They are called “Twin Sisters” and it always seems that one is hiding behind the other. Therefore, I have to conclude that one bloom is definitely shyer than the other! Maybe one bloom is the youngest and always competing for attention–I was the youngest in my family so I can relate!
This flower also goes by April Beauty, but it is botanically known as Narcissus x medioluteus and can be purchased here at www.southernbulbs.com.
It is the latest blooming Narcissus in our gardens here in North Texas, and it is that way across the Southern United States. As it moves into warmer Zone 8b and 9 climates, it really struggles to bloom at all. Because of the late blooming nature, when found on old empty lots, road side ditches, and around abandoned homes, it is often competing with the high spring weeds. That leads to the impression that it is not very showy. Don’t be fooled! In a garden with proper care and weeding, this beauty truly does shine forth and carry the final torch of spring blooms all the way to the end of April.
A few other interesting facts. Thomas Jefferson grew this flower at Monticello. Also, you can find this flower in many cemeteries across the Southern US. Don’t let the over anxious mowers take it down! It is very tempting this time of year to clean up our spaces, but if possible, try to mow around it and let the foliage die down naturally.
Thank you for offering this bulb! I have been looking for this bulb (I think it is this one) for a while now. When we were driving back from a birthday party, I saw this bulb everywhere, and I knew it was some type of narcissus (or daffodil as we call them), but I couldn’t find it anywhere. I knew it was a late bloomer. Although, I am wondering if it is the same as the ones I saw here in Northeast Georgia (between Danielsville & Toccoa area) The ones I saw appeared to be a creamier/pale ivory/yellow color. Are you familiar with a narcissus that is cream/ivory that is also a late bloomer? I was observing them from a moving car, and it was over a year ago, so my memory may be fooling me!
Hmmm. I’d probably have to see a picture. There are a few other late bloomers blooming now, but they are far and few between. Sorry I wasn’t much help!
I just received mine. Thanks! Do I plant them now since they still have the foliage on them? I’ll try to get some pictures or “samples” of the other ones to see if they are the Twin Sisters.
Hi Kristy! You may plant the bulbs now, or wait. It is up to you, but don’t cut the foliage. Let it die down naturally. This is the natural process of the leaves sending all of the nutrients they have collected from the sun back down to the bulb. If you cut the foliage off, it is like cutting the highway being used to deliver the food needed for healthy bulbs. They will remain dormant and begin growing this next spring. Hope you enjoy and we look forward to your pictures.
The “Twin Sisters” are so cute – just lovely ! I’d like to order some – are they available now ?
Hi! Yes, available now at http://www.southernbulbs.com. They are shipping “in the green” which means they have foliage on them still. Let it die down naturally and don’t cut it off. You can plant any time from now until fall. Enjoy and thanks for writing in!
Hi Mr. Wiesinger,
I saw the most beautiful fluorescent orange-red dwarf cannas, probably in the 1990s. These cannas were in a man’s back yard, all around the cyclone fencing and they were so beautiful that I asked if I could buy some bulbs. The man, whose name I can’t remember, was a crusty but very nice, sort, who worked on vacuum cleaners, on the N. end of Haskell, TX, gave me some when Doyle was still alive. For some reason, perhaps my registered Nubian milk goats, who got out from time to time, they finally didn’t come back, so I went back to the man’s house after 2000 to see if they were still there, or alive, but the man had died and someone else had bought the house and didn’t know anything about the cannas. I would have paid a good price to get some more. I even put an ad in the Haskell, TX newspaper, offering a reward to anyone who could sell me some, or tell me where they were located. Not one reply!
I searched the internet but never found anything close to these gorgeous cannas. I know this man who wrote the article about bulbs in the Texas Heritage, would be interested in this information and might even know where to buy some.
These cannas bloomed all summer long and were enchanting.
Jean Baugh
Old Glory, TX
Jean, thank you for writing in! What a wonderful story but I am hoping for a much happier ending. I have some friends that love to quail hunt out near Aspermont. They head out there in the summer time occasionally (to work on the land) and maybe I could tag along with them and help look for these bulbs. If they were in one garden, surely they would be in another? Keep looking and if you could find at least one this summer and snap a picture to share, I might be able to help locate a source. A master gardener in College Station Texas shared with me some dwarf cannas that were orange-red and disease resistant. I’m wondering if they were the same variety.