Daffodil flower

Narcissus is an early spring plant. Its flowers are the first to delight with their beauty, freshness and aroma.

Narcissus flower: what is it

Flowering begins in May, lasts about a month. Bright, bell-like flowers sway among the thin leaves.

The flower consists of 6 leaves of a simple perianth, the outgrowth of each forms a crown, inside which is a column and 6 stamens. The diameter of the flower is from 2 to 10 cm. Flowers come in 2 forms: simple and double.

The culture grows in the Mediterranean, Asia, southern Europe. There are more than 60 species. In addition to 25 natural ones, a huge number of hybrids are grown.

Daffodil flower

Narcissus is a plant suitable for forcing, decorating, cutting into a bouquet.

It has been cultivated for centuries for use in medicine and perfumery. The heady aroma can trigger a migraine attack. The alkaloid contained in the bulbs is poisonous to rodents, making them invulnerable.

In the countries of East Asia, non-double varieties are industrially grown to make essential oils. The fashionable perfume is called Black Narcissus.

Why was the flower named so? An ancient Greek legend tells all about Narcissus - a handsome but selfish young man who did not respond to the feelings of the mountain nymph Echo. He was punished by the gods for his coldness. The young man fell in love with his reflection in the water. Self-admiration by the stream led the young man to death. In that place, a beautiful flower grew, called by people after him. This is a myth, but the daffodil flower still pleases everyone with its delicate beauty.

Narcissus flowers (Latin name narcissus) are representatives of the perennial bulbous genus, belong to the Amaryllis family. Along with flowers similar to daffodils: crocuses, hyacinths, it belongs to early plants.

Narcissus and Echo

The variety of how daffodils look is created by the size, shape, color of the crown (one-color or two-color).

Characteristics and descriptions of the narcissus flower

Height: 0.1-0.5 m. The arrangement of leaves is basal, bundle. Quantity - from 2 to 4. Form - narrow-linear. The length and width depend on the variety.

At the top of the peduncle, a flower grows, which consists of 6 petals (more for terry ones). The arrangement of flowers is solitary or umbellate, straight or drooping. At its base there is a crown - a tubular, cupped or bell-shaped crown.

The bulb is perennial, dense, scaly. The shape is elongated, oval or round. Distinctive feature: two buds of renewal with different degrees of development. The roots are straight, annual. Propagated by baby bulbs.

You can admire how it blooms from the beginning of May. Among home flowers bloom like daffodils - zephyranthes. Popularly, their flowers are called home daffodils.

Narcisi

Types of daffodils

In the garden and for forcing at home, hybrid forms are popular, combined in appearance in 12 groups. Consider some of the types of daffodil flower:

• Daffodil yellow: a short, single-flowered tubular flower with a light yellow perianth.
• Terry narcissus: petals, terry flower crown. There are both single flowers on peduncles, and several. The size, shape, color are different because the group unites everyone with a single feature - terry.
• Jonquilla's narcissus - peduncles with several flowers, a cup-shaped crown no more than 2⁄3 of the perianth length.
• Pink daffodils. An Englishwoman Backhouse bred a special shade of the crown of the daffodil flower - pink. It became the starting point of many species belonging to different classes: terry, tubular, jonkillia.
• White daffodil: single flower, small crown, bright, white perianth.
• The sea daffodil can be found on the seaside. Lily-shaped form of snow-white flowers emitting a vanilla aroma.
• Shrub daffodils. Taceous flowers form up to 20 fragrant flowers collected in one brush. They have rounded perianths.
• Peruvian Narcissus: An unusual, very large white flower. Outwardly it looks like a lily or a spider.
• Red daffodils: Variety Verger, Queen - a red crown flaunts inside a snow-white large flower.

Features of planting and care

Growing a daffodil flower is not difficult at all. Any garden soil will do. The main condition: good drainage, fertility. Manure cannot be used for fertilization. The optimal planting time is August-September.

Daffodils are quite shade-tolerant. Tacet varieties love the sun. Hybrid crowns with red, orange shades are best grown in the shade.

Peruvian daffodil

Planting depth 5-15 cm (depending on the type of soil): on heavy ones, they deepen less than on light ones. The row spacing is about 30 cm, in a row the distance is 15-20 cm between the bulbs Placed in groups or rows.

The plant is well watered. The soil is regularly loosened, weeded from weeds.

The daffodil flower needs to be fertilized. It is better to use mineral supplements in liquid form:

• after the emergence of sprouts - fertilizing with nitrogen;
• at the budding stage - potash.

Major diseases and pests of culture

Subject to correct farming practices, there will be no problems.

Pests dangerous for flowers:

• mite;
• nematode;
• narcissus fly.

Plants are susceptible to the following diseases:

• sclerotinosis;
• fusarium;
• mosaic.

Growing daffodils at home

A flower that everyone loves can be grown at home. For forcing, the type does not matter - most will do. Large bulbs are selected in autumn. The flower pot is filled with soil. The bulb is buried so that the neck protrudes above the ground. The soil is watered. The bulb is provided with rest (temperature + 5-7 ° C and complete darkness) until sprouts appear, then the pot is placed on the windowsill. Care comes down to regular watering.

Knowing the features of agricultural technology, you can easily grow it in your own field, as well as admire the process of forcing on your windowsill.