Narcissus tazetta Canaliculatus

The  daffodil or Narcissus tazetta Canaliculatus is close to a botanical species of Mediterranean origin, also called the bouquet daffodil or Constantinople daffodil. This variety is smaller and develops mulit-flowered stems, carrying small flowers that stand out for their sweet fragrance. They have the rustic look of wildflowers, with their delicate white sepals curving backwards, displaying a short yellow central crown. This daffodil blooms early in the season, and for a long time, from February to April. It prefers sunny exposures and dry soils in summer, which allow it to naturalise very easily in the garden.

Narcissus tazetta Canaliculatus belongs to the amaryllidaceae family. The genus Narcissus includes about 50 species mainly found in the western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. The 'Canaliculatus' daffodil is a very old variety of N. Tazetta, a very robust plant native to the Mediterranean region that adapts to various climates and conditions. In the wild, this daffodil grows meadows. 'Canaliculatus' stands out with a lower foliage with pronounced grooves. The plant produces a very sturdy stem, 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10in) tall when in bloom. It is an early and long flowering plant, starting in February, with each stem carrying 3 to 8 small, bicoloured, highly fragrant flowers, 2 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. The deciduous, linear foliage disappears in summer.

There is such a choice of varieties among daffodils that you can enjoy them for three months in spring without ever getting bored. They can all naturalise easily and love yellow and white and they often emit sweet fragrances. So many reasons to grow them in large clumps (at least 20 bulbs) for an enhanced effect. Grow 'Canaliculatus' in natural beds, with scilla and Anemone blanda, botanical tulips, forget-me-nots and small grasses like Stipa. A group of Tazetta daffodils in a pot placed near the house or even in a lightly heated room will diffuse an exceptional fragrance. It is perfect for cut flowers.

Daffodil or Narcissus? Botanically speaking, daffodils are part of the narcissus family. They display flowers grouped in twos or more, and their corolla forms a campanulate trumpet, longer than it is wide. The botanical species have the charm of wild plants and thrive in rock gardens: N.bulbocodium, N. canaliculatus, N.juncifolius, N.pseudonarcissus, and the simple wood jonquil are among the prettiest ones. In vases, we advise against mixing daffodils with other flowers such as tulips, as the stems of daffodils 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 daffodil stems in warm water for 1 to 2 minutes.