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'Always aiming for perfection': Daffodil inspired by BBC show

David Maxwell An elderly man in a dark suit and green striped tie stands to the left of another man in a chequered blue shirt. They are both holding a photograph of a daffodil. David Maxwell
Brian Duncan with David Maxwell in BBC Radio Ulster studios

They inspired the poet William Wordsworth, and now a new variety of daffodil has been inspired by a popular BBC gardening show.

The flower has been named to mark the 40th birthday of Radio Ulster's Gardeners' Corner.

The new daffodil, named Narcissus Gardeners' Corner, is white with a pink trumpet, and was produced by world-renowned breeder Brian Duncan at his home near Omagh.

Now in his 90s, Mr Duncan has been creating new daffodils for six decades.

David Maxwell A flower with pale yellow and pink petals, surrounded by green stems.David Maxwell
The bulbs of this new variety will be harvested in the summer and distributed in the autumn to a number of public gardens

Mr Duncan said the process of creating a new named daffodil took time.

"You are always aiming for perfection," he said.

Speaking on Gardeners' Corner, he explained how long it takes to achieve results when cross-pollinating.

"I probably made 30 or 40 crosses this year. You might ask why, when it takes five to six years for the seedlings to flower, and that's only one flower, then they increase from 80 to 100 percent a year.

"So after six years you might have two bulbs and after seven years maybe four bulbs, so it takes a long time to develop a stalk."

Mr Duncan said he started working on Narcissus Gardeners' Corner in 2001.

"It flowered probably 2006, and now there's a quite a nice little stalk."

David Maxwell Two men are standing in an allotment. The man on the left is holding a certificate in one hand and a medal in the other hand. To his right is a man wearing a blue body warmer and chequered shirt. They are both smiling at the camera. David Maxwell
Brian Duncan was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society in recognition of his breeding work

In 2022, Brian was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society in recognition of his breeding work.

Only 63 horticulturists can hold it at any given time in commemoration of the years of Queen Victoria's reign.

Narcissus Gardeners' Corner began its life from a cross between two very successful flowers - Amazing Grace and Cape Point - and has proved itself by growing on in both Northern Ireland and Holland.

"It's a beautifully-formed daffodil with pure white wide petals and a delightful pink- rimmed corona," said Mr Duncan.

Looking to the future

Gardeners' Corner presenter David Maxwell said the new addition was a "great honour".

"Our programme and its gardening stories and advice is an established part of the BBC Radio Ulster schedule. And we know how much it's valued by BBC listeners," he added.

The bulbs of this new variety will be harvested in the summer and distributed in the autumn to a number of public gardens.

"Planting bulbs of any sort is about looking to the future. It's about hopefulness, expectation and renewal," said David.

"We're reminded about all of these things each spring, making it even more appropriate that the season and its possibilities will be heralded by a new daffodil named after Gardeners' Corner."

Daffodils in Ireland

There is a long heritage of daffodil breeding on the island of Ireland.

Causeway Sunset, Irish Charm, Finn McCool, Paddy's Legacy are all varieties of Irish daffodils.

Last year, growers from around the world visited Northern Ireland to enjoy the wonderful spring flowers.

Gardeners' Corner was first broadcast in June 1985.

It succeeded a weekly series called Ulster Garden which began in April 1954.

The flower will be officially launched on this weekend's programme.

You can listen on BBC Sounds here.