The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is calling on the public to keep a look out for rare daffodils in their flowerbeds, in a bid to track down missing varieties. With spring on the way, the RHS has partnered with Plant Heritage in a bid to track down and protect certain strains of the flower.
Gwen Hines, CEO of Plant Heritage, said: “Springtime daffodils are abundant, but rare varieties could be lost from our gardens and roadsides if they’re not found and cared for. While six National Plant Collections do protect some, many others aren’t yet safeguarded, which is why we encourage everyone to look for rare varieties this spring.”
Daffodils aren’t just pretty – they play a part in Alzheimer’s treatments as they’re a source of galantamine, which can’t be synthesised in a laboratory. With unknown medicinal benefits yet to be found, safeguarding these diverse species is important.
Keen gardeners are being urged to look out for three particular daffodil types, and sightings can be reported on the RHS’s Daffodil Diaries web page at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/.
The Sussex Bonfire
The Sussex Bonfire, a daffodil boasting yellow and orange hues, tops the list as the rarest species. This unique bloom was cultivated by Noel Burr, a hobbyist breeder from Sussex, who named it in honour of the annual bonfire event held in Lewes.
The flower remains elusive, with no confirmed sightings to date, so any sightings would be warmly welcomed by experts.
Mrs R. O. Backhouse
This distinctive pink daffodil, characterised by its coral pink trumpet and ivory petals, is thought to have been named after Sara Backhouse, a hybridiser who died in 1921. Although some specimens are preserved in national collections, none have been found out in the wild.
Previous reported sightings were later identified as the Salome breed, which features a trumpet that turns from yellow to peach.
Mrs William Copeland
This white, double-flowered daffodil was named by WFM Copeland, a renowned flower breeder, as a tribute to his wife. It has been speculated that an American grower gifted the flower to one of his descendants in the UK in the early 2000s, suggesting it may well be flourishing in a garden somewhere.