A new daffodil variety, Narcissus Gardeners' Corner, has been created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of BBC Radio Ulster's Gardeners' Corner. The flower, white with a pink trumpet, was bred by Brian Duncan, a renowned daffodil breeder based near Omagh.

Mr. Duncan, who is in his 90s and has been breeding daffodils for six decades, said the process of creating a new daffodil is about aiming for perfection and takes time. Narcissus Gardeners' Corner originated from a cross between Amazing Grace and Cape Point in 2001 and has been successfully grown in both Northern Ireland and Holland. Mr. Duncan describes it as a beautifully-formed daffodil with pure white wide petals and a delightful pink-rimmed corona.

In 2022, Brian Duncan received the Victoria Medal of Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society in recognition of his breeding work, an honor limited to 63 horticulturists at any given time. Gardeners' Corner presenter David Maxwell hailed the new daffodil as a great honor, noting the program's established place in BBC Radio Ulster's schedule and its value to listeners.

The bulbs of the Narcissus Gardeners' Corner will be harvested in the summer and distributed to public gardens in the autumn. David Maxwell emphasized the hopefulness, expectation, and renewal associated with planting bulbs, making the daffodil an appropriate symbol for the season and its possibilities.

Ireland has a rich heritage of daffodil breeding, with varieties like Causeway Sunset, Irish Charm, Finn McCool, and Paddy's Legacy. Last year, international growers visited Northern Ireland to admire the spring flowers. Gardeners' Corner, which succeeded Ulster Garden (started in April 1954), first aired in June 1985. The Narcissus Gardeners' Corner will be officially launched on this weekend's program, available on BBC Sounds.