Chinese Sacred Lily

[WhiteRabbit]

Not a lily at all, but Narcissus tazetta (var orientalis).

The flower is an important element in the Chinese lunar new year celebration, and is sold at flower markets before the Chinese New Year. It is believed to be good luck to have the flower bloom on the first day of the Chinese lunar new year spring festival.

Narcissus tazetta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I have a very nice clump of these growing near my front door, tho most are now past their prime. Intoxicating fragrance

[camille1585]

Pretty! wonder how the word lily got in its name, it's very clearly not a lily. so were yours blooming it time for the chinese new year?

[tucker85]

Very interesting. I've never seen those.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Pretty! wonder how the word lily got in its name, it's very clearly not a lily. so were yours blooming it time for the chinese new year?

I don't know how they became called 'lily' ... I got the bulbs somewhere some time ago - only with the name "Chinese Sacred Lily" - I didn't know what they looked like or anything - they came up and bloomed every year, I never paid too much attention, til a few years later I looked at them and thought "Those look like Narcissus" - took a whiff of the scent, and thought again "Narcissus" lol - looked them up online, and found they were indeed Narcissus

Yes, Chinese New Year was January 23rd (Year of the Dragon) - I had some of these blooming a few weeks already by then ...

---------- Post added at 12:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:18 PM ----------

Originally Posted by tucker85

Very interesting. I've never seen those.

I just noticed some other people in my neighborhood have some of these - they're rather small and easy to overlook probably ... Certainly are easy growers, cheerful looking, and wonderful fragrance! Plus, I love cheerful blooms in winter!

[Bud]

That is a marvelous flower, Sonya ! I love white fragrant flowers...majority of my collections are ...

[Tindomul]

ohh very nice. I have a clump of Narcissus growing on my windowsill. Hopefully they will bloom soon.

[greenbean]

What a cheery flower to have in January. Definitely going to include these in my garden when I get the chance to expand my bulb collection.

Just noticed the first bulbs poking through the ground at my university. Meanwhile the crocus and other early bulbs at home on the west side of the state are probably already in bloom.

[WhiteRabbit]

thanks everyone

Gotta love winter bloomers! And I love the Narcissus fragrance!

---------- Post added at 12:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:18 PM ----------

Originally Posted by greenbean

What a cheery flower to have in January. Definitely going to include these in my garden when I get the chance to expand my bulb collection.

Just noticed the first bulbs poking through the ground at my university. Meanwhile the crocus and other early bulbs at home on the west side of the state are probably already in bloom.

oh, crocus! well too late for me this year, but I wonder if I can find some space to put some in! I just love them!

[pheli]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Not a lily at all, but Narcissus tazetta (var orientalis). Narcissus tazetta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I have a very nice clump of these growing near my front door, tho most are now past their prime. Intoxicating fragrance

That's indeed an important ornamental for our new year in Taiwan and in China. But the temperature is too hot for the plant to survive in summer. So, the bulbs are casted away while they finish blooming. New bulbs are imported from other countries in next winter.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by pheli

That's indeed an important ornamental for our new year in Taiwan and in China. But the temperature is too hot for the plant to survive in summer. So, the bulbs are casted away while they finish blooming. New bulbs are imported from other countries in next winter.

oh wow - that's interesting