"Winter Bulbs"
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| Scientific Name: | Narcissus papyraceus Ker-Gawler |
| Author: | John Bellenden Ker-Gawler (1764-1842) |
| Common Name: | Paper-white Narcissus |
| Plant Family: | AMARYLLIDACEAE [Liliaceae] |
To the delight of garden-lovers some of what we think of as “Spring Bulbs” flower from Autumn to Winter’s end.
The Paper-white Narcissus, Narcissus papyraceus, is our earliest blooming of these bulbs. Pure white, multi-flowered, fragrant and star-like, they give light to the shade between the Residence Garden and the Conifer Cultivars.
Enjoy also the variety on the open lawn below the Residence Garden, our Beds 149 and 150. This area has been planted out over the last three years with a variety of bulbs. Some came as divisions from stock in the Brunet Meadow, some from Mount Tomah neighbours and some from the nursery trade. There is colour now and more to come.
So, on our sunny Tomah lawn you are likely to encounter at least two other forms of Narcissus. Clusters of white flowers, with pale lemon centres that fade are characteristic of Narcissus ‘Grand Primo’ or ‘Avalanche’ and sheer sunshine characterises ‘Grand Soleil d’Or’. Crocus tomasinianus radiates colour below the large oaks while Snowflakes, Leucojum aestivum, and the pale blue Spring Starflowers, Ipheion uniflorum, are dotted about.
Jan Allen
Garden Information Officer