Narcissus jonquilla Suzy

Narcissus jonquilla 'Suzy' is an ancient variety, still loved for its bright and fragrant flowers. It is a small but sturdy plant, similar to the true jonquil from southern Europe, producing several highly fragrant flowers on each stem in April-May. Their corolla of bright yellow petals surrounds a small, shallow, wavy-edged, bright orange coronule. Unlike many varieties, this one is well-suited to climates which are hot and dry in summer, where it naturalises easily in sunny or semi-shady borders and rocky areas. Consider planting a few extra in pots to fully enjoy its fragrance.

Narcissus jonquilla 'Suzy', introduced in 1954 in England, belongs to the amaryllidaceae family and division 7 of narcissus commonly known as 'jonquils'. The Narcissus genus includes about 50 species mainly found in the western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. 'Suzy' is a variety derived from N. jonquilla, a species with very narrow foliage like that of rushes (hence its name jonquilla), native to southwest Europe (Spain, Portugal) and North Africa. 'Suzy' is distinguished by its bi-coloured yellow and orange flowers which are 5 to 6 cm (2in) wide. The plant produces a very sturdy stem 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) high when flowering. It blooms rather late, from April onwards, each stem bearing 2 to 6 pendulous flowers grouped in pairs. The foliage is deciduous and linear and disappears in summer to reappear at the end of winter.

There is such a wide choice of narcissus varieties that you can enjoy them for three months in spring without getting bored for a single moment. They all easily naturalise and combine yellow and white, and they often emit sweet fragrances. So many reasons to grow them in large clumps (at least 20 bulbs) for a mass effect. Plant 'Suzy' narcissus with scillas and anemones blanda in natural beds and accompany them with botanical tulips, forget-me-nots and small grasses like Stipa. A group of 'Suzy' Narcissus in a pot placed near the house or even in a slightly heated room will diffuse an exceptional fragrance. It is perfect for cut flowers.

Jonquil or Narcissus? Botanically speaking, jonquils are part of the narcissus family. They have flowers grouped in pairs or more, and their coronule forms a bell-shaped trumpet that is longer than the corolla is wide. The botanical species have the charm of wild plants and thrive in rocky areas: N. bulbocodium, N. canaliculatus, N. juncifolius, N. pseudonarcissus, and the simple wood jonquil are among the prettiest.  For bouquets, we advise you not to mix narcissus with other flowers, especially tulips, as the stems of narcissus contain a substance that quickly wilts other flowers. You can mitigate this detrimental effect on other types of flowers by dipping the ends of the narcissus stems in hot water for 1 to 2 minutes.