Narcissus Dwarf Forms in Australia.

Narcissus the dwarf forms.

You will recognise the first daffodil, but I still find this is one of my favourites Narcissus cyclamineus, I like to hand pollinate this one because often the bees can't fit up into the flower where it needs to be pollinated and other than chipping the bulbs, seed is the best way to increase your stock and I have always dreamt of having drifts of Narcissus cyclamineus.

A lovely large pot of Narcissus asturiensis from Archibald seed in 1986 collected in Picos Spain, this photo was taken in 2000 but sadly I lost most of these on that very hot day, 48 to 50 degree's celsius during the drought. I forgot to move them out of the heat. Luckily a few remained in the centre of the pot, but they are taking a long time to build up numbers like this again.

Narcissus Ben 'Bler,  Rod Barwick of Glenbrook Bulbs in Tasmania Rod considers this his best bulbacodium hybrid that he has bred and it is outstanding.( In an earlier blog.)

Narcissus bulbacodium Spoirot bred by Rod Barwick 

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Narcissus bulbacodium ssp. Obesus Marcus Harvey of Hill View Rare Plants Tasmania. The true form, leaves are prostrate and the flower is just off the ground 5cm in height, I grow this on the edge of a raised bed so I can see the flowers, with lovely cupped flowers. I have raised a lot of these from seed from different sources, but none of them compare to this form.

Narcissus Ferdi this tiny little gem is only 8cm high, the flowers are yellow throughout, another of Rod Barwick's hybrids. This little Narcissus deserves a spot in every rock garden in Australia full sun and easy to grow.

Narcissus Hawera bred by Thompson, New Zealand a beautiful triandrus hybrid raised pre 1928 but so easy in the garden, lovely soft lemon pendent flowers. Likes to be lifted every now and then and that keeps it happy, I have found the bulbs do not like to be congested.

Narcissus Lilliput not dwarf but small about 13cm, the perfect little daffodil bred by Dutch breeders, yellow corona and white petals another daffodil I grow in a raised bed so you can look straight into the flowers. It also needs to be lifted every few years to keep it flowering, and likes to be fed a granular food high in potash or just potash. From Glenbrook Bulbs.

Narcissus Little Beauty bred by the same Dutch company as N. Lilliput, another fine little bicolour trumpet from Glenbrook Bulbs.

Narcissus longispathus from Archibald seed 1997 above and below, sadly I left this one behind in my other garden.

Narcissus Pee Wees from Glenbrook was sent as a gift from Rod, not in his catalogue so unable to find any information at this stage 12-15cm high. I hope I have the spelling correct.

Narcissus Roveroi another of Glenbrook's hybrids, Rod say's it is quite fertile so will be excellent for breeding. All over yellow and only 10cm high as you can see it grows with Iris reticulata's.

Narcissus Pirouette an unregistered daffodil bred by Barbara and Philip Gordon in 1980 our founding members. Otto thinks it is from Narcissus cyclamineus x Narcissus asturiensis. It is not hardy for me and I have to chip the bulbs every few years to keep it going. It is a very dwarf Narcissus about 8cm high and as its name suggests it swings in the breeze and has the most exquisite shape.

Narcissus Snook bred from Narcissus nevadensis x N. cyclamineus. One of Rods best known and most loved of all Glenbrooks miniatures that he has raised. All over yellow flowers, slow to multiply for me but Rod says it multiplies well for him. 

Narcissus Thirty'o not listed every year in Rods catalogue, as I guess every man and his dog buys this gorgeous little daffodil overseas. Only reaching about 8 to 10cm high and bred by Rod with strong flowers with reflexed petals, it is strong in every way. A cyclamineus hybrid grows and flowers beautifully with little attention in the rock garden.

Narcissus triandrus alba growing in semi shade in the garden, not too wet in winter and semi shade in summer, and is never baked. From seed.

Narcissus triandrus variety Loiseleurii from Scottish Rock Garden seed in 1999, a beautiful Narcissus and if you ever see seed order it, it is well worth growing sadly no longer with me.

Narcissus Fenben from Rod Barwick of Glenbrook Bulbs a miniature all yellow jonquil of fine quality with a strong perfume as well.
It seems to me we under estimate what Rod has done for the world of the daffodil, he works away quietly in Russell Road, Tasmania, with his sister Annie walking to his house most mornings for toast and tea.
 Rod has put out 36 catalogue's on bulbs, he started his bulb nursery in 1980, but he would have started much earlier than that, as he would have had to build up his stock for sale.
Rod's Narcissus are world renowned as he has breed and registered many of his new and beautiful daffodils, winning many prizes all over the world by people growing and showing his bulbs. It is the small daffodils that I am interested in, as most of you are too, and he has breed many. Rod handles all the orders himself and it is all done by mail, you know when he has received your order and you know when he is going to post it out, dispatching it, receiving a letter and then the parcel sometimes arriving the same day as the letter to say the bulbs are on their way. All beautifully bagged and some in peat just depending on the type of bulb. What a joy it is to receive a box of Glenbrook bulbs.

Narcissus Snipe raised in England in 1948. If you didn't grow any other daffodil and this is the only one you grew, you couldn't do better. It is exquisite of typical cyclamineus form with dainty reflexed petals and soft creamy white all over and a shape that can't be mistaken for anything else. It only grows to about 12cm in the garden. Not hardy and I purchased mine from Glenbrook in 1997 and only 1 bulb, Rod has never listed it to my knowledge in his catalogue. Each year this is the only daffodil I lift and put in a cool place in a bag and mark in my dairy to replant in early Autumn, because if we have a wet summer the bulbs could rot and would I be ever able to replace it?