Narcissus “Luna’s Friend Io” 8W-W (unregistered)

One of the earliest blooming white tazettas, blooming around mid- to late November. An older form, it does not have the same stiff, upright growth habit of ‘Artist’s Palette’ and ‘Bas-relief’, and nor does it have the same uniformity of petal form. It looks suspiciously similar to an 1847 illustration of ‘Luna’ by Dean William Herbert. Of the same early hybridizing era as ‘Grand Monarque’ (1759) and ‘Grand Primo Citroniere’ (1780), ‘Luna’ (1798) was sold in American catalogs from 1832 to 1911, so it is reasonable to expect to find it in a garden at some point. Its floret form is also quite similar to heirloom strains of ‘Grand Primo Citroniere’ found in old American gardens, again suggestive of a very early cultivar. It has reasonably good frost resistance and is essentially scentless. Collected from an old garden site near Natchez, Mississippi, whose owners had a steadfast penchant for white tazettas. Will set seed, though shy to do so. Collected from an old garden site in the Natchez, Mississippi area.

NOTE: The Sara Van Beck tazetta and paperwhite daffodils are generally not hardy in cold climates with freezing winters. In frost-free climates (zones 8-11) these bulbs may be safely planted outdoors in autumn for late winter flowers. In colder climates with freezing winters, they are easily grown indoors for flowers during the winter months. Learn more at www.heirloomtazettas.com.