Croft 16 Daffodils

Most of the daffodils we grow on the croft have been in cultivation for over eighty years - and some are much older, dating from the mid-1800s; indeed a handful have been in existence for nigh on four centuries.

The forerunner to the present system of horticultural classification was devised by The Royal Horticultural Society in 1909. It was founded on a robust system which incorporated Divisions based either on morphological characteristics (i.e. the length of the corona [cup] in proportion to the length of the perianth segments [“petals”]) or the species from which the hybrids were derived. Most modifications have been relatively minor during the intervening century. Perhaps the most fundamental change was introduced in 1950 when the beautiful pale-cupped Leedsii cultivars were subsumed into Divisions 2 and 3, depending on coronal length.

For passing interest (and to help those with A Handbook of Narcissus by E.A. Bowles to hand), we have incorporated the pre-1950 classification into our sales list. After all, the daffodils listed below would have been known under the earlier Divisional names when offered for sale originally.

Please note that bicolour Trumpets were classified as 1c and white Trumpets as 1b until 1950, when the subdivisions were transposed. In addition, you might spot that some cultivars were originally inadvertently classified in the wrong sub-/Division.

After careful thought we have decided to offer some stocks under trade names. Such daffodils will have perfectly good cultivar epithets - if only we knew for sure what they were. We feel that, in most cases, coining a new cultivar name for an old daffodil might lead to confusion: for instance, we're pretty sure that the recently registered 'Barchard's Hood' is 'Beersheba'. In most cases our trade name reflects our thoughts on the plant's true identity: for instance, MIDTOWN AUTOCRAT has a lot in common with 'Autocrat', but we have yet to find a clear image which wholly confirms this hunch. Once we are entirely satisfied that we have correctly identified a daffodil, the cultivar name will precede the trade name (and the latter will be put in parentheses) in future sales lists.

Rather confusingly, daffodil flowers not only change as they mature, but can also vary from season to season and from site to site: most commonly in depth of colour and the degree of ruffling to the coronal rim. Please, therefore, regard the images as a guideline only.

Division 1 Trumpets 1a and 1c Click here

Division 2 Large-Cupped Hybrids, formerly Incomparabilis 2a and 2b Click here

Division 3 Small-Cupped Hybrids, formerly Barrii 3a and 3b Click here

Divisions 2 and 3, formerly Leedsii 4a and 4b Click here

Divisions 4 to 13 Click here

Please click on More… at the end of each description for a larger image.