..”..all
we wanted was to live the same
kind of life as the crofters who
once lived at Minack.........We had a
to earn a living out of the wilderness
of land.....we had to reclaim meadows
which for years had been neglected.....we
grew massive amounts of potatoes...before
we were convinced they were uneconomical....also
violets, wallflowers, calendulas, forget-me-nots,
stocks and ....freesias.........We have reached
the stage now where we only grow
tomatoes and daffodils.....the aim
....is to spread the harvest over several weeks, and ..stocks this flower farm with bulb varieties that follow each other in sequence.”
We have tried to gather information about the daffodils and narcissi from various sources along with images. Not being trained horticulturalists or even experienced daffodil growers we ask for a little leeway if we make a mistake. If you find an error please do let us know so we can correct it for our readers.
We hope that from this we can encourage more people to grow whatever the size of their 'plot' so they too can not enjoy the scents of Minack but gain pleasure from growing and the natural world that surrounds them.
With thanks to Kate and Duncan Donald at Croft -16 for their invaluable assistance and use of several of their images.
Kate's knowledge made one realise just what is needed to be a Horticulturalist; the commitment required, the many hours of work as well as love of the plants.
Also, to Longfield Gardens who were equally helpful and allowed use of several of their images.
Also Ron Scamp who had in the past been very helpful and for images used. Ron also sells the Derek and Jeannie Tangye daffodils! (see below)
I have given have links to their websites in the hope that they might benefit from sales with fans looking for historic and quality daffodils.
Actaea is a member of the poeticus division of daffodils. In late spring, single, fragrant white flowers are produced with flattened, bowl-shaped trumpets of yellow edged in red. A popular cut variety due to its reliability and abundant flowering.
The petals are pure white with rich orange-red cups. Early and free-flowering variety. One of the best for naturalizing. Barrett Browning has been around for more than 50 years and is still very popular.
Large cupped, pale white perianth, orange tipped rim, darker yeloow to pale yellow, deeply pleated . Flowers mid spring. Deer resistant.
Elegant and weather resistant, with white petalled flowers with large, contrasting lemon-yellow trumpets, this two-tone daffodil can be relied on to put on an impressive show. Flowers February-March.
Flowers facing downwards, petals thin & translucent, lightly creased with a prominent yellow midrib. Trumpet slightly funnel shaped, loosely ribbed, deeper yellow & less greenish than the petals. Winter through to late spring. Known as Pentewan in the Scilly Isles.
There are two varieties of Narcissus campernelle, a single flowering form, and a double form. These are very old hybrids the single form dating back to the 17th century. With fragrant yellow flowers it is a very easy care plant. Synonym of N x odorus 'Campernelle'
Another golden yellow flower. This one is over a hundred years old but still going strong. The daffodils you see on the roadside are often Golden Harvest. Vigorous and long lasting.
Clusters of fragrant double white flowers with cream and yellow centres. Multiply flowers per stem, fragrant and long lasting. Deer and rabbit resistant! One of the last to bloom in Spring..
Long lasting fowers on tall erect stems, cousin to the 'California'.
It is a vigorous plant and early to mid season.
Dutch Master has replaced King Alfred as the most widely-grown daffodil in the world. A dependable performer and an excellent choice for naturalizing A yellow daffodil with a long, serrated, wavy trumpet. A single bloom on leafless stems.
Daffodil 'Early Bride' has large white perianth with large bright yellow trumpet.
Just the bulb to brighten up your spring garden.
Dutch Master has replaced King Alfred as the most widely-grown daffodil in the world. A dependable performer for early spring colour and an excellent choice for naturalizing A yellow daffodil with a long, serrated, wavy trumpet. A single bloom on leafless stems.
Seed parent King Alfred.
Large trumpet flowers, long lasting, early season, bright yellow and visible for miles.
Both deer and rabbit resistant.
Mid season flowers lasting about a month. Reliable and will increase over the years. Fragrant yellow overlapping perianth with an orange cup . Both deer and rabbit resistant.
The perianth segments broadly ovate, vivid yellow, overlapping half; corona slightly ribbed, a little brighter in tone than the perianth. Flowers from Winter through to late Spring. They were so named by a dutchman living in Amsterdam during WW2 who had heard Joseph Mcleod reading the BBC news after he had hid his radio thinking he was going to have a Gestapo visit.
Petals of strong substance, inflexed, sometimes twisted, especially the inner petals. The trumpet is slightly deeper in tone. A long lasting flower. Originally the most popular daffodil for sale.
A large flower with white perianth segments that resemble propellers. An early free flowering variety that is quite beautiful.
Thus far have been unable to find an image of Lamorna in colour.
Referred to as ‘Mags’. A yellow daffodil with a long, serrated, wavy trumpet. The solitary blooms appear on leafless stems.
N. obvallaris grows to 30cm tall, with glaucous, strap-shaped leaves and solitary bright yellow flowers with flared trumpets and slightly paler perianth segments, opening in early spring. Also called 'The Tenby daffodil.'
A large flower with perianth segments which soon reflex to resemble quilled propellors. The trumpet is soft tone. An early free flowering variety just as suited for pots
Williams’ daffodil named ‘California’ was known as ‘Pentewan’ in Scilly. Fl. 90 mm wide, facing slightly downwards; perianth segments chrome yellow, overlapping half; corona expanded, sulfur yellow, with rim flanged and dentate.
It's correct name is
N.poeticus var. recurvus,
otherside known as Pheasants eye.
Strongly scented, late flowering with swept back petals that curve at the edges.
Classified as a wild species.
Vivid yellow, with rim widely flanged and very deeply dentate, with margins recurved. Resembles a large-flowered ‘King Alfred’ with broader perianth segments.
‘St Keverne’ is named after the village on the Lizard Peninsula . This daffodil was probably raised by P.D. Williams, ‘St Keverne’ and was named and registered by his son Michael in 1934
Scilly White can be grown and settled outside. In April it has several flowers per stem with white cups and petals, and just the most fabulous scent.
Perianth segments yellow; corona rich golden yellow or orange. Resembles a smaller-flowered ‘Grand Soleil d’Or’ with a less vividly colored corona. Several similar named varieties.
A miniature daffodil with one to three perfect little blossoms per stem. Though Tete a Tete stands just 7" tall, the bright yellow flowers can be seen from a great distance. They are great for container planting.
White Lion' is a clump-forming, bulbous perennial with green, strap-like leaves and fragrant, double, white and yellow, fragrant flowers with luxurious folds of soft yellow and lemon petals, blooming in spring
Named in honour of Sir Winston Churchill. Average of four flowers per stem. It is strongly scented.
Pheasants eye growing at Minack in 2013
Derek Tangye
Jeannie Tangye
Daffodil flowers belong to the Amaryllidaceae family and the genus Narcissus. Daffodil is a common name for a narcissus. There are 50 species in its family, and around 13,000 hybrid varieties. You can find a lot of information at The Daffodil Society. These are just some of the flowers that Derek and Jeannie grew, some varieties are no longer fashionable. There is, though, a growing trend to bring them back as they are such hardy plants. Many of these flowers still grow at Minack and Oliver Land today.
In 2011 there were two daffodils registered with The Royal Horticultural Society, named after and called Derek Tangye and Jeannie Tangye, registered by Ron Scamp, who is also the originator. He is an award winning horticulturist. Have a look at Ron Scamp's website from where you can buy the Tangye daffodils along with many others.