“Double Chinese” or “Double Chinese Sacred Lily” has been cherished by coastal south and California gardeners for many a decade. Likely originally imported from China mixed in with bulbs of “Chinese Sacred Lily,” its proper Chinese name is ‘Yulinglong’. True ‘Romanus’ from the Mediterranean basis will grow in the coastal south but is rare to bloom as the small, cabbage-head buds blast at the first whiff of frost or drought. ‘Yulinglong’, with its much broader leaves and slender buds, is comparatively more resilient to weather extremes. Further, ‘Yulinglong’ is more tolerant of a wider range of soil pH than ‘Romanus’, which really needs an alkaline soil to be robust. Last, ‘Romanus’ has a distinctly spicey scent whereas ‘Yulinglong’ has that amazing sweet Tazetta fragrance that could launch a thousand “ahs.” Bulb stock originally collected from old garden sites in the north Florida towns of Monticello and Madison. Blooms mid-December. At max happiness it produces about six florets to a stem at around 40mm diameter. Prefers a slightly more alkaline soil. Though it will withstand cold to the mid-20*s, it needs protection from frost damage, either by frost cloth or under the edge of a tree canopy line.

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.