The Angel Daffodil was first created 17 years ago and named after the Angel of the North due to its orange, rusty hue and lofty height.
Verified and registered by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the first bulb created took five years to flower, with a number of small bulblets produced from the original.
The resulting blooms have been shown at flower shows across the UK and have won a number of awards, including a first at Harrogate Show. Angel Daffodils have also been on display at the Saltwell Park spring garden event in Gateshead, as part of the celebrations for the Angel of the North’s tenth birthday.
Now dozens of mother bulbs have been produced commercially for the first time in honour of the Angel of the North’s birthday – although all are now ordered by buyers. Several have also been given away in Gateshead Council competitions.
61 year-old Rae Beckwith, who is also a RHS judge for the Britain in Bloom competition, is the flower’s creator.
He said: “Horticulture really is a labour of love for me and I enjoy creating new and unusual plant species. But having worked in Gateshead all my life, the Angel Daffodil holds a special place in my heart.
“When I first created the seed, I knew the flower would be extremely tall and a deep copper colour because of its parentage. The Angel of the North had just been unveiled and it immediately provided the inspiration for my flower’s name. It’s a great honour to see it now being used to celebrate the Angel’s birthday.”
Linda Green, Gateshead Council’s cabinet member for culture, said: “The Angel Daffodil is extremely beautiful and making it available to the public to purchase is a unique way to mark the Angel’s tenth birthday celebrations. Hopefully it will go on to provide pleasure for those who plant it for years to come.”
For more information on the Angel of the North’s tenth anniversary celebrations visit
www.itsmyangel.com