Tracking Rare Pink Daffodils Across the UK
Unusual pink daffodils could be blooming in gardens throughout the UK, prompting experts to encourage the public to assist in locating them.
The trumpet-shaped yellow daffodil is a common sight in spring, but the national flower of Wales also appears in white, orange, and salmon-pink—a rare variety.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has initiated a campaign to map these spring blooms and is urging people to report any pink daffodils, known as 'Mrs R.O Backhouse,' found in their gardens or local community areas.
Daffodils, or narcissus, have been cultivated for centuries, with approximately 30,000 varieties believed to exist in the UK; however, only 6% of these contain pink hues.
"Yellow daffodils are far and away the most popular, not unsurprising, for their welcome burst of colour,"said Dr Kalman Konyves, the RHS's principal plant scientist.
"But it is interesting to note that the more adaptable pinks have proven less popular than we might have assumed, and green and red varieties negligible, highlighting the importance in maintaining cultivated diversity in gardens."
Public Participation and Expert Verification
The public can report suspected pink daffodils to the RHS by submitting photographs, which will be reviewed by expert botanists.
During an interview on BBC Radio Wales, RHS chief horticulturist Guy Barter explained that participants may be asked to send in a bulb so it can be cultivated at the John MacLeod Field Research Facility in Wisley, Surrey.
Experts nationwide will then examine these specimens to provide a definitive identification of whether the plants are Narcissus 'Mrs R.O Backhouse'.
History and Conservation of 'Mrs R.O Backhouse'
'Mrs R.O Backhouse' was named after Sarah Backhouse, a plant breeder and horticulturist who developed the first true pink daffodil.
This variety became the most recognized and widely cultivated pink daffodil for over 90 years.
The garden charity aims to breed and reintroduce this now rare salmon-pink flower into wider cultivation to prevent its disappearance.
Additional Rare Daffodil Varieties Sought
In collaboration with the conservation charity Plant Heritage, the RHS is also searching for two other rare daffodil varieties: the white double-flowered 'Mrs William Copeland' and the orange and yellow double-flowered 'Sussex Bonfire'.
Last year, the RHS's Daffodil Diaries campaign received over 3,000 submissions in the search for rare daffodils.
Barter, who is leading the current trial, stated:
"With 30,000 daffodil varieties thought to be available in the UK, telling one from another requires an experienced eye, but this diversity is fundamental to their potential benefit for people and planet and why it's so important we celebrate and preserve them."
