Description

Narcissus odorus plenus, widely known as Van Sion or the Double Campernelle, is a deep golden, fully double heritage daffodil with a long and storied presence in Irish and British gardens, dating back to the early 17th century. Its blooms are densely ruffled and layered, forming irregular, character-rich rosettes that open with hints of chartreuse and mature to a saturated golden yellow, offering visual energy, structure, and timeworn charm.

This cultivar reaches a comfortable 30–35 cm in height and flowers early to mid-spring, often emerging just after the earliest species daffodils and bringing with it a strong, sweet, almost honeyed fragrance that fills the surrounding air on sunny days. The plant’s rugged constitution and ability to thrive across a variety of Irish soil types — including heavier clays and thin grassland soils — make it an excellent candidate for heritage estate gardens, historical replanting schemes, orchard floors, churchyards, and rural civic spaces where long-term persistence and vintage aesthetic are valued.

Odorus plenus naturalises gradually but reliably, forming compact clumps that return with vigour. Its dense, tousled blooms bring a unique, informal texture to old-style cottage gardens, cultural or commemorative landscapes, and historically themed planting designs, especially when used as a foil to finer-textured early bulbs. Despite its full double form, it retains partially exposed inner segments, offering limited but useful nectar access to hoverflies and small early pollinators, particularly in warm, sheltered garden microclimates.

For planting synergy and ecological succession, consider pairing it with Scilla siberica, or Fritillaria meleagris, especially in partially shaded garden corners, beneath mature fruit trees, or in sunlit woodland borders. Its bold, historical form and scent make it an excellent feature in heritage-themed municipal beds, sensory school gardens, or restoration-driven planting projects where ornamental and educational value intersect.

Durable, fragrant, and bursting with historical personality, Narcissus odorus plenus is an invaluable bulb for cultural landscapes, biodiversity-adjacent gardens, and spring schemes that celebrate resilience and legacy.