Top daffodil among displays at Wanganui Horticultural Society spring show

Daffodil grower Wayne Hughes with his award-winning daffodil Sandmere Gold, on the left, and another unnamed daffodil. Photo / Bevan Conley

Whanganui flower enthusiasts will get the chance to see an award-winning daffodil on display this weekend.

Sandmere Gold, bred by Whanganui daffodil grower Wayne Hughes, will be among the displays at the Wanganui Horticultural Society's annual spring show.

The daffodil recently won a first-class certificate - a rarely given high honour - at the North Island spring flower show in Gisborne.

It took Mr Hughes nearly two decades to breed the daffodil to the point where it could be shown. He had to produce 10 blooms to be considered for a first-class certificate.

The spring show, now in its 149th year, will include displays of daffodils and cut flowers. Flower enthusiasts from as far away as New Plymouth, Taihape and Otaki are expected to enter the show.

Mr Hughes said conditions had not been ideal for spring blooms this year.

"It's been a very early season this year. And we've had a lot of bulbs that have produced plenty of leaves but no flowers.

"There's no reason for it - it's just nature," Mr Hughes said.

The spring flower show will be open to the public from 12 noon to 4.30pm this Saturday, September 16, at Whanganui Intermediate School.