In 2011 in very early spring I flowered an exceptionally nice form of N. asturiensis from Brian Duncan. Before it died out, forever, as that species is want to do in Southern California I used it to make two crosses. I pollinated it with a nice all green seedling bred from some of Manuel Lima’s plants and I used the N. asturiensis pollen back on the same green seedling to make the reverse cross. Where N. asturiensis was the pod parent I harvested 4 seed and the reverse yielded six seed. Only one plant from each cross has survived.
2011-53 is the plant from where N. asturiensis was the pod parent. It showed a bud in mid February but it was not until two days ago that I realized it was finally open. This is the latest in the season mini trumpet that I have produced, and it has opened during a dreadful hot spell that has destroyed all of our standard daffodils. Our temperatures have been in the high 90 degrees (36C). Tulips lasted two days this year and the standard daffs are a mess. But this little flower is down right still perky. I think the N. viridiflorus genes have given it toughness.
2011-053
2011-053 from the rear
In the warm weather the perianth is a yellow-green with a darker green stripe on the backside. If it develops under normal weather temperatures I am hoping for a stronger all green perianth. At the moment I have to classify it as a 1Y/G/Y-Y. What is unusual about this cross is that when mated with trumpets, “viridiflorus” crosses usually only give large or small cups. Nature is always ready to surprise us. The reverse cross will not flower this year but I hope it might next year. Both seedlings look strong and the mini trumpet has already made one offset. Hopefully they will both return next year.
Harold