With a diploma in botany from the NYBG, Katherine Wagner-Reiss has worked as a tour guide at the Garden for two years.
Daffodils, narcissus, and jonquils can blend together in the mind yet are simple to distinguish.
Daffodil is the common name for the more than 50 species of spring-flowering bulbs in the genus Narcissus. One species, Narcissus jonquilla, is known as jonquil in common parlance. When in doubt, call any of these flowers since you can never go wrong “because they are all members of the genus Narcissus.
The asphodel, another stunning flower, also goes by the name of daffodil. Nobody is aware of how the beginning “Eventually, D was added to daffodil. The asphodel is so beautiful that it is thought to grow in the blessed afterlife grounds known as the Elysian Fields in ancient Greek literature. The NYBG Perennial Garden has Asphodelus alba, and I’ll be watching for it to blossom this summer.
the term “The name narcissus comes from the Greek word narke, which means numbness and is also the origin of the word narcotic. Some species of the flower may have been given this name because to its seductive scent. Narcissus is one of the spring flowers I can consistently enjoy in my Connecticut garden since some people equate the name with the poisonous properties of the bulbs and blossoms, a defense against squirrels and deer.
Narcissus is reminiscent of the Greek legend of the same name, in which a gorgeous young man was enthralled by his own image in the lake and pined until he died (thus the word narcissist!). There is debate over whether the flower Narcissus was named after the boy Narcissus, or if there is no relation at all (although it is a beautiful fairy tale to state that Narcissus was transformed into the namesake flower!).
The term “jonquil” comes from the genus Juncus, which includes rushes, whose leaves resemble those of jonquils.
Its own is unique to the New York Botanical Garden “In the Elysian Fields, Daylily/Daffodil Walk, Daffodil Valley, the Rock Garden, and Daffodil Hill, there are tens of thousands of narcissus blooming.
The Garden blooms with tens of thousands of daffodils each year. On Daylily/Daffodil Walk, discover new favorites among the newest hybrids. Also, don’t miss Daffodil Hill in April when it is covered in a sea of yellow and white flowers, including several historic varieties that were established in the early 20th century. Find small species daffodils no taller than three inches in the Rock Garden, and drifts of dazzling color close by in Daffodil Valley, the location of the Murray Liasson Narcissus Collection.
To mark the Garden’s 125th anniversary, the NYBG started a substantial enlargement of the vintage Narcissus plants in this collection in October 2015.
How did daffodils get the name Narcissus?
The narcissus flower is the subject of a well-known myth originating in Greek mythology. Cephissus, a river god, and Liriope, a nymph, had a son named Narcissus. He was a really attractive young man who denigrated people who cared for him.
In the traditional telling of this story by Roman poet Ovid, Narcissus was out wandering in the woods when he was spotted by a mountain nymph named Echo. She decided to follow him after being drawn to his beauty. Whose there? was yelled by Narcissus. All Echo could do was repeat his words back to him, which was all she could manage to do.
She ultimately made the choice to embrace him and disclose herself. He told her to leave him alone after turning down her advances. She spent the rest of her life wandering the woods until nothing remained but the sound of her voice because she was devastated (an echo). When the Goddess of Revenge Nemesis learned of this, she made the decision to punish Narcissus by luring him to a stream where he might see his own reflection. He couldn’t take his eyes off of such perfection without falling in love.
He couldn’t bear to leave his mirror when his love wasn’t returned. He became weary from staring at it for several days, fell into the stream, and drowned. Daffodils are allegedly called narcissus because they frequently sprout up along the banks of rivers and streams, which is supposedly where Narcissus drowned.
Daffodils are sometimes supposed to stand for vanity and unrequited love because some people think that the way they bow their necks toward the ground symbolizes Narcissus leaning over to view his reflection in the water.
This story is also the source of the clinical term “narcissism,” which is used to describe persons who are attention-seekers and have a high opinion of themselves.
What distinguishes a jonquil daffodil from a Narcissus?
We now know that Narcissus includes jonquils and daffodils. While jonquils are heavily perfumed, daffodil bulbs often have a very faint aroma. In order to determine whether jonquil is a Narcissus, we should speak with the Daffodil Society. Despite the fact that the two words are interchangeable, jonquils are not daffodils.
Class 7 and 13 jonquils feature abundant golden, fragrant blooms and rounded leaves. There is only one group of Narcissus, and it is a small one. In southern climates and USDA zones above 8, jonquils typically thrive. Daffodils can also be grown in these locations, but jonquils are more common and hardier there.
The Narcissus is a type of flower, right?
Narcissus is a genus of perennial plants of the Amaryllidaceae family, primarily with spring flowers. Daffodil, [Note 1] narcissus, and jonquil are a few common names that are used to refer to all or some species of the genus. Narcissus features striking flowers with six tepals that resemble petals and are topped by a corona in the form of a cup or trumpet. The flowers are typically white and yellow (although some garden cultivars also come in orange or pink), with either uniformly colored or contrasting tepals and corona.
Narcissus were well recognized in ancient civilizations for their medicinal and botanical properties, but Linnaeus’ Species Plantarum was the first work to fully define them (1753). The genus is typically thought to consist of about ten sections and 50 species. Depending on how they are categorized, the number of species has changed because to hybridization and interspecies similarities. The genus first appeared in the Iberian peninsula and surrounding southwest European regions at some point between the Late Oligocene and Early Miocene epochs. The name Narcissus’ precise etymology is unknown, however it is frequently associated with the Greek word for drunk (narcotic) and the legend of the young man who had a love affair with his own reflection. The word “asphodel,” which it was frequently likened to, appears to be where the English name “daffodil” originated.
The Western Mediterranean, notably the Iberian peninsula, is the region with the greatest diversity for the species, which are endemic to meadows and woods in southern Europe and North Africa. Prior to the tenth century, plants from both the wild and the garden were brought to the Far East. Narcissi are typically long-lived bulbs that grow through division but are also pollinated by insects. Viruses, fungus, fly larvae, mites, and nematodes are a few examples of known pests, diseases, and disorders. While some species of Narcissus are now extinct, others are being threatened by rising urbanization and tourism.
According to historical records, narcissi have been grown since the dawn of time. However, after the 16th century, they gained popularity throughout Europe and by the late 19th century, they were a significant commercial crop centered mostly in the Netherlands. Narcissi are now widely used in gardens, both public and private, as cut flowers and ornamental plants. Numerous cultivars have been created during the course of extensive breeding. Narcissi are divided into categories for horticultural use, including a wide range of forms and hues. Narcissi, like other members of their family, produce a variety of alkaloids that offer some protection for the plant but could be dangerous if taken by accident. This feature has been used medicinally in conventional medicine, leading to the creation of galantamine, a drug used to treat Alzheimer’s dementia. Narcissi have a long history of being praised in literature and art. In various cultures, they are linked to themes like spring, good fortune, and even death.
The daffodil is Wales’ national flower and a worldwide emblem for organizations that support cancer research. Many places relate celebrations with the springtime blooming of the wild flowers.
What does the Narcissus represent?
The meanings and symbolism of narcissus flowers include fresh starts, rejuvenation, hope, grace, inspiration, and self-love. The genus Narcissus contains over 50 different types of narcissus blooms. 1 These contain a variety of species as well as blooms from the jonquil and daffodil families. Along with rich mythology and beautiful scent, narcissuses are also renowned for their metaphorical connotations. Notably, the narcissus flower bears the name of Narcissus, a figure from the Greek tale that will be discussed in more detail later. Learn more about narcissus mythology, spiritual connotations, and flower meanings and symbolism in this article.
What made Narcissus a flower in the first place?
Greek mythology’s Narcissus is a legendaryally attractive young man who serves as the inspiration for a fertility tale. Indulging in an especially severe sort of self-love causes him to die and change into a narcissus blossom that will lure the goddess Persephone as she makes her way to Hades.
What floral symbol represents December?
There are lots of gifts to buy for the holidays as December is not far away. It might be challenging to come up with present ideas for the important ones in our lives who were born in December because there are so many gifts to buy. Birth flowers are the ideal birthday gift since they combine meaning and symbolism with the ability to help with holiday decorating.
Holly and narcissus are the two birthflowers for December. Every one of these birth flowers has a unique symbolism and is either in full bloom in December or is simple to compel to blossom.
Are narcissus and paperwhites the same thing?
One of the few species known as paperwhite, Narcissus papyraceus is a perennialbulbous plant that is indigenous to the Mediterranean region, from Greece to Portugal as well as Morocco and Algeria. Its name, which combines the words papyrus and aceus, means “paper-like”[1]. In the Azores, Corsica, Texas, California, and Louisiana, the species is regarded as indigenous. [2] The white flowers have a distinct fragrance and are produced in bunches. It is widely raised as a house plant, and is frequently made to bloom around Christmas.
Daffodil-like plants belong to the genus Narcissus, which also includes paperwhites.
Do daffodils and dandelion flowers seem alike?
What images do you have in mind when you think of dandelion? Perhaps it’s a multi-petalled, bright yellow flower. Or perhaps it’s a fluffy white object that you can blow on to let its seeds fly?
Naturally, they are both parts of the same plant. But until a timelapse of this common flower was shared online, we were unaware of the startling number of people who find this fact of life perplexing.
In 2010, the amazing time-lapse of a dandelion was published by the British photographer Neil Bromhall, winner of an Emmy. The life cycle of these incredible blossoms is precisely captured in the footage, which was shot nonstop for a month.
The plant contracts to mature the seeds on their fluffy white stems, turning them into the recognizable seed head or blowball. In the video, the yellow petals fan out into full bloom.
Then come the comments, on both the video and the Reddit threads where this film has been posted over the years.
One woman recently remarked, “My husband and I were just trying to figure out why the yellow and white blooms were both called dandelions…same flower…makes sense now.”
“Before watching this, I had no idea how foolish I was. I honestly had no idea that the yellow blossom was a dandelion; I simply assumed it to be a random bloom “another recent remark is read.
But in reality, this timelapse has been shocking people for years and has left some Reddit users speechless:
And those without plant knowledge are not simply urban dwellers. Anyone can fail to see the relationship between the two dandelion life stages:
“Thank you; my pals are now making fun of me for being ignorant of the similarities between the white blowy things and the yellow flower things.
I even helped out with my parents’ yard and spend a lot of time outside, but I never thought of it. I needed a Reddit thread to learn about it because I now live on my own and have a yard that I frequently rid of weeds. God forbid.”
The same kinds of comments kept coming in when a GIF of this timelapse was re-posted on Reddit the other day.
The heartfelt statement from one commenter was, “This answers so many questions I never realized I had.”
If they learned that a dandelion bloom is actually a composite flower rather than just one flower, they would all undoubtedly freak out even more. What about those white tufted items? That is a fruit.
Here is a little explanation to put dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) to rest once and for all.
Each “petal” of a dandelion’s yellow flower head is actually a single flower with a nectar tube and an individual ovule, which is the component of blooming plants that turns into a seed.
While a dandelion is in full bloom, you can’t see the white fibers that will eventually form a fluffy white head that surround each blossom.
When a flower head reaches maturity, as you saw in the timelapse, it shuts and the withered flowers condense into a bud-like shape before falling away. This leaves just the tufty white components known as pappi, which will aid wind in dispersing the dandelion fruits, or cypsela.
(However, calling it a “seed head” is absolutely acceptable because most people will understand what you mean and there’s no need to be a huge pedant.)
We recommend checking out this incredible photographic feature over at Microscopy UK if you want to understand more about dandelion blooms, replete with great up-close photos of each stage.
What are the names of tiny daffodils?
The small daffodil Narcissus Tete-a-Tete is a flowering bulb that is well known to many gardeners. Soon after the cold of winter has passed, this charming, modest blossom of late winter and early spring is a welcome sight. It is a fascinating plant in many ways, not the least of which being its origins, which are a little hazy.
With a maximum height of 20 to 30 cm, Narcissus Tete-a-Tete (or more appropriately, N. “TteTte”) is a true miniature daffodil. In March, soon after the worst of winter has passed, growth typically begins. The blooms begin to bloom in early April, some single and others frequently in pairs, around the middle of March (hence its name, meaning a conversation between two people). On sometimes, a stem will bear three or even four flowers. They are placed slightly above the foliage and don’t blow over, which are two fantastic qualities for a daffodil.
Each blossom is tiny and delicate, measuring only 3–4 cm across. Since the corona is longer than the outermost ring of tepals, the daffodil is classified as a trumpet type. It is really orange. The tepals (which include the petals and sepals) are a vivid lemon yellow. While they often form a more or less flat ring, some of them have the ability to recurve slightly backward, exposing one of their parent plants, N. cyclamineus. Flowers from the N. Tete-a-Tete are durable and make good cut flower bouquets.
Like other daffodil varieties, N. Tete-a-tete has typical tunicate bulbs, however they are a little bit smaller. They quickly establish big clumps of plants and produce a lot of offsets. These can be left alone and will bloom successfully for many years.
A. N. Tete
Tete is a well-known example of an allotriploid hybrid, which is a technical term for having more chromosomes than most other plants of a similar type and at least two ancestral parents. The heirloom daffodil variety N. ‘Cyclataz’, a main hybrid between N. cyclamineus and N. tazetta ‘Grand Soleil d’Or, was unquestionably the seed parent. The pollen parentit either was a crossing with another N. “Cyclataz” or was back onto N. cyclamineus, which is something that is relatively uncertain. Genetic investigations have shown that both parent species’ chromosomes are present, but because the seed set was spontaneous, we will never be able to identify the other parent with certainty.
It is categorized as division 12, miscellaneous hybrids, because it is difficult to fit into the 11 divisions of other daffodil kinds. Of all the hybrid miniature daffodils, it is arguably the most well-known and well-liked in the bulb industry.
Aside from the name and genetics, this is a great little daffodil. I have nothing unfavorable to say about it. When other spring crocuses are starting to fade, it often blooms a little sooner than most other daffodils. Even on clumps that haven’t been divided for a long time, the blooms are abundantly produced. They never open below the tops of the leaves; they always rise over them.
Since years, my plants have developed with little to no assistance from me. In the spring, all I do is remove weeds and fallen leaves from their bed. They aren’t fertilized by me. They spend up to 5 hours per day in the sun while growing. Their bed is shaded by brugmansia shrubs by midsummer after they have gone dormant and were burned to the ground in the winter. They don’t seem to be bothered by this (or other flowering bulbs in this area). It will tolerate light shade when growing, like other daffodils, but likes at least some sunshine.
With a pH range of mildly acidic to somewhat sweet, N. Tete-a-Tete appears to be quite tolerant to most soils. They appear to thrive when I grow them in the natural volcanic soil of Kyushu without any additions. They are known to thrive in rich soil as long as they don’t become soggy.
Due to their tendency to grow small, they also make excellent container plants. Up to a month or more before their typical flowering time, they are simple to force flower. Don’t be surprised if they pout for a few seasons after you push them, if you do.
Division is the method of propagation. Any time following the leaf-fall is acceptable. Contrary to other daffodil bulbs, it is not necessary to regularly separate clumps in order to maintain a high bloom count. Much to N. tazetta, large clumps appear to continue to blossom indefinitely. Having said that, it is advantageous to divide clumps because it will improve your stock. A. N. Tete Tete cannot be utilized to create new hybrids because it is a sterile plant.
This plant’s endurance for different temperatures is another appealing quality. They survive despite the oppressively hot summers that last for two or more months without a break in my region, with daily highs of above 30 C. On the other hand, the bulbs are remarkably cold resistant even when dormant. This daffodil is recommended for USDA cold hardiness zones 4–8, however it may be grown in zone 9 with cooler winters (e.g., coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest in the USA, the warmer part of the British Isles, and southern Japan). Your winters should be considered acceptable if they average 10 C or less for two months.
Another essential flowering bulb is shown here, and unless you reside in a region with really harsh winters or the tropics, you may grow it with little effort. There isn’t much more you can ask of a plant!