![]() |
| Tete-a-Tete Miniature Daffodil |
The Somewhat Mysterious Origins of Tete-a-Tete
Because of its mixed parentage Tete-a-Tete is classified as a Division 12 miscellaneous daffodil of garden origin. According to an article on BotanyBoy.org, Tete-a-Tete is an allotriploid hybrid,meaning it has more than two ancestral parents and an extra pair of chromosomes. N.'cyclataz',an heirloom hybrid of N.tazetta 'Grand Soleil D'or' and N. cyclamineus was revealed by testing to be the seed parent of Tete-a-Tete. Its pollen parent remains unknown because Tete-a-Tete was a happy accident rather than the result of an intentional cross by a daffodil breeder. Because its DNA reveals a lot of cyclamineus gene markers it seems likely that the pollen parent was also a cyclamineus type,either the species or a garden hybrid.
Tete-a-Tete definitely has the typical flower form of a cyclamineus daffodil with reflexed petals and long cups. Like its tazetta ancestors and unlike its cyclamineus parent Tete-a-Tete blooms in clusters, especially the first year after planting.
Tete-a-Tete is a Proven Garden Performer
I have grown Tete-a-Tete since 1999 and the original patch still blooms faithfully every year. It was the only daffodil to escape unscathed when my garden was pretty much destroyed by storms over the last few years. Three years ago I added another 100 bulbs to the front of the flower bed and they have also established nicely.
![]() |
| Tete-a-Tete Daffodils Planted In 1999 |
Tete-a-Tete is usually the first
daffodil to bloom in my garden and 2013 was no exception. I was lucky
enough to have this daffodil in bloom during the early ,mid-season
and late blooming periods this year. Rainy,weather delayed my
autumn bulb planting and many did not make it to the garden until a week before Christmas.The new bulbs bloomed a few weeks later
than normal pushing the blooms well into the mid season.
In mid January I found a box of
unidentified bulbs behind a book shelf. These were obviously
leftovers from fall planting. There were about a dozen of them and
they were all alive so I planted them in an old,unattractive plastic
pot I had lying around. The bulbs turned out to be Ice Follies and
Tete-a-Tete. They began blooming around the first of April. Cool conditions kept the flowers coming until April
20th.
Tete-a-Tete Is A Foolproof Choice For the Daffodil Garden and Containers
![]() |
Tete-a-Tete also performs beautifully as a container plant either alone or in a mixed planting with larger daffodils,tulips or hyacinths and smaller bulbs like crocus,iris reticulata and scilla. Pansies and violas also make great container mates for miniature daffodils.
Plant lots and lots of these little bulbs this fall and and you will not be disappointed with the late winter show they will give you. Plant some a little later than the normal daffodil planting time to extend the Tete-a-Tete season.





