Plain when compared to modern cultivars, but distinguished and dignified in its simple form. More than one customer relayed a similar story, it goes something like this. “When I was young I visited a neighbor with daffodil bed that included Helios, I fell in love at first sight and never forgot it. I am so happy that it is still available, having given up on ever finding it.”
It also turns out Helios is sought after by those in pharmaceutical research, as it is remarkably high in the alkaloid narciclasine. The compound lycorine, also present in daffodils, is what makes them poisonous, unpalatable and thus “deer proof”.
Helios is classified as a standard, but is easily at the upper height limits – it sails over the spring bed.
