Narcissus Berlin

Narcissus 'Berlin' is an excellent variety that is particularly colourful and easy to naturalise in the garden. Its flower boasts an intensely frilled cup strongly tinged with mandarin-orange on a bright yellow corolla. It makes a big impact in the garden. It looks wonderful in a vase where one can enjoy its subtle apple scent. It faithfully returns every spring, becoming increasingly abundant every time.

Narcissus 'Berlin' was introduced in the Netherlands in 1980 by the famous breeder W.F Leenen. It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. More precisely, it belongs to division 2 of the large narcissus family, which is the large-cupped daffodils. The genus Narcissus includes about 50 species mainly found in the western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia.

Narcissus 'Berlin', like the majority of large-cupped narcissi, is the result of cross-breeding between N. poeticus and N. x pseudonarcissus, or even N. incomparabilis. The plant sends up a sturdy stem 40 to 45cm (16 to 18in) tall when in bloom. It is a mid-season flowering plant, in April-May, whose large yellow-green floral bud opens into beautiful flowers, 8.5cm (3in) wide. The flowers have six petal-like tepals ranging from pale-yellow to slightly acidic, shiny bright yellow. 3 'petals' are very wide and concave, the other 3 being more crinkled and marked by a raised median line. The six stamens are inserted into a cup-shaped crown or paracorolla, the appearance of which varies depending on the age of the flower and the growing conditions. Divided into 6 strongly frilled lobes along the edge, it gradually takes on a bright orange colour on a golden yellow background. The linear foliage is deciduous. It disappears in summer when the bulb enters dormancy. 

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 'Berlin' with squills and hyacinths. Plant the bulbs with white, yellow, or orange tulips, forget-me-nots, daisies, or chamomiles. A group of 'Berlin' daffodils in a vase creates a sensational effect. This daffodil is also perfect in pots.