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| Photo Credit: Gerald Klingaman |
| ‘Tete-a-Tete’ is one of the earliest blooming Narcissus, usually appearing as winter makes its last gasp. |
My favorite flower is the little ‘Tete-a-Tete’ daffodil. Of course, I should confess that being designated favorite is somewhat a passing fancy, for my head is easily turned by the next pretty face to grow on by. But, among the thousands of daffodils on the market, this little gem is one of the best. Its popularity is reflected in the sales numbers: Worldwide, it’s the fourth most popular Narcissus cultivar in the bulb trade.
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ is a little plant by daffodil standards, growing only about 6 inches tall, with two or three rich-golden, 2½-inch-wide trumpets atop the sturdy stem. The cup is about 3/4 of an inch long, and the petals are slightly reflexed. The plant’s foliage is only about 8 inches long and very tidy. In most years, it’s the first daffodil to bloom in my garden, appearing about the first of March. This free-branching plant continues to produce lots of new bulbs each season and continues to flower freely year after year. It’s also fertile, and if pods form and are allowed to mature, the daffodil will reseed in favorable climates. (It takes four years from seed to first bloom.) Being vertically challenged – or as some would say, a runt – ‘Tete-a-Tete’ has developed two specialty uses: In the garden, it’s the premier choice for rock gardens or front-of-the-border locations, where the plant’s diminutive stature is a benefit. Its second use is as a forced plant in 4-inch pots. In fact, most gardeners are first introduced to this little daffodil as a forced bulb, then later discover it does fabulously in the garden.
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