The Lent Lily (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
Harsh conditions often deter other bulbs from blooming during the cold February months, but one brave daffodil is in a class all its own. The traditional trumpet shaped Lent lily (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) was the first narcissus to be called a “daffodil” and is believed to be the mother of all modern trumpet daffodil varieties. Why the Lent lily name? Because very often it is blooming around Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten Season! These are valued for their reliable large trumpet shaped blooms and their ability to naturalize over large areas.
The Bloom
One way to check and see if your bloom is a true Lent lily is to close the petals on the trumpet center. If the trumpet extends beyond the length of the petals, you have one strong clue that you might have a Lent lily.
The Lent lily blooms early. Weather in the south is erratic at best during the winter months. The Lent lily is perfectly suited for the unexpected twists and turns of the weather. This bulb knows exactly when to bloom, and you can pretty much count on it to bloom right around Ash Wednesday whether that is early or late. You can cut the blooms and bring them in for a lovely centerpiece as well.
Size
These blooms will not stand more than about 8–12″ tall. This helps protect them from the cold winters. Because the stems aren’t very tall but the bloom itself is about 2–3″ in length, the balance of the flower seems more whimsical and charming especially as it sways in a cool breeze.
Easy to Grow
The Lent lily will spread easily as it naturalizes an area. As long as you plant them where they will receive 6+ hours of sunlight during the winter months, you can plant the bulbs and forget about them. Plant the bulbs 2–3x the depth of the bulb.
Animals
The Lent lily bulb is perfectly suited for pollinators as it holds its pollen deep within the trumpet and protects it from winter storms. Animals tend to leave the bulbs and flowers alone.
The Daffodil Scientific Name
The scientific name for the original daffodil is Narcissus pseudonarcissus. It is believed that all modern trumpet daffodils come from Narcissus pseudonarcissus. The Lent lilies found wild (but not native) in the Southeastern United States are diploids that breed with our jonquils (Narcissus jonquilla) to give us campernelles (Narcissus × odorus). Thus, all three varieties and naturally occurring hybrids are often found in close proximity to each other.
Fun Facts About the Lent Lily
The “Lent lily” is not a lily at all. When people new to flower bulbs call and ask about traditional-looking daffodils, we always focus on the Lent lily and campernelle bulbs. Why the Lent lily name? Because very often it is blooming around Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten Season.
The word Lent comes from the Old English word lencten, which means spring. This is related to the Old High German word lenzin and the Dutch word lente, both of which also mean spring. The term originally referred to the lengthening of daylight hours in spring.
The Lent Lily in Literature: William Wordsworth
Steeped in literary history, this trumpet shaped daffodil is reportedly the one Wordsworth so eloquently spoke of in his early poetry:
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
