Description
Found in a limited area of Mediterranean France and along part of the southern coast of Spain, this is one of the few Narcissus species which can be be found on both sides of the Pyrenees.
It has flat, deep green leaves and a 20 cm stem that carries two to four (rarely up to six) scented flowers each 1.5 cm across. The leaves are made with the flowers in April and in to May and these flowers are pure crystalline white; though they may, sometimes, open cream or pale yellow, this fades within a day. They have a shallow, toothed cup from which yellow-buff anthers protrude. Usually one or two flowers are made on each stem, though iun cultivation we have had four, the whole plant rarely exceeding about 20cm tall.
This is a tolerant species but it prefers a well-drained, sunny spot or if you wish it can be grown in a pot under alpine glass or in a plunge frame. A rare offering of a superb little species, seldom seen in cultivation as it can be sparing with its seed but very worthy of cultivation.
This is a new stock, (and it is different to our flowering sized stock) raised from a seed collection made by M. Neumann : Sp58/12, Spain, Santa Eulalia, near Villena, Proc. Murcia, 512m. Michael records “a good and robust form of this species with up to 5 flowers“. I can back this up with bulbs often having 3-4 flowers here and one, exceptional bulb, bearing 7.
