Narcissus flowers

Narcissus flowers

　　The Zhangzhou narcissus, a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, is an indoor ornamental flower known for its plump bulb, multiple flower stems, abundant blooms, beautiful colors, and fragrant aroma. It can also be intricately carved into various shapes, making it a world-renowned specialty that rivals the orchid as one of Fujian’s most famous flowers. The main production areas of the Zhangzhou narcissus are located in Cai Ban, Yang Ping, Xin Tang, Xia Xiang, Tian Zhong Yang, Da Xiao Mei Xi, and other places in Jiuhu Town, Longhai City, southeast of Yuan Mountain in Zhangzhou. According to the Zhang Family Genealogy of Cai Ban Village: “During the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty (1450–1456), Zhang Guanghui, a clan member who had served as an official in Henan, returned to his hometown upon retirement. While passing Dongting Lake, he picked up two narcissus bulbs from the water surface and brought them back to plant at Pi Pa Ban at the foot of Yuan Mountain. Since then, the narcissus has flourished, spreading to neighboring villages. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, the cultivation area had reached over 800 mu (approximately 53 hectares), and it began to be sold to regions such as Wu and Yue.” The Longxi County Annals recorded: “Among Fujian’s narcissus, those from Longxi are the finest. Their roots (bulbs) are cultivated as far as Wu and Yue, where they bloom in winter, making them highly sought after by people at the time.”

Around 1932, two businessmen from Zhangzhou, Chen Runsheng and Lin Zhuda, who were operating in Hong Kong, pooled funds to establish a company. They selected high-quality narcissus from villages such as Cai Ban and Xin Tang for sale. Owing to the narcissus’ qualities of “pleasing color, pleasant fragrance, and suitability for early spring,” they coined the elegant brand name “Yichun” (meaning “Suitable Spring”) and registered it with the Hong Kong authorities. The market gradually expanded to Southeast Asia, Europe, and America. As a result, the “Yichun” narcissus gained great fame. Since the narcissus from Jiuhu originated in Zhangzhou and all exports had to be shipped through the Zhangzhou port, it also became known as “Zhangzhou Narcissus.” To this day, the narcissus has a cultivation history of more than 500 years. In recent years, thanks to meticulous care and continuous expansion of cultivation by local growers, production has surpassed historical highs, bringing substantial foreign exchange earnings to the country.

There are many varieties of narcissus and numerous production areas across China, so why does the “Zhangzhou narcissus” stand out and enjoy widespread fame? This is mainly due to the unique geographical and climatic advantages of the Jiuhu narcissus production area. Here, the morning sun shines directly on the flower fields at the foot of the mountain, while the afternoon slanting sunlight is blocked by Yuan Mountain, providing a mix of sunshine and shade—a natural barrier that ensures warm winters and cool summers. At the foot of the mountain, tributaries of the Jiulong River and valley springs crisscross, ensuring ample water supply. The soil in the flower fields is soft and sandy, and geothermal springs pass beneath, helping to maintain suitable ground temperatures even during freezing weather. It is in such superior conditions that the narcissus thrives, resulting in exceptional quality. In addition to favorable geography, the local growers possess rich experience and advanced cultivation techniques. They strictly adhere to seasonal timing and use unique methods such as a three-year planting cycle and artificial debudding to promote larger, more mature narcissus bulbs. As a result, the produced narcissus resembles crab claws, with thick stems and abundant blooms. Each bulb typically produces three to seven flower stems, sometimes up to eleven, with each stem bearing five to seven florets, and occasionally more than ten—features that are quite rare among narcissus plants.

Zhangzhou produces mainly two varieties of narcissus. One is the single-petal type, with six white petals spread outward and a golden-yellow, wineglass-shaped corona in the center, known as “Golden Cup and Silver Stage,” commonly called “Wine Cup Narcissus,” which has a strong, fragrant aroma. The other is the double-petal type, featuring layers of ruffled petals that are pure white on the top and pale yellow at the bottom, elegantly named “Jade Exquisite,” commonly called “Hundred-Leaf Narcissus,” with a slightly lighter scent. Both types are graceful in form, bloom right on time, and are recognized worldwide as the most floriferous and fragrant among the Polyanthus narcissus varieties. Many ancient poets have likened them to the “fragrance of the nation.” The general cultivation method for narcissus is not difficult—as long as there is soil, water, suitable temperature, and enough time, lovely flowers will grow. However, to create lifelike narcissus potted landscapes, meticulous artistic carving is required. Growers and enthusiasts alike have mastered this skill, able to “shape according to form” and carve a wide variety of vivid and exquisite designs, such as “Peaches and Plums Competing in Spring,” “Mandarin Ducks Playing in Water,” “Rooster Announcing Dawn,” “Peacock Spreading Its Tail,” and “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl.” These narcissus potted plants usually bloom around the Lunar New Year, and are thus regarded as symbols of purity, beauty, good fortune, and peace.

The narcissus is pure, elegant, and extraordinary. Standing gracefully amid clear waters like a celestial flower, it is often called the “Fairy of the Ripples.” Its “fragrant and fair form that could captivate any city,” its “refusal to be tainted by mud,” its “fearless spirit,” and its ability to “thrive with just a spoonful of water” and “sing the song of spring year after year” have earned it much praise. Many scholars and celebrities throughout history have composed poems in its honor. The Neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Xi of the Song Dynasty wrote in his poem “Ode to the Narcissus”: “In the depths of winter when all flowers wither, the lone plum blossoms by the river. How is it that beneath the lotus roots, the fragrance of spring also lingers? Lush and verdant like emerald feathered cloaks, tenderly fair as white jade. The yellow crown stands alone, a modest attire of the narcissus…” depicting how, in the cold winter month, only the fragrant narcissus dares to rival the solitary bloom of the winter plum. Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty joyfully wrote in “Two Poems Composed Upon Seeing a Narcissus on My Desk”: “With emerald cape and cypress crown, adorned with white jade, its graceful form never sullies the mud. Poets idly sing of fragrant herbs, unaware of the foremost beauty of the ripple-walking flower.” “Skin of ice and snow, refined face like jade, standing tall as if on Gusu Mountain. While other flowers linger outside the window, why bring them indoors?” praising the narcissus. Many beautiful legends also circulate among the people. During the Lunar New Year, people in Zhangzhou enjoy planting and carving a few pots of narcissus as “New Year offerings,” and frequently hold “Narcissus Exhibitions” that attract many domestic and international tourists. Everyone is enchanted by this vibrant and fragrant city of narcissus, sharing in its beauty and joy.