Abutilon pictum ‘Gold Dust’
Daffodils on the rockery are generally neglected, but for planting around the roots of young trees or as an edging to a path or border, on the rockery, for a window-box, and especially in pans for the alpine house or cold frame, the dainty species which bloom on stems no taller than 6 in. make a delightful display during April. They are all inexpensive and so easily grown in any fibrous loam to which has been added a little peat and some coarse sand or shingle. Small pockets should be prepared on the rockery to take four or five bulbs, which are planted in September after the rockery has been thoroughly cleaned and the established plants stripped of any straggling growth. When using a window-box or tub it is not always convenient to plant before mid-October, which will not be too late as the miniatures do not seem to require so long a season in which to make root growth.
SPECIES
Narcissus bulbocodium. The lovely little hoop-petticoat narcissus which generally takes a year to become thoroughly established in the open ground. The variety citrinus bears flowers of a paler, lemon-yellow shade – whilst teniufolium is dwarfer and earlier to come into bloom. This latter variety bears thin rush-like leaves which are almost prostrate in habit.
N. gelaminaeus. At its best by the side of a stream for it likes a peaty, moist soil and the protection of grass in summer. The loveliest variety is that of recent introduction called Snipe, which grows to a height of 9 in. and makes a delightful pot plant. The reflexed perianth is of pure white, the trumpet deep yellow.
N. jonquilla. In its original form, a plant of the utmost charm, growing to a height of 9 in. and in bloom during May. It enjoys a warm, sunny border or a rockery facing south.
N. juncifolius. The rush jonquil, growing to a height of only 4 in. and flowering late in May. Seems quite happy in the shelter of rockery stones and is charming in pans in the alpine house, but does not like open ground planting. Bears a rich perfume and a unique large trumpet. An additional value is that ater flowering its leaves die back almost out of sight.
N. lobularis. This is the earliest of all to bloom, appearing in February in a sheltered corner. It reaches a height of only 6 in.
N. W. P. Milner. A hybrid of charm, bearing its palest sulphur trumpets on 9-in. stems. It is most attractive in the rockery, under trees or for pot culture.
N. minimus. This is the smallest of all the trumpet daffodils, bearing its dainty fringed trumpets on stems only 4 in. in length. Though lovely planted along the edge of a path or border, this fairy-like daffodil is at its best in pans in the alpine house.
N. nanus. Useful in that it follows N. lobularis, in bloom during March and so keeps continuity from February to May with these dainty rock garden species. It bears an exquisite yellow bloom, the exact replica of a King Alfred daffodil, on 6-in. stems.
N. odorus. The Spanish campernelle, possessing a rich perfume and should be planted at the edge of a border beneath a window to allow its fragrance to enter the house during May. The star-like blooms are borne in clusters of three or four on 8-in. stems. There is also an attractive double form known as Queen Anne’s Irish jonquil, which is of a warm gold colour and deliciously scented.
N. triandrus. Of this Robinson in The English Flower Garden says: ‘as a pot plant it has no superior for delicate beauty. Mr. Rawson of Windermere grew it in pots which bore 5 o–Ioo blooms’. He tells us that after the leaves have faded the pots
should be rested, top dressed, but never re-potted and this is how I have successfully grown my ‘angels’ tears’ daffodils, so called on account of the corolla hanging like a tear beneath the perianth. There are several lovely varieties, the white, albus, flowering in April on 6-in. stems.
