BIGGEST daffodil?

Just saw something in the Brent and Becky's catalog. A daffodil with a 5 inch trumpet. What a way to beckon in spring.

Is this possible for them to be that large? Is there anything larger? ;-)

What was the name of this cultivar?

Baa - They call it their Colossal - Says an improved "King Alfred".

I could only find it in Breck's catalogue http://brecks.com/item_disp.asp?pn=65045 maybe it's only in the paper catalogue?

Anyway, as the site above states the flowers are 5" and this looks like a Division 1 Trumpet Daffodil. The simple definition of Division 1 is that the corona (trumpet) is as long or longer than the perianth segments (petals). Were the trumpet to be 5" long then we're looking at a plant with almost 10" across flowers!

There are a couple of cultivars that get close to 5" flowers, Dutch Master, King Alfred and Arkle (which reputedly is 5" across) are just 3.

I'm happy to be wrong but I think they possibly mean a 5" flower rather than trumpet.

and did you know that all King Alfreds grown these days are an imposter!? Thats what we were told at a Daffodil show earlier this year.

Baa - I checked the online catalog and didn't find it. About the trumpet, I was wrong - when I went back to the catalog, it did say flower. I guess I had it in my mind "TRUMPET" - along the lines of "heralding spring", etc. I have a slight case of pre-winter panic after last winter that lasted 5 months.

Mark - I have read that about the King Alfred. I did find some reference where the supplier supposedly said they're real. Absolutely NO idea if it's true.

http://store.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/cgi-bin/bulbs2/01-0107?id=iYCB8eyp&mv_pc=425

I'm not hunting for originals, I just want the biggest, boldest flower to scream: "Bye Bye Winter!" I don't do well up here in NY, but this is where the job keeps me. Summer and Fall are wonderful up here, but the winter is miserable.

sandra, i'm getting the winter fears happening too. we can only hope and pray it is not as bad as last years. oy vey it just wouldn't end!!!!!!!!!

I have met Brent several times and I have no reason not to believe him when he says that he has the "real King Alfred".

It is not grown commercially anymore but some domestic growers still may have stock. I know that some West Coast growers still had some. He is also asking a nice pprice for them.

5 inches means 5 inches acroos the petals, whereby the trumpet is about 3 inches. Maybe when you put some chicken manure under them they will grow bigger, but not to 10 inches.

Unsurpassable is a very large trumpet daffodil as well.

You want to scream Bye Bye to Mr. Winter....plant some Rijnveld's Early Sensation. They bloom in early January here in Georgia.

Just say the word.

THE WORD

Now what? :)

Watcg your mailbox in September.

How wonderful!! What a wonderful opportunity. I can promise - they'll get a prominent place in the yard right near the door on the way to the car in the mornings. I'm sure they'll go a long ways towards brightening an early spring morning. *big grin* Thank you!

word Bleek. :)

p.s. The glads I got from your stash at the roundup are beautiful! thanks

This message was edited Monday, Aug 11th 11:15 AM

WRONG word Angiebell.

:( puweeeeze?

WRONG word again.....that is twice.

*jingle* Now I'm dancing. This is all you're gettin' bleek. I dunno what you're talking about! lol

sbarr knew what I was talking about. Too bad.

oh, I get it. Sorry.

Sandra, another way to scream GO AWAY!!!! to winter is to plant in big swathes of bulbs. Strength in numbers.

Love, Lavanda

Angie, you'll get a consolation prize at the GA RU in October, OK?

K! :)

LOL -- "The Word"!!

I would say every magic word I could think of to get those to walk over to my garden. LOL

SBarr -- I am right with you with the Daffs. I only had a few lousy freebees I got along with a bulb order last fall. I didn't realize how important they were I waited forever for my tulips to finally do something and that didn't happen until mid-May!

I am looking for some nice big ones too. Glad to have found this thread.

Alyssum - describe lousy freebees.

I can't remember the name -- but some sort of a lower end mix -- I got a dozen and they really didn't impress me much - small blooms and rather blah. I would like to get something that stands up and shouts "HELLO! SPRING HAS ARRIVED!!!" Something with a large trumpet and a nice structure. Some of the ones mentioned on this thread sound great.

Now if you only would know the word?????

THE WORD

Watch your mailbox in September.

whhhhewwww! Glad I got that right! Thanks Bleek!! It will be great to have some nice daffs greeting me in early spring!! If you need my addy let me know -- although you may have it from the co-p.

alyssum, bleek can get your name and addy from a cop? what you been up to girlfriend? i hope that lovely daughter of yours isn't an accomplice with you. ;) hey bleek she may need to say "the word" to get out of the slammer. ;)

Bleek did a co-op in which I participated. He may still have my addy on his computer. Everything else here is well and my kids are great. My DD is a flower nut too -- and she's only 4.

alyssum's daughter s beautiful and her little boy is full of energy and life. how are you feeling with #3? this humid summer must be tough for you, but sooooooo much better than the forever cold winter we had, preganancy or not, i'd say. :) take care. i was trying to make a joke about your spelling cop, instead of co0-op om upir previous thread. guess it wasn't oo funny huh? oh well i'll keep trying. ;)

Being 7 months pregnant -- most of my brain cells are out of order -- I didn't even catch it. It was funny -- I am just running a bit short these days. LOL

I run short every day. I just never grew taller. >;-)

I could not find Brent and Becky's in the Garden Watchdog. What is your experience with them?

This message was edited Sunday, Aug 17th 5:48 PM

See: http://gardenwatchdog.com/c/18/

Seem to be fairly highly rated.

I have "watched" B and B for several years (their catalogs, that is!).

I finally succumb3ed in May when I got an email about clearance sale.

Got some great stuff dirt cheap and big and good quality, and am totally happy with them.

I know they are in the GW somewhere ...

You really need to send for a catalog!

http://gardenwatchdog.com/c/18/

http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/

I think my problem with B&B is that you have to order 25 of everything! I don't have enough room for 25 of anything!

THE WORD!

Oh, oh...THE WORD is getting around!

Woodspirit -- That is what co-ops are for, to get a few even with big minimums. There were a couple of fall bulb co-ops recently. You should look and see if they have any left overs.

LimeyLisa Kay