Trumpet Daffodils

Arguably the most successful daffodil breeder of all time, this miniature all-white trumpet is an encomium to Alec Gray. Stunningly well formed. A joy wherever he goes. Garden State bred.

We can remember clearly the first time we saw American Dream, its perfection and poise made us think “This is the zenith of the hybridizer’s oeuvre”. There are a handful of Yellow / Pink trumpets, most spend a brief season in the sunshine of the trade and then disappear just as quickly. Our envy for this flower may arise from a sentimental association with the name, or is it for the bloom ? More reverie engineering from the Grant-Havens stable.Extremely limited stock.

Hands down our pick for a white miniature daffodil. Aviva from Leone Low, a charming small miniature with clear star perianth and trumpet Leone named this daffodil after the daughter of her maid of honor. Aviva is the Swahili word for life. ADS Miniature.

A miniature trumpet with an exuberant form. Bird Music's cyclamineus lineage shows in the swellegant long cup. Jetfire is daddy. Early Blooming. Sings in the rockery.

Yellow and pink-cupped trumpets are a special, rarified group in the world of daffodils, highly sought after with most being showstoppers. Bronzewing is perhaps more sophisticated than the rest, a Brian Duncan bruiser with four inch blossoms and a corpulent cup. The petals have a fade to white at mid rib creating an even greater contrast with that big ole rich-pink cup. Not a back bencher.

Camborne is an Alec Gray miniature all-white trumpet. Registered posthumously. Long and frilly cup, matures to pure white. This is one to have in the rockery. Tiny little baroque thing. Used as a pollen parent with species cyclamineus. ADS miniature.

Frilled and smooth and white all over, Cantatrice was the standard bearer for white trumpets in the mid 20th Century. Famously good on the bench, in the border and in the pot. From Beersheba. ADS Historic.

Imposing white/pink cupped trumpet from Brian Duncan. We can all hum along.

Charlie is a large and muscular two-toned trumpet, kind of singular in the world of daffodil brass. With a bit of training and man-scaping, Charlie Conner will perform well in the competition ring.

Commodore Perry is a showy and commanding pink cup from the armada of the late Dr. John R. Reed of Michigan. Even though the Commodore is an intermediate, his extra large caliber gun and broad sails will quickly scuttle the opposition. Said to be sun-pro

A millennial, well read, well bred and well fed reverse bi-color trumpet, but with a ring of lemon curd around the snout.

All white trumpet with blunt ovate petals and a funnel shaped cup.

Among shrimps, Alec Gray's Gambas stands out for it scaled-down upright trumpet form. Possibly a garden improvement of the species Asturiensis . Very early, seed fertile, ADS miniature.

An all golden trumpet with broad ovate petals.From Brian Duncan.

A cross of two species pseudonarcissus, Gipsy Queen is a soft white and greenish-yellow miniature trumpet from Alec Gray. Queenie is a strong grower and commands attention in the bed, pot or on the bench. Because she blooms so early, we associate her reign with late spring snowfall, but given her lineage she should perform well further south. Alec Gray. ADS Miniature. ADS Classic.

A tiny all-white trumpet from Brian Duncan, Gipsy Vale is a cross ofObvallaris and Gipsy Queen. Coy, pugnacious and perfectly formed Gipsy Vale is a very good variety for competition.

An old trumpet hybrid that has had a lot of notable progeny. increases well. Because Golden Spur increases and is long lived it is good in a “naturalized” landscape planting. Retains a look of species wildness. ADS historic.

Large and sunny, Hello Sunshine is a soft lemon colored behemoth of a trumpet from Carlos van der Veek. Perianth is ovate, shouldered and mucronate, the funnel-shaped cup is frilled and crenate. New Introduction, good supply available.

Jimmy is a dandy, double triangle yellow perianth and long cylindrical orange trumpet of a corona. Just when you think pocket squares and tie clips have gone out of style. Just a handful to offer.

Descended from Camelot, Jump Start retains the family's good looks and even royal coloration. Four inch flowers, broad substantial perianth with a narrow waisted trumpet that flares to a frilly bell Jump Start is very tall and very early trumpet.

It is not often that a yellow trumpet is found adjacent to the term ‘Intermediate’. But Little Alfred sports all of the trumpet flanged and notched cupped bling that you want, but with a “seen not heard” modesty that you like. Lovely color, form and detail. Increases. We think Little Alfred is a candidate for pot culture.

Little Darling is a modern tiny trumpet, a golden miniature that has great aerodynamics. Even colored, Little Darling shows her cyclamineus ancestry with curled reflex petals. Her trumpet ends in a frilly mouth so she can whisper sweet nothings into you

Little Tyke

In the States, in a crowdsourced competition, he would have been named “Snooty McSnootface”, but Snooty is indeed an Irish Lord of both Trumpets and reverse bi-colors. Awesome flower, sired by Brian Duncan. New Introduction, doesn’t appear to be registered at this writing. Only a few bulbs to offer.

Midas Touch

Softly colored and feminine for a trumpet, Ms Krelage is an understated daughter of King Alfred. Fertility both ways, ADS Historic.

“The sensational flower of the day, however, was ‘Mrs Ernst H. Krelage’; it was a Dutch tradition to name one’s best white trumpet after one’s best wife. A very large flower, its creamy yellow trumpet pales over time. For many seasons after its debut in 1912, bulbs went for $250.00 a piece. While the British focused on refined show flowers, the Dutch focused on strong garden flowers, a difference that continues to the present day.”
Daffodils in American Gardens , 1733 - 1940 , Sara L. Van Beck, p. 16

We are running out of synonyms for ostentatious to describe Carlo’s lovely seedlings. Superfly, fancy, fancy-pants, yes a fancy-pants trumpet, white until the frilly yellow corona’s edge. Vigorous grower, not registered, new introduction in 2023.

Ombersley is a newer, large yellow trumpet of great substance and rich color. Equally at home on the bench or in the garden, it is named after a village in Worcestershire, England. Saucy.