Latest news with #KálmánKönyves
The Guardian
12-02-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Britons urged to join hunt for rare daffodil breeds amid extinction fears
Britons have been asked to hunt for rare pink, white and 'bonfire yellow' daffodils in order to save threatened varieties from extinction. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which is running the daffodil count, is hoping to build a map of the spring blooms. It is asking people to log where daffodils are flowering in their area along with basic information such as colour, type and height. It is hoped the data will help RHS scientists understand environmental influences on the plant, as well as revealing rare varieties at risk of being lost for ever. There are three varieties of daffodil in particular the plant charity has asked the public to look out for. These include the Mrs RO Backhouse, which was one of the first pink daffodils to be bred, in 1923, with a solid coral-pink trumpet and ivory flowers. It is known to exist in national collections but its whereabouts beyond that is a mystery. Scientists are also trying to find the Mrs William Copeland – a white, double-flowered daffodil, which has not been for sale in recent years but is known to have been given to a direct descendant of its original UK breeder by an American grower in the early 2000s. The charity is also looking for the Sussex Bonfire – a double-flowered yellow and orange breed that has not been seen since 1998. Gwen Hines, the CEO of the charity Plant Heritage, said: 'Springtime daffodils are abundant, but rare varieties could be lost from our gardens and roadsides if they're not found and cared for. While six national plant collections do protect some, many others aren't yet safeguarded, which is why we encourage everyone to look for rare varieties this spring.' It is hoped that finding these unusual flowers will help aid their survival and allow scientists to preserve their genetic material, which could be valuable for future breeding of daffodils. It is important to have varied varieties of flowers as the climate changes and some are found to be more resilient to extreme weather than others. All information and images of daffodils thought to be the above varieties should be submitted via the RHS website. Although now ubiquitous across the UK and a sign of spring, daffodils originated in the Iberian peninsula and north Africa. They were originally grown for medicinal use, but by the 1600s they began to be noticed for their cheerful blooms and grown for aesthetic purposes. There was a daffodil boom in Britain in the 1800s and enthusiasts hybridised them to create new garden daffodil forms and colours. Now, the UK grows 90% of the world's cut flower daffodils. Dr Kálmán Könyves, principal scientist in the cultivated plant diversity team at the RHS, said: 'Daffodils have come to mark the arrival of spring and are celebrated for their welcome burst of colour in gardens, parks and roadsides. But there's more to this ubiquitous yellow flower than meets the eye, with 31,000 known varieties available in green, pink and red. Understanding where they can be found will help us in preserving this diversity for the future.'
The Independent
12-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
5 unusual daffodil types and how to grow them
As the RHS launches Daffodil Diaries, a campaign asking people to help it map the UK's daffodils and locate three rare or historically significant varieties, it's worth considering growing some unusual varieties of your own. The charity is asking people to log where daffodils are blooming in their area alongside basic information such as colour, type and height, to identify what is growing where and over time track flowering as our climate changes. For those looking to grow something a bit different, Kálmán Könyves, principal scientist in the cultivated plant diversity team at the RHS, suggests five daffodils worthy of any garden: Narcissus 'Rip van Winkle' This was introduced commercially in 1884 but is probably even older. They are relatively short at 17cm but their starry double flowers with many pointed bright yellow petals mix well with other small spring bulbs such as anemones and grape hyacinths. Narcissus 'Fairy Chimes' This fragrant variety has four to six scented flowers with reflexed petals per stalk and is best enjoyed in pots although robust enough for beds and borders. Although 'Fairy Chimes' is not as popular as it was, both N. jonquilla and N. triandrus cultivars remain highly popular and many good garden plants are available. Narcissus poeticus The pheasant's eye or poet's daffodil is among the last to flower, opening in early May. Strikingly tall at 50-60cm, it is elegant, scented and adds delicate charm to grassy areas and to the rear of borders. It is grown commercially in France and Holland for the perfume industry. It's a bit tall for pots, so if you're looking for a container daffodil, go for the similar but slightly shorter Narcissus 'Actaea', which at 40cm is preferable. Narcissus papyraceus Also known as paperwhites, these need no cold period before they flower. Most narcissi measure winter chill (2-12C) and are only able to flower once a threshold has been passed, typically six to 12 weeks of winter weather. Because Narcissus papyraceus can flower with no chilling, they are often sold to be planted in the autumn to flower at Christmas, typically taking about a month to flower. Their powerful scent is not to everyone's taste. Narcissus 'King Alfred' This was one of the original yellow trumpet daffodils as we now know it. Introduced in 1899 by John Kendall and recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society by a 'First-class Certificate', it was widely grown until the 1950s when it was superseded by other varieties. The original 'King Alfred' now is hardly found, but the big yellow trumpet daffodils that dominate the cut flower trade are its natural followers. Good widely sold alternatives include 'Brabazon', 'Mando' and 'Standard Value'. Plant in lawns for high impact or in cut flower beds for display inside. How to grow Daffodils, or narcissus to give them their Latin name, are simple to grow, with bulbs planted in late summer and autumn or bought in bud from garden centres in spring. Any reasonable garden soil in full sun or light shade will suit them. If the soil is compacted, loosen it with a fork. For pots, plant at one third of the pot depth deep using a peat-free potting compost in pots with drainage holes. Don't let pots dry out or your flowers will fail. Garden daffodils usually need no feeding or watering when grown in the soil. Container grown ones appreciate fortnightly liquid feed until the foliage dies down. Plants need their leaves after flowering to make flower buds for the following year so let them die down naturally or allow at least six weeks after flowering before they are severed or mown. Rake over bare soil areas where daffodils are grown to fill in holes left by falling foliage, to prevent bulb flies accessing the bulbs to lay eggs. Alternatively apply a thick layer of organic matter. Some daffodil plantings die out over a few years and replacement bulbs are bought. Others multiply and, if congested, dig up in summer, once the foliage turns like straw, and replant with more space between the bulbs. The RHS notes that although daffodils have rarely caused any harm, they are potentially harmful if eaten and are a skin irritant. Wear gloves when handling the bulbs and cut flowers.
