Narcissus Chantilly

Narcissus 'Chantilly' is an old variety of large-crowned daffodil, which is now difficult to find in commerce. Blooming towards the end of the daffodil season, eight to fifteen days after trumpet daffodils, it displays a large and beautiful bi-coloured flower consisting of a frilly orange crown on a white-ivory corolla. Its sturdy stem is ideal in bouquets. It is a hardy and easy-to-grow plant, as brilliant as it is colourful.

Narcissus 'Chantilly' belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. More specifically, it belongs to division 2 of the large daffodil family, which consists of 13 divisions. The Narcissus genus consists of about 50 species found mainly in the western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. Like most large-crowned daffodils, Narcissus 'Chantilly' is the result of cross-breeding between N. poeticus and N. pseudonarcissus, or even N. incomparabilis. It is an excellent Dutch creation from 1962. The plant produces a sturdy stem that reaches a height of 50cm (20in) when in bloom. It is a mid-late flowering plant, blooming in April-May, with a large yellow-green floral bud that opens into magnificent flowers, measuring 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in width. The flowers have six petal-like tepals. The six stamens are inserted into a cup-shaped crown or paracorolla, which is bright orange. The linear foliage is deciduous and disappears 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 'Chantilly’ with squills, hyacinths, double tulips, forget-me-nots, pansies, or liverworts. A group of 'Chantilly’ daffodils in a vase creates a sensational effect. This daffodil is also perfect in pots.

Daffodils belong to division 7 of the group. Native to southern Europe and North Africa, they have flowers grouped in pairs or more. 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, especially tulips, as daffodil stems contain a substance that causes other flowers to wilt quickly. This detrimental effect on other flower species can be attenuated by dipping the ends of narcissus stems in hot water for 1 to 2 minutes.