Division 9 consultation

Royal Horticultural Society

International Cultivar Registration Authority for the Genus Narcissus

Horticultural classification of daffodils

Definition of Division 9

At a meeting on 7 June 2012, the International Daffodil Registrar, with the support of the RHS Advisory Sub-Committee on Narcissus Classification, took the decision to adapt the horticultural classification of daffodils, following international consultation in 2011-2012 on the definition of Division 9.

From 1 July 2012, Division 9 will be defined as follows:

Characteristics of N. poeticus and related species clearly evident; perianth segments pure white; corona very short or disc-shaped, not more than one-fifth the length of the perianth segments; corona usually with a green and/or yellow centre and red rim, but sometimes wholly or partly of other colours; anthers usually set at two distinct levels; flowers fragrant.

The revised definition reflects overriding support for Option 2 as laid out in the consultation paper (see attached breakdown of responses). Underlined below are the four criteria that Option 2 incorporated:

Characteristics of N. poeticus and related species clearly evident; perianth segments pure white; corona very short or disc-shaped, not more than one-fifth the length of the perianth segments; corona usually with a green and/or yellow centre and red rim, but sometimes wholly or partly of other colours; anthers usually set at two distinct levels; flowers fragrant.

The revised definition also includes three changes that the consultation paper flagged up for committee debate: 1) replacement of the word ‘group’ by the phrase ‘and related species’, in order to avoid confusion with the special meaning of the word ‘group’ in another context (as ‘cultivar group’); 2) removal of the phrase ‘usually one flower to a stem’, because multi-headed plants exist; and 3) removal of the word ‘usually’ from ‘flowers usually fragrant’, because N. poeticus and related species are consistently fragrant.

In addition, in order to clarify the range of corona colouring, the words ‘wholly or partly’ have been inserted.

Please see attached illustrated classification complete with revised definition for Division 9. This cancels all previous editions.

The Registrar and the Advisory Committee acknowledge with respect and thanks all views expressed in the course of this consultation and hope that the revised definition will serve its purpose.

Sharon McDonald
International Registrar
RHS Garden Wisley
Woking, Surrey, UK
GU23 6QB
tel: (+44) (0)1483 212403
fax: (+44) (0)1483 211750