Tenby Daffodil

Tenby Daffodil ~ Narcissus  pseudonarcissus obvallaris

This little daffodil only grows about 8" or 30cm high and can be found growing wild around Tenby in Wales, hence the name. It seems no-one is quite sure if the Tenby daffodil was introduced to this country, or whether it could be a natural variation of our only truly native daffodil, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, also known as the Lent Lilly as it usually flowers during the period of Lent, through February and March.

The Lent Lilly is a similar tiny size and shape, but the outer petals are paler than the yellow trumpet, or corona, whereas the Tenby Daffodil has both a yellow trumpet and outer petals. Both have sword-like grey-green leaves and the plants are perennials.

Daffodils have medicinal properties. The bulbs are poisonous to humans - but not to the larvae of the hoverfly Merodon equestris, which is also known as the Greater Bulb Fly.

The bulbs that NGAG volunteers planted in September 2009 have not been taken from the wild, which is illegal, but were purchased from a reputable grower.

Mary Wollstonecraft, who was a member of Newington Green Church, which is the other side of the road from where we planted these daffodils, would perhaps have approved of our doing so. Wollstonecraft discussed her preferences regarding 'gardens and pleasure gardens' and said that she believed they 'ought not to be planted for the season when nature wantons in her prime'... but 'I think a garden should contain more shrubs and flowers' and 'admit the sun-beams to enliven our spring, autumn and winter'.

March 2010