Description
Found in a limited area of Mediterranean France and along the southern coast of Spain, this is one of the few Mediterranean species which can be be found on both sides of the Pyrenees.
It has flat, deep green leaves and a 20 cm stem that carries two to four (rarely up to six) scented flowers each 1.5 cm across. The leaves are made with the flowers in April and in to May and these flowers are pure crystalline white, though they may, sometimes, open cream or pale yellow, this fades within a day. They have a shallow, toothed cup from which yellow-buff anthers protrude. Usually one or two are made on each stem, the whole not exceeding about 20-25cm tall.
This is a tolerant plant but prefers a well-drained, sunny spot or if you wish it can be grown in a pot under alpine glass or in a plunge frame. A rare offering of a superb little species, seldom seen in cultivation as it can be sparing with its seed but very worthy of cultivation.
This is traceable to a Spanish stock, seed-raised from the original collection made many years ago in one of the most westerly stations for the species, Alzira, close to Valencia, and received from Susie Eijsoldt in 1999.
Narcissus dubius
