"Daffodil"

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About the Daffodil

The Daffodil is also known As Narcissus, Jonquil, Paperwhite, and the 'Poet's Flower'. The species name is Narcissus pseudonarcissus (pronounced "nar-sis-us sue-doe-nar-sis-us"). Every daffodil is a narcissus (plural is narcissi), but not all narcissi are daffodils. Narcissus is the botanical name for the genus.

The common name 'Daffodil' is generally used for single, trumpet-shaped flowers where the central cup of the flower is as long as or longer than the petals. Other varieties are known as Narcissus or Jonquils. Jonquil comes from the Spanish name for the flower

The name 'Narcissus' comes from Greek mythology. Echo, a nymph, fell in love with the vain Greek youth Narcissus. But he loved only himself and rejected her. She died of a broken heart. Later Narcissus saw his reflection in a pool of water and stood there admiring his beauty. The gods were angry with Narcissus and changed him into a flower which they named after him - the Narcissus flower.

Narcissus is also derived from the Greek for 'numbness' referring to its narcotic properties.

The Narcissus flower bears six petals arranged in a star shape with a central cup or trumpet facing out. They vary in color and size depending on the variety. Stems of single flowers are 12-20 inches (30-50 cm) long. Multi-flowered stems are usually shorter. There are over 25,000 varieties of Narcissus in shades of white, yellow, orange, peachy pink, and bicolor. Many Daffodil flowers are fragrant.

The Daffodil is native to south western Europe. It was cultivated in Roman times, and they brought Narcissus bulbs to Britain. Daffodils have been used medicinally for centuries. A Roman surgeon treated wounds with a balm that contained the juice of daffodil bulbs. Even today, Galanthine in Daffodil bulbs is being used for Alzheimer's disease.

In Europe Narcissi are grown commercially in the Channel Islands, the Isles of Scilly, Great Britain and Holland.

Narcissus flowers are available from November to April depending on the species. The typical Daffodil blooms in the early spring.

The best time to buy the single-flowered, large Narcissus or Daffodil flower is when they are closed, with no or very little color showing. The buds should be bent with the bud covering already split - the pencil or goose neck stage. Buy double-flowered or those with several flowers on a stem when the flowers have just begun to open. Also check that there are no flattened or torn petals, no disease or insect problems, and that the stems are able to stand on their own without wire support.

In the Victorian language of flowers a daffodil symbolized chivalry and respect, while the narcissus conveyed feelings of self-esteem, or even vanity. In Feng Shui a flowering at New Year would bring good luck for the next twelve months. A yellow Daffodil flower is enjoyed by Gemini people, while Pisceans admire the delightful fragrance of a white narcissus flower.

What to Do When You Receive
Your Daffodil Flowers

1. Unpack your flowers straightaway.

2. Use a clean vase. Fill it with clean lukewarm water and add a floral preservative solution, following the instructions provided. Lukewarm water encourages good liquid uptake. Non-floridated water also promotes longer vase life of the flowers.

3. Remove any damaged leaves or flowers, and any yellowing foliage.

4. Cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the flower stems, with the stems under water (not the entire daffodil). Make the cut at an angle so that the flower stems do not rest flat on the bottom of the vase.

By doing this you help your Daffodil to maintain water uptake. Air bubbles and debris tends to collect in the bases of the stems and ,if this is not removed, water flow in the stems is greatly restricted. The cut should be at an angle and not flat across. You do not want the flower stems resting flat on the bottom of the vase since this will also restrict water uptake.

5. Arrange your flowers in the vase so that they are attractively displayed. All Narcissus flowers will bend towards light. If you need to straighten curved Daffodil stems, wrap them tightly in wet paper, and place upright in water under a bright light.

6. It is important when caring for Daffodils to keep the flowers in a cool place and out of direct sunlight. Avoid draughts. They do not like very hot or cold areas. In a hot place in the direct sun the flowers will soon die.

7. The Daffodil flower stem, when first cut, secretes into the vase water a substance that is toxic to other cut flowers. It can clog the water uptake of other flowers, especially tulips. Therefore you should not mix other flowers in the same vase with the Daffodils, without special treatment. <.P>

There are specially formulated cut flower foods which allow you to mix daffodils with other flowers without having this problem. Or, you can stand the Daffodils in water by themselves for at least 12 hours. Then you will need to use fresh water before mixing with the other flowers, and this should be changed often. Also, in this case, do not recut the Daffodil stems.

Care of Your Daffodil Flowers

1. Check the water level frequently and top up the vase with lukewarm water, which promotes good liquid uptake.

2. Regularly remove damaged, or dying flowers and foliage. This helps the flowers last longer.

3. Every 4-5 days remove the flowers from the vase. And cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the flower stems under water and at an angle. Also change the water at the same time.

Flower Life

Typical vase life for a Daffodil is about 4 to 6 days, but, if you give a Daffodil care by keeping it cool, it should last about 7 days.

Types of Narcissus

1) Daffodil - trumpet narcissus on a single-flowered stem. The corolla (middle) can be cup-shaped or trumpet-shaped, and can be longer than the surrounding petals (trumpet), or the same size (cup). Height is 12-18 inches (30-45 cm). The traditional Daffodil is yellow in color - such as 'King Alfred'. 'Beersheba' is white and 'Newcastle' is a bicolor'.

2) Large-Cupped Narcissus - single-flowered stem. The cup is more than one third the length of the petals but less than the full length. Height is 12-24 inches (30-60 cm). Can be entirely yellow (such as 'Carlton'), white (such as 'Silver Lining'), or bicolor (such as 'Fortune').

3) Small-Cupped Narcissus - single-flowered stem. The cup is less than one third the length of the petals. Height is 12-18 inches (30-45 cm). Can be white (such as 'Frigid'), or bicolor (such as 'La Riante' and 'Mahmoud').

4) Double Narcissus - single-flowered or multi-flowered stem. These have more than one ring of petals, with extra petals in the trumpet, the perianth, or both. They make fine cut flowers. Height is 12-18 inches (30-45 cm). Can be entirely yellow (such as 'Golden Ducat'), white (such as 'Snowball'), or bicolor (such as 'Texas').

5) Small single Narcissus - multi-flowered stem. The flowers are small (no more than 1-1.25 inches (2.5-3 cm) across) and very fragrant. Can be yellow with an orange center (such as 'Geranium'), entirely yellow (such as 'Soleil D'Or'), or entirely white (such as 'Paper White').

6) Small double Narcissus - multi-flowered stem. Yellow with an orange center (such as 'Cheerfulness').

Poultry keepers considered the flower unlucky because they thought it would stop their hens laying eggs. The Daffodil is one of the national emblems of Wales. Daffodil flowers are worn on St David's Day on 1st March, St David being the Patron Saint of Wales. Also there is National Daffodil Day when the Canadian Cancer Society and Marie Curie Cancer Care raise money for their charities.

There is more information on Daffodils available. Please check out the links on the left at the top of the page. Click here for more Daffodil Information.

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