DAFFODIL-The Remarkable Story of the World’s Most Popular Spring Flower, authored by Noel Kingsbury published in 2013.
What better book to read in early spring? I found this book just as the tips of my yellow daffodils began to break out of the ground this year. Just thinking of their cheery yellow hue that I would soon see, brightened the gray days of late February for me. I have picked several blossoms this week to bring into my home. I look forward to many more buds opening soon under my large oak tree.
The introduction of this book describes the Daffodil as the quintessential spring flower. Clumps of daffodils reappear faithfully each year (sometimes doing this for as long as a century). They survive where accidentally dropped or discarded and appear in poetry and paintings as an emblem of spring and nature. There are over 27,000 unique cultivars divided into thirteen divisions. All single cultivars have the same basic shape with a corona (or cup) and perianths (petals).
Daffodils have been cultivated in Great Britain for several hundred years and the flower rode the coattails of the British Empire to settle in locations where the climate was like their home. This book explains that the Daffodil name derives from the Latin Asphodilus. The author notes that the distinction between the name Daffodils and Narcissus is that daffodils are usually the cultivars that are single-flowered with a big trumpet-like cup which is usually yellow. All others are called Narcissus. The name Narcissus comes from the Greek myth about Echo and Narcissus. Both Taziettas (paperwhites) and Jonquils are among the scented Narcissus.
The book covers the history and breeding of daffodils thoroughly. It also describes four ways in which daffodils are raised including: heirloom daffodils, native daffodils, naturalized daffodils, and daffodils grown inside the home. It provides information in these four sections about the cultivars best for each type of planting and growing tips. Pests and disease are covered in a separate chapter.
Although the book is focused on Great Britain, breeders in the United States are included and resources such as the American Daffodil Society (daffodilusa.org) are identified. The American Daffodil Society has a special compilation of Daffodil descriptions, pedigrees, descendants, and photos (at Daffseek.org).
Lastly, there is a multitude of photographs showing the incredible variety and beauty of this flower.
The history and breeding section of the book is quite dense with information. (In Great Britain, the Daffodil is considered a “cult” flower.) Therefore, you may wish to read the book in several short sessions or even skip a few of the topics.
Holly Sparrow, Headwaters Master Gardener
