Narcissus 'Jetfire'

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Narcissus 'Jetfire'
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Genus Narcissus
Hybrid parentage Narcissus cyclamineus × Unnamed Seedling
Cultivar 'Jetfire'
BreederGrant E. Mitsch (1907-1989)
Origin Oregon, USA
Narcissus Jetfire 5985.jpg

Narcissus 'Jetfire' is a cultivar of dwarf Narcissus , which was introduced in 1966. [1] It is one of many cultivars produced by American daffodil breeder Grant E. Mitsch. [2] 'Jetfire' is a popular early flowering ornamental plant utilized in gardens, where it can be planted into borders, flowerpots, and naturalized in lawns. [3] The cultivar has received multiple awards, including the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. [4]

Contents

Description

Narcissus 'Jetfire' is a bulbous perennial plant. [5] The cultivar is an early flowering dwarf, reaching a maximum height of 20 cm tall. [3] Plants possesses slender, vibrant green leaves. [5] Bulbs may produce secondary stems, which can provide additional flower stalks. [6] Flower stalks host a single flower per stalk. [7] Flowers are slightly scented and 7 cm in width. [6] [5] The perianth segments are ovate in shape and are a vivid yellow colour. Petals are slightly reflexed, [5] creating a creased appearance with wavy margins that overlap about one-third of their length. [6] The inner segments have more pronounced creases. [6] The corona is orange in colour, cylindrically trumpet shaped and loosely ribbed. The mouth of the corona is slightly expanded and has a regularly crenate rim. [8] [6] 'Jetfire' is an early flowering cultivar which blooms in the early spring, [8] with flowers emerging between the months of March and April. [9]

History

One of the most celebrated American daffodil breeders was Grant Mitsch who began growing Narcissus in 1928. Mitsch had previously bred other species such as Gladiolus , however during a visit to a local horticulturists garden in 1931 he saw Narcissus such as 'King Alfred' and became smitten with the genus. Mitsch began purchasing and breeding Narcissus from the 1930s onward, where he made his livelihood growing and selling various plant species. However, by the mid-1950s onward he had focused almost exclusively on breeding, growing and selling Narcissus. [2] During this period Mitsch would produce Narcissus 'Jetfire' by hybridizing various Narcissus species and cultivars together. Mitsch would eventually register Narcissus 'Jetfire' in 1966. [1]

Narcissus 'Jetfire' would go onto receive multiple awards from the British Royal Horticultural Society. In 1987 (only 2 years before Grant Mitsch's death), the cultivar would receive the Award of Merit. [1] In 1990 the cultivar would also be awarded the HC award for being highly commended. [1] The final award received from the Royal Horticultural Society was the Award of Garden Merit in In 1995. [4]

By the early 2000s Narcissus 'Jetfire' had become one of the world's most popular dwarf daffodil cultivars with great economic importance. During 2003 the Netherlands made $7.6 billion exporting plants to the rest of the world, with bulbs making up 10% of the exported goods. [10] During a growing period between 2009 and 2010 within the Netherlands, 'Jetfire' was cultivated on 42 hectares of the 1578 hectares dedicated to growing Narcissus. [11]

Cultivation

Narcissus 'Jetfire' cultivated inside a plant pot. Narcissus Jetfire (51954730248).jpg
Narcissus 'Jetfire' cultivated inside a plant pot.

Narcissus 'Jetfire' is suitable for planting in garden borders, containers, or naturalizing in grass lawns as an ornamental plant. [3] The cultivar grows best in full sun to partial shade. [8] Good soil drainage is essential, however the soil should maintain moisture during the plant's active phase. Dry soil can be tolerated during seasonal dormancy. [8] To achieve optimal flowering results, it is recommended to plant the bulbs at a depth two to three times their own size. [3] Shallow planting may result in a lack of flowers, [3] as the Narcissus instead focuses on bulb division. [12] 'Jetfire' bulbs should be planted early in the bulb-planting season, ideally in late August to early September. [3]

After the daffodil has completed its flowering cycle, it is important to refrain from cutting back the foliage until it has fully withered. The leaves play a crucial role in generating nutrients that are transported down into the bulb, supporting next year's growth and flower production. [3] Clumps of Narcissus 'Jetfire' can be dug up and divided after the foliage dies back. [8]

Genetics

Narcissus 'Jetfire' possesses a complex family tree, involving hybridization between various cultivars and species. Over fifteen daffodil cultivars were utilized within the gene pool including 'Carbineer', 'Fortune' and 'King Alfred'. These cultivars descended from or were then bred with the Narcissus species: N. abscissus, N. bicolor, N. cyclamineus , N. hispanicus , N. poeticus and N. pseudonarcissus. The result is a complex family tree with both cultivars and species present within the ancestry of Narcissus 'Jetfire'. [1]

The pollen parent of Narcissus 'Jetfire' is N. cyclamineus, while its seed parent is an unnamed seedling. The unnamed seedling was produced by crossing the cultivars 'Market Merry' to 'Carbineer' to make a resulting offspring which was then crossed with 'Armada'. The successive offspring of this cross was the unnamed seedling used as the seed parent. [1]

Narcissus 'Jetfire' is both seed and pollen fertile, [1] with a chromosome count of 2n=21. [6]

Pests and diseases

Narcissus 'Jetfire' may experience bulb rot in poorly drained soil. [8] 'Jetfire' can also fall victim to the Narcissus yellow stripe virus, [8] which is transmitted by aphids. [13] Pest species such as Narcissus bulb flies, nematodes and bulb scale mites will also feed on daffodils. [8] [14] Slugs and snails may also cause damage to the plants foliage. [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>Narcissus</i> (plant) Genus of plants in the Amaryllis (Amaryllidaceae)

Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil, narcissus and jonquil, are used to describe all or some members of the genus. Narcissus has conspicuous flowers with six petal-like tepals surmounted by a cup- or trumpet-shaped corona. The flowers are generally white and yellow, with either uniform or contrasting coloured tepals and corona.

This is an alphabetical index of articles related to gardening.

<i>Narcissus pseudonarcissus</i> Species of plant

Narcissus pseudonarcissus, commonly named the wild daffodil or Lent lily, is a perennial flowering plant.

<i>Freesia laxa</i> Species of flowering plant

Freesia laxa, commonly known as flowering grass, is a small species of cormous flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, from eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya to northeastern South Africa. It is grown in gardens as an ornamental plant.

<i>Erythronium revolutum</i> Species of flowering plant

Erythronium revolutum is a species of flowering plant in the family Liliaceae which is known by several common names, including mahogany fawn lily, coast fawn lily, and pink fawn lily. It is native to the west coast of North America.

<i>Pachysandra terminalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Pachysandra terminalis, the Japanese pachysandra, carpet box or Japanese spurge, is a species of flowering plant in the boxwood family Buxaceae, native to Japan, Korea and China and introduced to eastern North America. It is a slow-growing, spreading evergreen perennial growing to 10 cm (4 in) tall by 60 cm (24 in) broad, with alternate, simple, glossy leaves, and creeping stems. The leaves may yellow in direct sunlight or in winter. When growing in a spreading mass of many plants, a dense cover is formed.

<i>Narcissus triandrus</i> Species of daffodil

Narcissus triandrus, also known as the Angel's Tears daffodil, is a species of flowering plant within the family Amaryllidaceae.

<i>Narcissus romieuxii</i> Species of daffodil

Narcissus romieuxii is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is a distinctive, early-flowering daffodil with dark green rush-like foliage. The flowers have narrow perianth segments, while the trumpet is wide and flaring. It blooms in mid to late winter. There are many subspecies and cultivars, with flowers in many shades of white and yellow. It originated in the Atlas Mountains region of Morocco.

<i>Tecophilaea cyanocrocus</i> Species of plant

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus, the Chilean blue crocus, is a flowering perennial plant that is native to Chile, growing at 2,000 to 3,000 m elevation on dry, stony slopes in the Andes mountains. Although it had survived in cultivation due to its use as a greenhouse and landscape plant, it was believed to be extinct in the wild due to overcollecting, overgrazing, and general destruction of habitat, until it was rediscovered in 2001.

<i>Narcissus bulbocodium</i> Species of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidaceae

Narcissus bulbocodium, the petticoat daffodil or hoop-petticoat daffodil, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to southern and western France, Portugal, and Spain. Some sources say that the species is also native to Morocco, but this is based on populations formerly thought to be varieties of N. bulbocodium but now regarded as separate species.

<i>Narcissus cyclamineus</i> Species of daffodil

Narcissus cyclamineus, the cyclamen-flowered daffodil, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to North West Portugal and North West Spain.

Alec Gray (1895-1986) was an English nurseryman and horticulturalist. He was notable as an authority on and breeder of daffodils, having developed over 100 new cultivars over a career spanning 60 years. In his free time he was also an enthusiastic archaeologist and poet.

<i>Narcissus minor</i> Species of plant in the genus Narcissus

Narcissus minor, the lesser daffodil or least daffodil, is a species of Narcissus within the family Amaryllidaceae. The species and its cultivar 'Little Gem' have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<i>Narcissus</i> Tête-à-tête Narcissus Cultivar Tête-à-tête Daffodil

Narcissus 'Tête-à-tête' is a hybrid cultivar of Narcissus, which was introduced in 1949. It is one of 110 cultivars produced by British daffodil breeder Alec Gray. 'Tête-à-tête' is a popular ornamental plant, which is known for its very early flowering period and short stature. This cultivar is commonly used as a garden plant where it can be planted in pots, rock gardens, garden borders and even naturalized in lawns. The cultivar name 'Tête-à-tête' means to have a conversation between two people, which relates to the cultivar often hosting a pair of flowers per stem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narcissus 'Rip van Winkle'</span>

Narcissus 'Rip van Winkle' is an heirloom cultivar of Narcissus, which was first introduced commercially in 1884. When the cultivar was produced is unknown, however it is believed this historic cultivar originated in Irish gardens. The cultivar was first distributed by plantsman William Baylor Hartland of Country Cork, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narcissus 'King Alfred'</span>

Narcissus 'King Alfred' is a cultivar of daffodil which originates in the county of Devon, United Kingdom. The cultivar is named after English king of the Anglo-Saxons, Alfred the Great.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narcissus 'Thalia'</span>

Narcissus 'Thalia', also sometimes known as the orchid Narcissus, is a cultivar of daffodil, which was bred by M. van Waveren and Sons of Hillegom in 1916. The cultivar was produced by hybridizing an unnamed daffodil with Narcissus triandrus subsp. triandrus var. triandrus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narcissus 'Sun Disc'</span>

Narcissus 'Sun Disc' is a hybrid cultivar of daffodil, which was introduced in 1949. It is one of 110 cultivars produced by British daffodil breeder Alec Gray. The cultivar was produced by hybridizing Narcissus rupicola with Narcissus poeticus.

James Kirkham Ramsbottom was an English botanist. He became interested in the field after he was recommended to pursue an outdoor career for his health. After a short period at the Chelsea Physic Garden Ramsbottom studied at the RHS Garden Wisley. Coming first in their diploma examinations Ramsbottom became a research student at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in 1913. He studied leaf blotch disease in irises and became assistant editor of the Gardeners' Magazine.

References

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  2. 1 2 Jarman, Eddie (2013-04-03). "Grant Mitsch" (PDF). DaffLibrary American Daffodil Society . Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Narcissus 'Jet Fire'". Birmingham Botanical Gardens, England . 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  4. 1 2 "AGM Plants 2023 RHS – ORNAMENTAL" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society . 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Cyclamineus Daffodil Narcissus 'Jetfire'". Cornell University Cornell Botanic Gardens . 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Jetfire". The International Daffodil Register & Classified List Royal Horticultural Society . 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  7. Mikolajski, Andrew (2003). Perfect Plants for Your Garden - Choosing the Best Plants for Your Garden, with an A-Z Directory and Cultivation Notes. Hermes House. p. 181. ISBN   9781843094463.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Narcissus 'Jetfire'". Missouri Botanical Garden . 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  9. Wild, Adrienne (2012-10-10). "When to plant bulbs to get the most from your garden". The Mirror . Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  10. "Netherlands: Agricultural situation" (PDF). USDA Foreign Agriculture Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
  11. Okubo, Hiroshi; Kamenetsky, Rina (2012). Ornamental Geophytes: From Basic Science to Sustainable Production. Taylor and Francis. p. 106. ISBN   9781439849248.
  12. "Daffodil blindness". Royal Horticultural Society . 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  13. "Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)-Virus Diseases". Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook. Oregon State University. 2014. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Pests & Diseases". Daffodil Society . 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-08.