Daffodils

After the long, wet winter the welcome break in the rain is also cheered by the many Narcissi (Daffodils) that we now have here at Homerton. There were comparatively few Narcissi blooming in the first spring after I arrived at Homerton nearly eight years ago. Since then the gardening team have planted 100s of bulbs (each autumn) and now we are rewarded with a really cheery start to spring.

Narcissi belong to the genus Narcissus (Family: Amaryllidaceae). It is believed that the genus arose about 23 million years ago in the Iberian Peninsula. Different classification lists over the years have disagreed with the quantity of species within the genus but the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew has currently settled on 36 species of Narcissi but with many thousands of cultivated varieties available. We have a real mix here at Homerton from the traditional yellow trumpeted “Golden Harvest” or “King Alfred “, to the heavily scented white “Thalia”, the early flowering short “Tête-à-tête” and the orange trumpeted “Red Devon “. Narcissi are in most corners of Homerton.

There is also disagreement about the etymology of Narcissi. Some believe the name has come from the ancient Greek narkē meaning numbness probably from the narcotic effect produced from eating the bulbs (which are highly toxic) or the “intoxicating” fragrance. Some scholars think the name derived from the myth of Narcissus (who was obsessed with his own reflection). 

It is thought that the name "Daffodil" derives from the Middle English affodell, stemming from the Latin asphodelus (which is also linked to the afterlife in Greek mythology).

Despite the fact that all parts of Narcissi are toxic (largely due to the alkaloid lycorine) they have been researched extensively for medicinal purposes and have been used traditionally to treat cancer and more recently one of its other alkaloids (galantamine) has been used therapeutically to treat Alzheimer's disease

Narcissi are fascinating. They have featured in worldwide cultures and folklore for centuries. There is far too much to say about them in a short blog, but if you have the inclination, read up about them…or just enjoy them in the gardens when you pass them by.