Narcissus 'Suada'

LARGE CUP NARCISSUS
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Pronounced: nar-SIS-us

 

Quick Jumps

Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes

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GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Bulbs.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: A2, A3, 1-24.
USDA zones: 3-8.
Heat zones: 9-1.
Mature size:
Height: 12-24 inches (30-90 cm).
Flowering period:
March-April.
Flowering attributes:
Greenish yellow perianth with frilled, bright orange corona.
Leaf attributes:
Long, strap-like, green leaves.
Growth habit:
Clump-forming.
Light:
Full sun to partial shade.
Soil:
Humus rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Feeding:
After flowering, apply a low nitrogen/high potash fertilizer. At planting time, toss bone meal or high potash fertilizer into planting hole.
Propagation Methods:
After the leaves dry up, lift bulbs and separate them to increase supply.
Pruning Methods:
Deadhead spent flowers to prevent seed formation so the plant's energy goes into the bulb, not seed production. Do not cut foliage off until it dies down. The foliage helps feed the bulb for next year's flowers; it is important that it stay on the plant until it turns brown. Naturalized in grass, the daffodil foliage needs to ripen for at least six weeks after flowering, before mowing.
Pests and Diseases:
In poorly drained soil, bulb rot may occur.

 

Rainy Side Notes

The frilly orange cup with greenish-yellow petals is one of the reasons I love this daffodil. In the photo above you can see that it flowers at the same time as the lily-flowering tulip (Tulipa 'China Pink') and the species Rhododendron impeditum that sits on the rock wall above the pond in my garden. After a long winter when the garden is starving for color, this is a lovely combination of flowers in early spring. I view this outside my office window, along with other clumps of this Narcissus. Bright yellow daffodils look great with cobalt blue accents.

As with many daffodils, N. 'Suada' is first-rate for forcing and is also a wonderful cut flower. Daffodils last four to six days in a vase. Preservatives do not prolong the flowers; this step is not necessary. The blossoms secrete a mucous from their stems that is unfavorable to other cut flowers. Daffodils can be used alone in the vase or hardened for 12-24 hours in fresh water by themselves, with at least one water change. Rinse stems before combining with other cut flowers.

In fall, plant bulbs four to six inches deep and three to six inches apart. The flowers face a southerly direction towards the sun, so you want to plant them with their flower faces towards the viewer.

Daffodils are harmful if eaten and the bulbs can be a skin irritant.

Debbie Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.