Narcissus Fortissimo

Narcissus 'Fortissimo' stands out with its vigour and enormous flowers, which can reach 12cm (5in) in diameter. It captivates with its dynamic two-tone colour. It boasts a large corolla of soft yellow star-shaped petals with a beautiful orange trumpet. Plant the bulbs with mini-daffodils for a dazzling display in flower beds and borders.

Narcissus 'Fortissimo', sometimes assimilated to the 'Gargantuan' variety, was introduced to the Netherlands in 1964. It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. More precisely, it belongs to division 2 of the large Narcissus family, which includes 13 species. The Narcissus genus includes about 50 species found mainly in the western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. Narcissus 'Fortissimo', like the majority of large-crowned narcissus, is the result of cross-breeding between N. poeticus and N. x pseudonarcissus, or even N. incomparabilis. It is an excellent variety that is reliable, easy to grow, and prolific. The plant produces a very sturdy stem measuring 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) in height when flowering. It is a mid-season flowering plant, in April, with a large yellow-green flower bud that produces magnificent flowers, on average 10cm (4in) wide, sometimes even larger. The flowers have six soft yellow petaloid tepals, with a deeper yellow towards the heart of the flower. They are oblong, and slightly recurved and undulate at the edges. The six stamens are inserted into a crown or paracorolla with a large flared and undulate cup shape, in a bright orange colour that is deeper on the inside. 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 'Fortissimo' with multi-flowered mini-daffodils ('Jet Fire', 'Tête-à-Tête'), squills, and hyacinths. Plant the bulbs with double tulips, forget-me-nots, daisies, chamomiles, or liverworts. A group of 'Fortissimo' daffodils in a vase creates a sensational effect. This daffodil is also perfect in pots.