Understand
Hever Castle prepares to display a new variety of daffodil
Overview
Five thousand bulbs of a new daffodil variety named 'Hever Castle' are being planted at Hever Castle in Kent in preparation for spring. The new flower is the result of a collaboration between the estate's head gardener, Neil Miller, and award-winning daffodil expert Johnny Walkers. Local gardening enthusiasts helped staff plant the bulbs, which were grown in Lincolnshire trial beds, hoping the new traditional yellow variety will eventually rival the historic King Alfred daffodil.
Key points
- Five thousand bulbs of a new daffodil variety called 'Hever Castle' are being planted at Hever Castle.
- The new variety was created through a collaboration between head gardener Neil Miller and daffodil expert Johnny Walkers.
- The bulbs were grown in trial beds in Lincolnshire before being sent to the Kent estate.
- Johnny Walkers is a 25-time gold medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show and has advised Hever Castle for a decade.
- Local gardening enthusiasts assisted staff in planting the bulbs ahead of the winter season.
- Gardeners hope the new deep yellow flower will become as iconic as the historic King Alfred variety associated with the estate.