Hi all
I recently posted a picture of a bulbocodium seedling flowering in two years time from seed.
And then this weekend a jonquil opened, also about two years from seed. It is from seed from Lawrence Trevanion, the cross is 01/1J x OP. 01/1J is (N. henriquesii x Early Louisiana).
The flower is small, about 28mm across, and 25 cm high, with a very strong and delightful scent.
Thus far it seems to be the only one from this cross that will bloom this year. There are also several bulbs of 10/5J x OP that are showing flower spikes, 10/5J does have 01/1J in it’s parentage.
I am quite happy to see flowers in two years time while I was anticipating a four-five year wait !
This is so beautiful! I love all jonquils, but this is special. And I love the whole Early La. tribe.
But two years from seed! What is your climate and elevation like? And could you possibly think of coming to St. Louis to the World Convention next spring?
Evidently your bloom season is more like Australia and New Zealand.
Hi Christiaan,
You’re obviously doing something right. Well done again!
01_01J is (unofficially) called Subtle Satin. It is from Bill Welch seed. It has a slightly paler colored rim and your seedling will probably be similar. It’s flowering at my house now because it was watered through the autumn but not in the field. I just measured it and it has a diameter of 36mm with 4 florets to the stem so I expect yours will be larger in due course.
Hi Loyce
I am at approximately 840 meters above sea level (2756 feet). And my climate is not really suited for standard daffodils. We have extremely hot summers and mild winters (have skipped winter this year – the three days it lasted it was just cool, not cold). Rainfall is very low, about 4-6″ per year, if it is a good one. Our seasons coincide with those of New Zealand and Australia, as we are also in the southern hemisphere like them.
This climate enables me to do much better with the Northern African species and the very southern European ones, tazettas, bulbocodiums and hopefully jonquils.
Hi Lawrence
Thanks for the compliment !
I transplanted my seedlings into the garden, and there they get watered regularly. I presume that is why they flowered so quickly. I do however pick the flowers, I would prefer them not to set seed the first year in order to try and protect the bulb – is this good reasoning ? I also thought that they should have more florets on the stem, but I am satisfied if you take the age of the bulbs into account.
I have some paperwhites flowering, as well as some tazettas (probably Grand Primo Citronaire), I pollinate them regularly, first with bulbocodium pollen, and soon with this jonquil.
Hopefully some seeds will be hybrids.