Daffodil

Daffodils are as no-fail as spring-blooming bulbs get. These long-lived beauties go virtually untouched by pests (such as deer and rabbits) and bloom reliably every spring. Cheery daffodils, with their yellow, white, orange, or pink flowers, are one of the surest signs of spring.

Several species have a sweetly pungent aroma. Plant narcissus bulbs in fall at a depth that's 2 1/2 times the bulb diameter. Some narcissus species, from the Mediterranean area, are more drought tolerant. To re-energize the bulbs after bloom, do not trim the foliage until it begins to wither. The plants bulk up on starches manufactured by leaf absorption of sunshine.

Shown above: Hawera daffodil

Light:

Sun, Part Sun

Zones:

3-9

Plant Type:

Bulb

Plant Height:

4 to 20 inches tall

Plant Width:

To 6 inches wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders, Slopes, Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers, Fragrant, Cut Flowers, Drought Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

see slideshow

---

Barrett Browning daffodil

(Narcissus 'Barret Browning') is a small-cupped daffodil that features white petals crisply defined by a frilled orange trumpet. It grows 16 inches tall. Zones 3-9
view >

Narcissus canaliculatus

Narcissus canaliculatus is a wild variety great for warmer climates. It produces clusters of four to six very fragrant, tiny ivory blooms cupped in egg-yolk yellow. The plant grows only 6 inches tall. Zones 6-9
view >

Hawera daffodil

(Narcissus 'Hawera') bears tiny pale yellow trumpets that open on tall stems. The lightly scented blooms open in mid- to late spring. It grows to 8 inches tall. Zones 4-9
view >

Jack Snipe daffodil

(Narcissus 'Jack Snipe') offers pale yellow petals that unfold around a golden-yellow, frilled trumpet. Plants grow 10 inches tall. Zones 4-9
view >

Jetfire daffodil

(Narcissus 'Jetfire') creates a flock of sunshine yellow petals that curl back from the long central cup to give the impression of a jet-propelled flower. This variety grows only 10 inches tall, but makes a big impression in containers. Zones 4-9
view >

Merlin daffodil

(Narcissus 'Merlin') produces six pristine white petals that radiate around a yellow cup haloed in hot red. The flowers open in late spring on plants that grow 16 inches tall. Zones 3-8
view >

Petit Four daffodil

(Narcissus 'Petit Four') features a frilly, double cup of apricot pink with white petals in late spring. The colors show best in a partially shady planting site. The plant grows 16 inches tall. Zones 3-8
view >

Quail daffodil

(Narcissus 'Quail') offers butter-yellow flowers crowned by slightly darker cups that spill their sunny cheer in rock gardens and other crevices in mid to late spring. It grows 14 inches tall. Zones 4-9
view >

Romance daffodil

(Narcissus 'Romance') bears overlapping, snow-white petals that surround a brilliant orange-pink cup. This variety flowers in mid spring and grows 18 inches tall. Zones 3-8
view >

Sentinel daffodil

(Narcissus 'Sentinel') bears a radiant pink and orange cup poised on a background of snow white petals. It grows 16 inches tall. Zones 4-8
view >

Sorbet daffodil

(Narcissus 'Sorbet') has split cups that give the effect of large golden stars. The cup is tipped with orange and superimposed on a background of white petals. This plant grows 16 inches tall. Zones 4-8
view >

Sovereign daffodil

(Narcissus 'Sovereign') bears white petals that form a collar around the large ruffled yellow cup in this split-cup type narcissus. It grows 18 inches tall. Zones 3-9
view >

Tahiti daffodil

(Narcissus 'Tahiti') is a double variety with a yellow and orange-red cup that radiates from the center of the golden yellow flower. It blooms in early to mid-spring and grows 20 inches tall. Zones 3-8
view >

Thalia daffodil

(Narcissus 'Thalia') bears ivory-trumpeted blooms that open in pairs on tall stems and are sweetly scented. They appear in mid-spring. It grows 10 inches tall. Zones 3-8
view >

White Lion daffodil

(Narcissus 'White Lion') offers ruffled, double ivory and golden yellow blooms that look like froth bubbling from the center of the cup. The plant grows 20 inches tall and bloom in mid-spring. Zones 3-8
view >