El narcissus tazetta It is a plant that attracts attention for its beauty and is also easier to care for than is usually thought. If you have ever seen it and fallen in love with it, today we are going to tell you how you can have it at home.
A variety of daffodil native to the western Mediterranean, which can be seen with some frequency on the banks of rivers and in scrubland areas, but which can also grow in our garden. Do you dare to learn more about this plant?
Characteristics of the narcissus tazetta
This variety of daffodil is also known as paper daffodil, yellow daffodil, tazetta, bunch daffodil or, simply, common daffodil. In Spain, we can find it in its wild form in the area of Catalonia and Valencia, as well as in the Balearic Islands.
bulbous plant
One of the first characteristics that must be highlighted about this variety is that we are facing a bulbous plant. The bulbs store the nutrients that the plant needs and allow it to to sprout again one season after another, ensuring that it has a perennial life cycle.
Leaves
The leaves of the narcissus tazetta stand out for being long, narrow and bright green. They grow around the flower stem and their appearance and texture remind us of grass.
Its leaves grow from the base of the plant and surround the flowers once they emerge. In fact, if we think about narcissus flowers, they always come to mind surrounded by their characteristic leaves.
Floral stem and flowers
From each bulb a flower stem grows that grows vertically and can reach 45 cm in height. At the top of it, a single flower or a cluster of several flowers forms, depending on what variety of daffodil it is.
As for the flowers, they are small in size, but they are very striking. In the central part is the perianth, which has a shape similar to a crown and is surrounded by larger petals. While the crown is usually brightly colored Like yellow, the petals that surround it are always lighter, generally white or pale yellow. Furthermore, they are flowers that have a very soft and pleasant sweet aroma.
How to care for narcissus tazetta?
One of the peculiarities of this plant is that it is very resistant and can easily adapt to different types of soils and even climates, which is why we see it in many gardens. It is not a demanding variety, but for it to look its best it needs a series of essential care.
- Location and light. This plant appreciates receiving many hours of direct light each day, with a minimum of six being ideal. Therefore, you can put it in a sunny place or where it receives partial shade. The perfect location is one where the temperature remains between 16º and 18º C.
- I usually. The bulbs must be planted in fertile soil with good drainage capacity. As with most plants, too much water in the root zone can cause them to rot. If possible, add a little organic matter to the substrate to improve its moisture retention capacity, and try to plant the narcissus tazetta in soil that is slightly acidic or, failing that, in neutral soil.
- Irrigation. This variety requires frequent watering, especially during the growing season. The ideal is to never water the plant itself, but rather pour the water into the surrounding area, without soaking it.
- Fertilization. The daffodil is an undemanding plant, and it can grow strong and beautiful even if you do not fertilize the soil. However, if you decide to use fertilizer, use a special product for bulbs and do it in spring, before flowering. Once the flowers have wilted, do not apply fertilizer, because this will only promote weak plant growth, and that is something we do not want.
- Pruning. When the flowers have finished their life cycle you can cut the flower stems, but try not to touch or damage the leaves until they have completely dried.
- Protection during winter. If you live in an area where winters are cold, before frost begins, apply a layer of mulch or straw to the area of the soil where the bulbs are planted. This way you help protect them from low temperatures and ensure that they sprout again in spring.
How to plant daffodil bulbs?
It is not difficult to find narcissus tazetta bulbs in horticultural stores and nurseries. You can also get bulbs from a friend or family member who already has this plant at home.
The ideal is to choose those that do not have a texture that is too soft or that show signs of rot, and plant them at a depth of about 10 to 15 centimeters. As for watering, even if the plant has not flowered yet, it must always be regular, providing moisture but without flooding the substrate.
daffodil bulbs they are planted in autumn, taking the precaution of covering the substrate with a layer of six to eight centimeters of mulch to protect them from the cold if we are in an area with low temperatures. But there is the possibility of forcing bulbs, that is, planting them out of season.
It involves planting the bulbs in a pot and keeping it indoors in a cold, dark place, with a temperature that does not rise above 9º C. For example, in the garage. When they begin to germinate (it takes about 12 weeks), they are moved to another location, but they cannot be taken outside yet. Once the daffodils have bloomed, they can then be taken outside and planted in their final location. Do you like narcissus tazetta, have you had any luck planting it in your garden? We would love to hear about your experience.