Balmoral
Classification:
2 Y-Y[ Large-Cupped ]
Season:
Mid-Season
Height:
Standard - 32.5 to 67.5 cm (12.8 to 26.6 in)
Year of first flowering:
1927
Hybridizer:
Registered:
Yes, 1935
Seed Parent: 
Pilgrimage 2 Y-Y 
The Brodie of Brodie, Scotland
Year Registered: 1918
Pilgrim x Broadford
Pilgrimage
Pollen Parent: 
141/22 [ 319/13 Seedling (
Beacon 3 W-R 
Rev. G.H. Engleheart, England
Year Registered: 1897
Princess Mary x (N. poeticus var. recurvus x poet ?)
Beacon
x
Broadford 1 Y-Y 
The Brodie of Brodie, Scotland
Year Registered: 1913
King Alfred x Lord Roberts
Broadford
) x
Fortune 2 Y-O 
Walter T. Ware, England
Year Registered: 1917
Sir Watkin x Blackwell
Fortune
]
Seedling Number:
30/27
Fertility:
Seed fertile
Used as parent:
4 times as seed
Comments

Fl. 120 mm wide; perianth segments very broad, blunt or rounded at apex, sometimes slightly truncate, very slightly mucronate, chrome yellow, with a deeper tone at base, spreading, smooth, overlapping half; the inner segments narrower, without apparent mucro, somewhat inflexed, with margins wavy; corona cylindrical, slightly deeper in tone than the perianth, with mouth flared and lightly frilled, rim crenate.

RHS Year Book 1938, page 119, states Balmoral was given an Award of Merit as an exhibition flower by the Royal Horticultural Society and quotes: “The Award states: Narcissus “Balmoral” A.M. April 12, 1938. As a variety for exhibition (fig 19). A fine, large, well-poised, Incomparabilis variety (Division 2A) with exceptionally broad segments. The chrome-yellow flower, in which the corona was of a slightly deeper shade than the perianth, was 4-3/4 inches in diameter, borne on a stout 21 inch stem. The smooth segments were 1-7/8 inch long, the outer ones being no less than 2-1/8 inches broad. The neat corona was just over 1-3/4 inch long, expanding gradually towards the mouth, which was 2-1/8 inches in diameter. Raised by the Brodie of Brodie and shown by Mr. J.L. Richardson.”

According to New Zealand Daffodil Historian, John Hunter, the stock of ‘Balmoral’ was sold by the Brodie of Brodie under the number 30/27 to J. Lionel Richardson, Prospect House, Waterford, Ireland. Richardson cataloged, named and registered ‘Balmoral’ in 1935 and it was from him some of the variety was purchased by Alan Gibson of New Zealand. It is from Gibson’s commercial stock of ‘Balmoral’ that the bulb sent had its beginnings here. Gibson’s catalog of 1936/7 has a description as follows: ‘Balmoral’ – An outstanding Giant Incomparabilis, with an immensely broad overlapping perianth of great substance and a large cup nicely frilled at mouth. The whole flower is a uniform clear deep yellow, a tall vigorous plant. 8 pounds each.

Origin of Name

The name Balmoral is Gaelic for “majestic dwelling”.

Click on the thumbnail to see the full size photos or historic images  

BalmoralBalmoral, 2 Y-Y, The Brodie of Brodie, Scotland, 1935
Photo #31279 RHS Yearbook, England