Narcissus cyclamineus Reggae

Narcissus 'Reggae' is a delicate and unique dwarf daffodil, producing charming little flowers with slightly upturned white petals and a pink trumpet. The foliage is sparse. Flowering begins in March, or even in February in mild climates. This hardy plant is easy to grow in well-drained soil, and will quietly settle in the garden. Dwarf varieties are ideal for rockeries and planters.

Narcissus 'Reggae' belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. The Narcissus genus includes about 50 species found mainly in Western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. The cyclamineus species, from which it originates, is native to northwestern Portugal and northwestern Spain, and is named after its outer petals that form a completely reflexed corolla, like cyclamens. This characteristic is often greatly reduced in its hybrid descendants.

Narcissus 'Reggae', descended from this species, is a cross between the 'Roseworthy' and 'Founding' varieties. It was created in Ireland in 1981 and has been awarded by the RHS. It is a small, vigorous plant. Its foliage reaches about 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) in height. When in bloom, it is about 25 to 30cm (10 to 12in) tall. Its slightly fragrant, bi-coloured flowers are composed of a pearly white corolla of slightly translucent and upturned petals, on which a fairly short, slightly undulating, flared crown of tender salmon-pink reveals a small green centre. It is a robust plant despite its small size. It naturalises in the garden within 3 or 4 years through bulblet production.

Narcissus 'Reggae' grows in any well-drained and loosened soil, but the results are less satisfactory in excessively wet or excessively acidic soils, especially in summer. 

There are so many daffodil cultivars that one can enjoy them for three months in spring without ever getting tired. They all have in common the ability to naturalise easily, to offer an infinite range of yellow and white shades, and to often emit sweet fragrances. Grow them in large clumps in lawns or at the edge of flower beds (at least 20 bulbs) for an enhanced effect. Pair 'Reggae’ in beds and rockeries with squills, crocuses, hyacinths, early-flowering botanical tulips, forget-me-nots, pansies, or liverworts. This daffodil is also perfect in pots.

Daffodil or Narcissus? Botanically speaking, daffodils are part of the narcissus family. They bear flowers grouped in pairs or more, and their corona forms a longer campanulate trumpet than the corolla is wide. The botanical species have the charm of wild plants and thrive in rockeries: N. bulbocodium, N. canaliculatus, N. juncifolius, N. pseudonarcissus are among the prettiest.

For bouquets, we advise against mixing narcissus with other flowers, especially tulips, as daffodil stems contain a substance that causes other flowers to wilt quickly. This detrimental effect on other flower species can be reduced by dipping the ends of narcissus stems in hot water for 1 to 2 minutes.