flowers with a small crown. A characteristic feature of this group is the shape of the petals. They are slightly bent back. In addition, triandrus daffodils have a long and very narrow tube. Of the most common varieties can be distinguished:
1. Haver. In this daffodil, the crown and perianth have a light yellow-lemon color. Perianth lobes are oval. The crown is cup-shaped. This variety is late.
2. Liberty Belle. This is a daffodil with a bright greenish yellow perianth. His crown is slightly darker. Petals are narrowly elliptical.
3. Tresemble. There are three flowers on the peduncle of this daffodil. Moreover, the top of them is horizontal, and the bottom - drooping. The crown has a cup shape. Its color at the very beginning of flowering becomes light lemon yellow, and then slightly brightens.
All these varieties are used to decorate gardens.
Cyclamenous plants. Group 6
This includes cyclamen daffodils. They usually have a single drooping flower on the stem. Varieties of this group were obtained by crossing the species cyclamen-shaped daffodil and cultivated plant forms. As a result, plants with a thin crown, which sometimes exceeds the length of the perianth, are created.
The petals of these varieties are bent back, and the flowers resemble cyclamen in shape. The most common daffodils of group 6 are:
1. Jetfire. The flower of this daffodil has a diameter of 7.5 cm. Fractions of its perianth are bright yellow and rounded. Petals are slightly bent back. The tube of the flower is bright orange with a dark corrugated edge. This variety belongs to the early.
2. Baby Dol. This variety of daffodils has a bright yellow perianth. The tube is slightly ribbed cylindrical in shape. Its edge is corrugated, and the color is orange-yellow.
The result of the work of breeders. Group 7
It includes jonquillium daffodils. This variety has been bred by breeders. To obtain it, the specialists took the daffodil jonquil or sitnichka. All varieties of this group are pleased with their flowering in late spring. Like the original form, they are susceptible to late frosts. In this regard, in regions where the cold climate prevails, they are cultivated only in protected places.
What are the main differences between such daffodils? Varieties included in the seventh group have from 2 to 6 flowers on their peduncle, which are distinguished by a short crown and a strong aroma. Their color may be white, yellow or two-tone.
The most common types are:
1. Cherie. Perianth lobes in this variety of daffodils are white with a touch of cream. The crown is sometimes light lemon, and sometimes creamy white. The flower itself is quite delicate, fragile and elegant. The variety is late.
2. Step Forward. On its peduncle two or three flowers. Perianth lobes are yellow. The crown changes its color. At the beginning of flowering, it is yellow, in the middle - light yellow, at the end - greenish-white. In terms of flowering, the variety is medium.
3. Suzy. On the peduncle of this daffodil there are two or three flowers located horizontally. Perianth is painted in bright yellow tone. The crown of such a daffodil is cupped and reaches a height of 0.8-1 cm. Its diameter is 2.5 cm. The inner part of the crown is orange in color. Such a daffodil blooms late.
Group 8
It includes multiflorous or tatsetovidny daffodils. These are very original plants with winter hardiness. On the pedicel, 2-8, and sometimes all 20 pieces of fragrant flowers can be formed, which are collected in a racemose. These varieties are distinguished by rounded lobes, a small crown and dark green leaves.
The most ideal plant for natural planting and flower beds is the multi-flowered jonquillium narcissus. Varieties most popular with gardeners are:
1. Geranium The peduncle of this daffodil contains from 2 to 4 flowers, the first of which is the largest (up to 5.5 cm), and the next ones are smaller. Perianth lobes are smooth and have a white color. Crown bright orange cup-shaped. Its diameter is 1.5 cm and a height of 0.7 cm. A variety is used, as a rule, for distillation.
2. Papiraceus grandiflorus. This is the largest variety in this group. It is an old garden plant whose bulbs are used for distillation. The variety is so early that it can bloom in December, and immediately come to replace the chrysanthemums. The shape of the flower of this daffodil is star-shaped. Perianth segments are slightly longer than the crown (if we compare this variety with other multicolor ones). The flower petals are white and loose in structure. A pleasant aroma is inherent in narcissus, in which, unfortunately, there are no lemon tones.
The best varieties of multicolor are the following: Minnou and Medusa, Scarlet Jam and Laurent Coster, Elvira and Silver Chimes.
Poetic daffodils. Group 9
It includes daffodils called Poetic. They are single flowers with a bright small crown, the length of which does not exceed one third of the perianth. Petals of poetic daffodils have a milky white color. Winter-hardy plants. They grow well in the shade. The bulb of poetic daffodils is shallow. The most popular variety is Actaea. Perianth lobes of this daffodil are snow-white and reach a length of 3 cm. The base of the crown is greenish-yellow, and the rest of it is bright yellow with bright orange edges.
New representatives. Group 10
These are bulbocodium hybrids with small flowers, reminiscent of bells in their shape. This is a new group of daffodils, many varieties of which are still at the breeding stage.
Sharp-crowned flowers. Group 11
This is a split-crowned daffodils. It seems that their crown with fringed edges seems to be torn to one third of the length. A very beautiful and rare daffodil belonging to this group is the Trilune variety. Its bright yellow crown is divided into three parts like a trefoil.
As for group 12, it includes those daffodils that are not listed in the above.
The thirteenth group includes natural species of spring flowers, as well as their hybrids.
Pink daffodils
These are amazing flowers, the magical beauty of which can amaze anyone. For the first time, a daffodil with a pink crown was bred in 1921 by the Englishwoman Mrs. Beckhouse. And even then it became a sensation. .
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