Narcissus Heamoor

Narcissus 'Heamoor' is a spring bulb bearing magnificent perfectly formed double flowers. They are golden yellow with a more orange centre. This beautiful plant blooms at the beginning of the daffodil season, in March-April, on relatively short, sturdy stems that can withstand bad weather. When planted en masse, the flowers explode like little suns in spring beds. It naturalises quite easily. Its rose-like flowers are spectacular in bouquets.

The 'Heamoor' double-flowered narcissus is a horticultural hybrid introduced in England in 1996. This excellent variety received an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 2004. It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. More specifically, it belongs to division 4 of horticultural daffodils. The Narcissus genus includes about 50 species found mainly in the western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. 'Heamoor' is compact and sturdy. It produces a solid stem that is 35cm (14in) tall when in bloom. It is a spring-flowering plant, with a large yellow-green floral bud that opens into large round flowers measuring 9.5cm (4in) in diameter, facing outwards, composed of 3 rows of waxy-textured petals with prominent midribs, topped with a unique crown. This cup-shaped crown, or paracorolla, is a dark yellow with hints of orange, and is divided into numerous segments that form a whirl in the centre of the flower. Double-flowered narcissus have a long flowering period. The linear foliage is deciduous, disappearing in summer and reappearing in late winter.

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 'Heamoor’ with blue squills, blue hyacinths, double tulips, forget-me-nots, pansies, or liverworts. A group of 'Heamoor’ daffodils in a vase creates a sensational effect. This daffodil is also perfect in pots.

Jonquil or Narcissus? Botanically speaking, jonquils are part of the narcissus family. They bear flowers grouped in twos or more, and their corona forms a bell-shaped trumpet that is longer than it is wide. There is also the botanical species that has retained the charm of wild plants and thrives in rockeries: N. bulbocodium, N. canaliculatus, N. juncifolius, N. pseudonarcissus are among the prettiest.

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