Narcissus jonquilla Pueblo - Daffodil

The 'Pueblo' Narcissus is an adorable little daffodil with a lovely fragrance that bears one to three pretty star-shaped flowers on each stem, blooming in a primrose yellow colour. Over time, the petals fade to a creamy white, while the small cup retains its fresh yellow colour. Not very tall, this variety blooms in April, adding a touch of countryside charm to flower beds and rock gardens. Its flowers can be used to create tender and fragrant bouquets. 

Native to Western Europe, the narcissus belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. The Narcissus genus includes many species and varieties, both botanical and horticultural in origin. In certain regions, the yellow narcissus or trumpet narcissus (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is sometimes called a daffodil, leading to frequent confusion between daffodils and narcissus. The daffodil (Narcissus jonquilla), with its clusters of small, fragrant yellow flowers and leaves resembling those of a rush, is one of the parents of the 'Pueblo' Narcissus, the other being the 'Binkie' Narcissus. It is a wild species native to Spain and Portugal, naturalised throughout the Mediterranean region, including Provence, Roussillon, and Brittany.

The 'Pueblo' narcissus was introduced in 1966. The plant reaches a height of approximately 33 cm (13in) when in bloom. Its hollow but sturdy stem typically bears one to three 6.5 cm (3in) diameter flowers in April, composed of a perianth or corolla with 6 wide petals that slightly overlap, changing colour from light yellow to bright white. The cup or paracorolla in the centre of the flower is short, cylindrical, undulated at the edges, and yellow in colour. The foliage, consisting of narrow linear leaves, disappears a few weeks after flowering, at the beginning of summer.

There is such a wide variety of narcissus species that one can enjoy them for three months in spring without ever getting bored. They all have in common the ability to naturalise easily, a love for yellow and white, and often emit sweet fragrances. These are all reasons to grow them in large clumps (at least 20 bulbs) for a multiplied effect. Combine the 'Pueblo' narcissus in natural flower beds with scillas and blanda anemones, accompany them with botanical tulips as well as forget-me-nots and small grasses like Stipa. A group of 'Pueblo' narcissus in a pot placed near the house or even in a cool room will emit an exceptional fragrance. They are simply perfect for bouquets.

For bouquets: We advise against mixing narcissus with other flowers, particularly tulips, as the stems of narcissus contain a substance that causes other flowers to wilt quickly. To mitigate this detrimental effect on other flower types, you can dip the ends of narcissus stems in warm water for 1 to 2 minutes. 

Narcissus bulbs come back every year. Unlike perennial plants, it is unnecessary to fertilise them before flowering. Only cut the leaves when they have turned yellow and provide fertiliser then: this is when the bulb is replenishing itself and preparing for the following year's flowers.