Killing Time This Winter

So there's visions of future Blue Ribbon daffodils floating around in your head. Just can't wait for that one month of disappointment in April after the previous eleven months of restless anticipation. Well, the winter is a good time to make sure those Blue Ribbons take form, instead of being just visions of opportunities lost.

By this time all the daffodils are planted and the work done. . . . Whoaaaa nelly . . , let's hold that winter vacation to Florida just a little longer. No job is finished until the paper work is done. The fall of 1998 has seen some major changes in the British Royal Horticulture Society's publication of daffodil divisions, and color code changes. It's time to get with it and go over your daffodil to check and insure that the divisional designations and the color codes are correctly labeled according to RHS guidance.

Daffodil Judges have a no tolerance policy on daffodils that are not labeled properly. It is a discouraging experience to have the most beautiful daffodil in the show room sitting there in humiliation with no award because its owner didn't apply the correct label. So to keep those visions of blue ribbons bright and keep the awards coming, insure the proper labels are applied.

To update your list, the latest information on the Royal Horticulture Society daffodil classification including division and color codes can be obtained from the American Daffodil Society. The American Daffodil Society distributes a booklet called, "Daffodils to Show and Grow," or DTSG to us daffy folks. The DTSG can be obtained from the American Daffodil Society, 4126 Winfield Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220-4606, for about $6.25, or e-mail Naomi Leggett for information. The DTSG is the best source for us "common" daffodil growers including gardeners and show bench persons. Hybridizers and "major" show bench persons may want to obtain the daffodils "Data Base," or even the daffodils "CD" data base.

The new data from the DTSG does more then just update the daffodil classification. There have been many a change in the names and designations, specially in the Division 13 for species and natural hybrids, e.g., N. biflorus is now designed by its older botanical name, N. medioluteus. Many chances in color codes have been included, again the concentration seems to be in the orange and reds.

The gist of the fall '98 notification is that the division designated for species and those daffodils known by their botanical name, has been changed to Division 13. The new Division 10 is the Bulbocodium hybrids known to some by the common name of "hoop petticoat." Many of the new Division 10 daffodils were formerly listed as Division 12. Bulbocodium are dainty little flowers that merrily reaches up to greet the spring skies with cheerfulness. A picture of Bulbocodium 'Spoirot' is on the American Daffodil Society page for Divisions and Cultivars. Another source for the July 1998 Royal Horticulture Society Daffodil classification can be found at Daffodil Classification, that has an expanded section on the genus narcissus list. The proposed list of division 13 daffodils are included in this link.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic