Narcissus pumilus Rip van Winkle

Narcissus 'Rip Van Winkle' was discovered in Ireland in 1884. It is a charming double-flowered form of N. pumilus (or minor), a botanical species brought back from Spain several centuries ago by Dutch bulb growers. This small, robust bulb carries on its very short stem a singular and endearing flower. It is small, double, and pleasantly tousled. Slender petals of a light and vivid yellow mingle with a few others of a tender green on its gently scented corolla. It blooms early in the season. It naturalises very well in the sun, planted in well-drained soil. Plant it with blue or violet crocuses and botanical tulips.

The double-flowered Narcissus 'Rip Van Winkle' belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. More precisely, it belongs to division 4 of the large narcissus family, which has 13 divisions. The genus Narcissus includes about 50 species found mainly in Western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. Narcissus 'Rip Van Winkle' is likely a double-flowered sport of the small N. pumila. It possesses the same robustness and ease of cultivation in well-drained soil. 'Rip Van Winkle' sends up a short and stout stem, measuring 15cm (6in) tall when flowering. It is an early-flowering plant, in March-April, whose yellow-green floral bud gives rise to charming double flowers, 4 to 5cm (2in) wide. They are slightly scented, and somewhat resemble large dandelions. Double-flowered narcissus bear an additional crown of petals and have a long flowering period. The flowers have numerous petaloid tepals. The stamens, transformed into petals, are inserted into a cup-shaped crown or paracorolla. The linear foliage is deciduous and disappears 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. Plant 'Rip Van Winkle’ in rockeries and sunny borders with squills, hyacinths, botanical tulips, forget-me-nots, pansies, grape hyacinths, daisies, chamomiles, or liverworts. This daffodil is also perfect in pots.

Daffodils are actually narcissus. They belong to division 7 of the group. Native to Southern Europe and North Africa, they bear flowers grouped in twos or more. 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 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 attenuated by dipping the ends of narcissus stems in hot water for 1 to 2 minutes.