Description
Many years ago we obtained a Narcissus from our good friend, the late Michael Hoog, which was, in effect, a robust, strong growing and larger version of the superb garden species N. asturiensis. In later years this plant, proved to be more than just a very good form, it was named, by Fernández Casas, as a new species, Narcissus jacentanus in 1984. To this day, you may still see it also named as Narcissus asturiensis subsp. jacetanus along with a variety of other botanical names, all of which claim to be the correct one. All refer to this plant however, regardless of botanical opinion.
This species is undoubtedly close to asturiensis and some doubt its species status, but laying aside botanical nit-picking, it is a very good daffodil, more robust than most asturiensis with larger flowers. It has solitary, slightly hanging, bright yellow, self-coloured flowers with a deeply lobed corona, borne very early in the year, from around February-March. Some blooms have more starry petals, in others these are wider and overlapping. It is a miniature, seldom reaching over 15cm here, our close-up pictures may make it look larger than it really is.
It is native to northern Spain especially around Pamplona where it is found on calcareous soil. In the garden it likes well-drained, but humus-rich soils and is indifferent as to whether it is in limey or acidic soils. It does well also in pots or pans under alpine glass but no matter where it grows, it does not need, nor indeed like, a hot dry rest in summer, but rather a cool, slightly moist one. A cold period in winter (but not frozen solid) is essential to promote growth and flowering.
