Narcissus 'Thalia
Common name: Triandrus daffodil, Orchid narcissus
Narcissus, also known as daffodil, is native to the meadows and woods of southern Europe and North Africa. It is easy to grow and is popular as a garden ornamental and as a cut flower. Narcissus comes in a range of flower shapes and sizes. It is a long-lived bulbous plant that propagates by division. It naturalizes easily and multiplies. Narcissus bulbs should be planted in fall with their pointy side facing up, and their flat end pointing down. We have many different ones in the Garden.
Narcissus 'Thalia', nicknamed 'the Orchid Narcissus', is a pure white daffodil with narrow, recurved (bent backward), petal-like sepals and a dainty, cup-shaped corona. N. 'Thalia' grows 30 to 35 centimetres (12 to 14 inches) tall. Two or three gently fragrant blooms are on each stem.
'Thalia' means 'to flourish'. It is the name of one of the nine muses in Greek mythology--the muse of comedy. Narcissus 'Thalia' was bred by M. van Waveren and Sons of Hillegom, Holland in 1916. It can be found in mid spring near the Rose Garden, and in several other spots at VanDusen.
Text and photos by Kumi Sutcliffe