Narcissus 'Lemon Beauty'

The Daffodil or Narcissus 'Lemon Beauty' is a variety with delicate lines and sparkling colours that sometimes won't bloom until May. Its solitary, large flower displays a semi-double corolla of bright white adorned with a star-shaped lemon yellow crown, curiously spread out in the shape of a butterfly. Awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in England, this variety is a reliable value in the garden and an excellent cut flower. It settles quietly in the garden and naturalizes easily in light soil.

Narcissus 'Lemon Beauty', introduced in the Netherlands in 1962, belongs to the family of lilies (Amaryllidaceae), more precisely to division 11 of the large Narcissus family, which has 12 divisions. The genus Narcissus includes about 50 species mainly found in the western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. The 'Lemon Beauty' daffodil is vigorous and prolific. It reaches about 30cm (12in) in height for the foliage, 40cm (16in) when in bloom. Its flowers are remarkably architectural and particularly wide, measuring up to 10cm (4in) in diameter. They consist of a semi-double corolla of pure white petals, slightly and gracefully fringed at the edges, onto which a large flat and split crown is inserted, divided into several petal-like segments. The segments of the crown are marked by a remarkably vivid lemon yellow midline. It is a plant that blooms rather late, in April-May, with yellow-green flower buds that give way to beautiful non-fragrant flowers. Split-crown daffodils have a crown of petals split on at least one third of their length, with the edge rolled towards the petals, slightly fringed. The foliage is deciduous, linear and disappears in summer. This variety easily multiplies by producing bulblets.

Not demanding, the 'Lemon Beauty' split-crown daffodil grows in any well-drained and loosened soil, but the results are less good in excessively wet or acidic soils. There is such a choice of varieties among daffodils that you can enjoy them for three months in spring without ever getting tired. They all have in common the ability to naturalize easily, a love for yellow and white, and often emit sweet fragrances. So many reasons to grow them in large clumps (at least 20 bulbs) for a multiplied effect. Associate the 'Lemon Beauty' daffodil, in natural-looking flower beds, with squills and hyacinths, accompany it with early tulips but also with forget-me-nots, pansies or liverworts. A group of 'Lemon Beauty' daffodils in a vase creates a sensational effect. In pots, this daffodil is also perfect.

For bouquets: We advise you not to mix Daffodils with other flowers. Tulips in particular, as the stems of Daffodils 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 Daffodil stems in hot water for 1 to 2 minutes.