Narcissus Rose of May

Narcissus 'Rose of May' is a unique daffodil bears white-ivory double corollas with a turbinate heart, reminiscent of gardenia flowers. The flowers emit a delicious fragrance. This old variety blooms in May, at the end of the daffodil season, on rather sturdy stems. A remarkable bouquet flower and an easy-to-grow plant. It is hardy. It easily naturalises in well-drained soil. 

Narcissus 'Rose of May', sometimes called double jonquil, is an old horticultural hybrid obtained in 1950 in Ireland. It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. The genus Narcissus includes around 50 species found mainly in the western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. It produces a sturdy stem that is 40cm (16in) tall when in bloom. It is a late-flowering plant, in May, with a large yellow-green floral bud that gives rise to magnificent flowers, composed of a heart of small crumpled petals, intertwined with each other, enclosed in a corolla of large white-cream petals. The scent of the flowers is sweet and enchanting, reminiscent of gardenias. Double-flowered narcissus have an additional crown of petals and have a long flowering period. The linear foliage is deciduous, disappearing 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 'Rose of May’ with blue squills, hyacinths, double tulips, forget-me-nots, pansies, or liverworts. A group of 'Rose of May’ 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 pairs or more, and their corona forms a longer campanulate trumpet than the corolla 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 narcissus with other flowers such as tulips, as the stems of narcissus contain a substance that quickly wilts other flowers. 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.