Tazetta Narcissus

This spring I found several sets of Tazetta Narcissus blossoms to photograph. I really liked the small petals and delicate nature of these flowers.

The Tazetta Narcissus is one of the oldest cultivated narcissus varieties. Native to the Mediterranean through Asia, Narcissus Tazetta were grown in ancient Egypt and Greece. They were cultivated in England as early as 1597. Tazetta Narcissus are usually hardy to at least zone 8 (some varieties are hardy to zone 4) and grow 12-15″ tall. Many varieties are among the earliest blooming members of the Narcissus family – so are a welcome sign that spring is coming.

The first set of Tazetta Narcissus I photographed this year was at Longwood Gardens. Like most Tazetta Narcissus – the Geranium variety has white petals with yellow/orange cups.

At the Philadelphia Flower Show, I photographed a set of Grand Soleil D’or Tazetta Narcissus. Unlike most other tazetta narcissus varieties, the Grand Soleil D’or have yellow petals and cups.

And then at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland I photographed two Narcissus Tazetta hybrids.

The first is the Laurens Koster Tazetta Narcissus. Introduced in 1906, this hybrid is named after Laurens Janszoon Koster, a Dutchman said to have invented book printing.

And finally, the Mot Mot Tazetta Narcissus. Like the Grand Soleil D’or narcissus, the Mot Mot variety also has yellow petals and cup.

Just a note of caution – some sources note that Daffodils and Narcissus are poisonous to both humans and household pets. Though rare, poisonings tend to occur when the narcissus bulbs are mistaken for onions.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my photos of the various Tazetta Narcissuses I’ve photographed this spring. Which one is your favorite? Or is there another variety that you are particularly fond of?