Narcissus Sinopel - Daffodil

The Narcissus poeticus 'Sinopel' is an almost botanic narcissus with late flowering and a delightful, simple but incomparably fresh fragrance. In May, its pure white flowers open, topped with a unique little green cup bordered with yellow, which turns yellow due to temperature and ripeness. The solitary flowers of this fragrant narcissus are carried by medium-sized stems, perfect for bouquets. It naturalises very well in gardens and can be used to create adorable potted flowers for the terrace or balcony.

Native to Western Europe, the narcissus belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. The Narcissus genus includes many species and varieties, both botanical (like the poet's narcissus) and horticultural. The daffodil (Narcissus jonquilla), with yellow flowers and leaves similar to those of a rush, is one of the species in the Narcissus genus. In certain regions, the yellow narcissus or trumpet narcissus (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is sometimes called a daffodil, which often leads to confusion between daffodils and narcissus.

The 'Sinopel' narcissus is a variety introduced in 1974. It comes from the poet's narcissus, which grows naturally in the wild, especially in alpine meadows. It is a bulbous plant with slightly pointed linear leaves, slightly bluish-green in colour. The hollow 40cm (16in) stems end in simple flowers, 8cm (3in) wide, with 6 wide petals of pure white colour. In the centre is a small, short and narrow crown, jade green at blooming. As the temperature rises and the flower ages, the little cup turns yellow. The Narcissus poeticus 'Sinopel' produces highly fragrant flowers. This variety will bloom in early May, depending on the climate.

Easy to grow and very hardy, the 'Sinopel' narcissus can be planted in various places in the garden: in the foreground of a shrub bed, along the edge, in the middle of a lawn, or it can be grown in a pot. It pairs wonderfully with grape hyacinths, early tulips, and hyacinths, and naturalises easily. However, be cautious with young children as the bulb, flower, and leaves are toxic. Narcissus are the most resilient bulbs planted in the autumn, preferring well-drained and light soil but are very adaptable.

For bouquets: We advise against mixing narcissus with other flowers, especially tulips. The stems of narcissus contain a substance that causes other flowers to wilt quickly. This detrimental effect on other types of flowers can be mitigated by dipping the ends of the narcissus stems in hot water for 1 to 2 minutes.