Narcissus Facts
Mythical and Historical Narcissus Facts
Few flowers have such a colorful history as the narcissus; facts from ancient days lie with Greek mythology and describe a sad tale of a man in love with his own reflection.
Greeks believed that spirits and souls lived on in inanimate objects such as animals, heavenly objects and plants. Such is the myth that makes up the story of Narcissus and the woman who loved him, Echo. Such a desperate unrequited love was felt by Echo for the handsome Narcissus that she virtually became lovesick and died. The god Zeus decided to let the punishment fit the crime. As many who had laid eyes on Narcissus and immediately fell in love so had he disdainfully spurned their affection. His punishment was that he should spy his own reflection in a pool of water and fall in love with himself. As he pined away for the love he could never have in the reflection, he whispered the phrase that all who had loved him before had longed to hear, “I love you, please forgive me” as he gave his last breath. Taking pity on him, Zeus turned the dead boy’s body into a white flower that would return each spring to bloom in beauty. The flower Narcissus, facts borne in Greek mythology, was created.
Of course, common sense and true narcissus facts backed up by scientific timetables tells us that, while the narcissus actually originated in the Mediterranean region, the flower is a bulb which sprouts afresh each spring, bearing beautiful blooms of yellow or white. Narcissus varieties consist of the daffodil, the jonquil and paperwhites as the most common forms in the United States. European immigrants are believed to have been responsible for the introduction of the narcissus to the US, spreading as people moved westward carrying the flower bulbs with them.
To successfully grow narcissus, facts about cultivating bulbs can be helpful. Anytime between August and November is a good time to plant narcissus bulbs. The rule of thumb is to plant the bulbs at depths three times their size, in either a sunny or partly sunny location and in soils with good drainage. Planting in drifts and bunches produce the most attractive displays, concentrating color and scheme into your flower bed or landscape. Depending on the variety of narcissus planted, blooming can begin in early, mid or late spring. After the plant has finished blooming, it is best to remove the faded and dying blooms. The plant itself should be allowed to die out on its own, as it regenerates its energy back into the bulb to provide good blooming power next season.
While the myth fantasy seems romantic and idealistic, the narcissus facts point to a more scientific history behind the lovely blooms. Whether truly the symbol of a handsome man loved by a beautiful woman or simply a beautiful flower, the narcissus remains one of the most popular flowers in the world.