Every year one or more forms or varieties of the many spring flowering plants—crocus, snowdrops, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths—capture my imagination. One year it was lily-form tulips, another year it was the splendid pink-cupped daffodil, ‘Mrs. R.O. Backhouse’, still another season found me enthusing endlessly about a particularly vivid blue chionodoxa or “glory of the snow”.
This year is no different. Right now I am absolutely besotted with long-necked daffodils. These narcissus varieties, which are also sometimes described as “long-nosed”, feature cups that are longer than the petals—collectively known as the perianth—that surround them. This elongation gives the flowers a distinctive profile that I think is elegant and refined.
My favorite is ‘Beersheba’, one of the earliest to bloom in my front garden. Introduced in 1923 by an English cleric and amateur daffodil breeder named Engleheart, ‘Beersheba’ is a particularly lovely plant, with ivory blooms and an elongated trumpet that flares slightly at the end. Though it is technically a large-flowered variety, it is not as big and flashy as some of the more recent “white” daffodils. Its singular beauty is captivating. I wish I had at least one hundred more ‘Beersheba’ plants. After bloom time this year, I will divide my existing clumps and probably order more for fall delivery.
‘Broughshane’ is another large-flowered, “white” daffodil with a distinctive long nose. It was introduced in 1938 by celebrated Irish daffodil breeder, Guy Wilson. It blooms relatively late in the daffodil season, with a stunning, ruffled ivory cup and white perianth. Wilson, who bred many good white-flowered plants, was so fond of ‘Broughshane’ that he named it after his hometown. ‘Broughshane has the added advantage of blue-green leaves that heirloom bulb specialist Scott Kunst likens to those of leeks.
Perhaps the earliest blooming long-nosed daffodil is ‘February Silver’, another variety with a pale yellow to ivory cup that whitens further as it ages. Introduced in 1949, this large-flowered variety boasts perianth petals that are ever so slightly reflexed or backward curved, providing a perfect frame for the showy cups.
‘Colleen Bawn’, introduced in the 1880’s and the species daffodil, Narcissus moschatus, first described in 1604, both feature elongated cups. The moschatus species, in fact, is sometimes nicknamed “swan’s neck” or “goose neck”. I think its grace makes it more swan than goose. Both varieties feature white flowers that nod demurely rather than facing boldly upward. ‘Colleen Bawn’ is also distinctive because the perianth petals are slightly twisted.
Not all long-nosed daffodils are white and not all have large flowers. The aptly named ‘Little Witch’ is a sweet-smelling cyclamineus daffodil, with a bright yellow cup and perianth. Growing only about eight inches tall, the flowers feature back-swept perianth petals, which make the slender cups look even longer. I have a special fondness for ‘Little Witch’ because it was bred prior to 1921 by one of my horticultural heroines, Sarah Elizabeth Backhouse, a pioneering female plant breeder and the namesake of the aforementioned pink-cupped daffodil, ‘Mrs. R.O. Backhouse’.
Early to mid-season bloomer, ‘Tweety Bird’, is a modern daffodil, with attributes similar to ‘Little Witch’. Growing seven to 12 inches tall, its long yellow cups flare at the ends into tweet-worthy ruffles. ‘Tweedy Bird’ also features reflexed perianth petals.
Right now is a great time to think about adding some of these elegant specimens to your garden, as bulb vendors have begun advertising their fall-planted selections. Prices also tend to be better if you order early. Good sources for the long-nosed daffodils include John Schemers, 23 Tulip Drive, P.O. Box 638, Bantam, CT 06750, (860) 567-0838, www.johnscheepers.com; Old House Gardens, 4175 Whitmore Lake Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105. (734) 995-1486; and Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, 7900 Daffodil Lane Gloucester, VA 23061, (804) 693-3966, Toll-free: (877) 661-2852, www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com.