The genus Narcissus, commonly known as daffodils or jonquils, is a group of perennial bulbous plants. While the classic image is a bright yellow flower, the colors available within this genus span a much wider palette. Extensive hybridization has resulted in thousands of registered cultivars that display a remarkable range of hues and combinations.
The Dominant Colors and Structural Components
The most common colors across the Narcissus genus are pure yellow and white, appearing in varying shades from pale cream to deep gold. These colors are defined by two distinct structural parts: the outer perianth and the central corona. The perianth is composed of six segments, while the corona forms the prominent trumpet, cup, or eye at the flower’s center.
In many traditional varieties, the perianth and the corona are the same color, creating a uniform look, such as a flower that is entirely golden yellow or entirely pure white. The intense yellow and orange colors are primarily due to the presence of carotenoid pigments, which are produced and accumulated at different rates in the flower’s tissues. The distinction between these two main structural components is fundamental to understanding the full spectrum of daffodil coloration.
Expanding the Palette Exploring Bi-Colors and Rarer Hues
Beyond the solid whites and yellows, the color spectrum expands with the introduction of bi-coloration, where the perianth and corona display contrasting hues. A common bi-color pattern features a white perianth surrounding a brightly colored cup, which might be yellow, orange, or even pink. This contrast occurs between the pale outer segments and the vivid central cup.
Rarer colors have been stabilized through extensive horticultural breeding, notably including pink, orange, and green tints. The “pink” shades often manifest as apricot, salmon, or soft rose tones, and these colors are almost exclusively confined to the central corona. Orange and red tones are also concentrated in the cup, ranging from a pale peach to an intense orange-red rim. Green tints can appear at the base of the cup or sometimes throughout the entire flower.
Horticultural Classification Based on Color and Form
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) uses a standardized system to classify the vast number of Narcissus cultivars into 13 divisions, which takes both color and form into account. This classification system uses a color code to precisely describe a cultivar, consisting of the division number followed by letters representing the perianth color and then the corona color, separated by a hyphen.
The basic color codes used are:
- W for white
- Y for yellow
- O for orange
- P for pink
- R for red
- G for green
For example, a cultivar classified as 2W-P belongs to Division 2 (Large-Cupped), has a white perianth, and a pink corona. The classification also details the color zones within each part, such as listing colors from the outer edge inward for the perianth, and from the base outward to the rim for the corona. This system helps to organize varieties, such as the Trumpet division (Division 1), which often features a solid color, versus the Split-Corona division (Division 11), which frequently emphasizes complex bi-coloration and shape.