Narcissus Blushing Lady

Narcissus 'Blushing Lady' is a small daffodil that produces 2 or 3 flowers per stem. In the centre of a soft yellow corolla sits a small cup that slowly blushes with pastel pink as the flower matures. it will flower in April, at the same time as muscari and tulips with a slight and pleasant scent. It is a remarkable cut flower and an easy-to-grow, hardy plant that settles well in the garden.

Narcissus 'Blushing Lady' belongs to the amaryllidaceae family. The Narcissus genus comprises about 50 species found mainly in the western Mediterranean, but also in Africa and Asia. Despite its delicate appearance, 'Blushing Lady' is a vigorous and prolific plant. It reaches about 30 cm (12in) in height for the foliage, 40 cm (16in) when in bloom. Its flowers are bicoloured, with a pale yellow corolla and a bell-shaped corona, initially pale yellow-orange, which gradually turns to tender salmon pink over time. It blooms in April-May, earlier or later depending on the climate, and its creamy flower buds give way to pretty flowers with a slight but delicious scent. The deciduous and narrow foliage resembles rushes, and disappears in summer. This variety easily multiplies by producing bulblets.

Narcissus 'Blushing Lady' is undemanding and grows in any well-drained, well-worked soil, although results are less satisfactory in excessively wet or acidic soils. There is such a variety of narcissus species that one can enjoy them for three months in spring without ever getting bored. They can all easily naturalise, have a love for yellow and white, and often emit sweet fragrances. Many reasons to grow them in large clumps (at least 20 bulbs) for a mass effect. Associate 'Blushing Lady' in natural-looking flower beds, with scillas and hyacinths, accompany them with tulips, forget-me-nots, pansies, muscari... A bunch of 'Blushing Lady' narcissus in a vase will be sensational. This narcissus is also perfect in pots.

Daffodil or Narcissus? Botanically speaking, daffodils are part of the narcissus family. They have flowers grouped in twos or more and their corona forms a bell-shaped trumpet longer than the corolla is wide. Botanical species have the charm of wild plants and thrive in rockeries: N.bulbocodium, N. canaliculatus, N.juncifolius,  and N.pseudonarcissus, the simple wood jonquil, are among the prettiest. In vases, we advise not to mix narcissus with other flowers such as tulips, as the stems of narcissus contain a substance that quickly wilts other flowers. This detrimental effect on other flowers can be reduced by dipping the ends of the narcissus stems in hot water for 1 to 2 minutes.