Narcissus flowers are beautiful, low-maintenance plants. For a beautiful daffodil display in spring, get planting in the fall. Lorin Nielsen will share our best daffodil care tips here and provide a full growing guide.We all love the early flowers of the spring months. Start in the fall to produce those gorgeous displays. Narcissus flowers are high on that list.
Daffodils, jonquils, and narcissus are all from the same genus of plant, and are easy plants to care for. These produce bright, showy flowers in sunny spots, delighting the eyes. And a few even produce a sweet scent, too!
Excited to see narcissus flowers springing up after a cold winter? You’re not alone. Read on to discover exactly how to have this prolific spring surprise appear!The genus Narcissus covers a lot of ground and includes a wide number of plants. The American Daffodil Society has established thirteen separate divisions of narcissus. These divisions are usually based on the shape of the flower, as it’s the easiest identifier.Narcissus as a species is native to regions in Europe and North Africa, with a primary concentration in Spain and Portugal. These bulbous plants thrive in a variety of habitats, ranging from meadows and woodlands to rocky slopes and riverbanks, depending on the species.
They are particularly well-suited to Mediterranean climates, characterized by wet winters and dry summers. Due to their striking blooms and adaptability, they have been widely cultivated and naturalized in many parts of the world over time.Narcissus flowers have three basic components. At the back of the flower is the hypanthium, sometimes referred to as the floral tube. This is the point at which the flower joins the stem. Tepals, or the petals that form the base of the flower, sit low on the perianth (base) of the flower. Finally in the center is the corona, which forms the well-known tube or trumpet-like shape. Most people identify narcissus, daffodils, or jonquils solely from that corona. Some varieties are more distinctively-shaped than others, but they’re all beautiful! Miniature cultivars can fall into any of the American Daffodil Society’s divisions. These are usually hybrids or crossbreeds which have been cultivated for their size.
The divisions currently in use include the following list.
Trumpet daffodils: These have a large corona or “trumpet” in the center of the flower with petals as long as the outer tepals, with one flower per stem.
Large-cupped daffodils: One flower to a stem, large corona which is more than a third of the length of the outer tepals but shorter.
Small-cupped daffodils: One flower per stem, small corona which is less than a third the length of the outer tepals.
Double daffodils: One or more flowers per stem, has doubling of the outer perianth tepals or the corona or both.
Triandrus daffodils: Two or more flowers per stem, has the distinct look of Narcissus triandrus with slightly backward-flexed perianth tepals.
Cyclamineus daffodils: One flower per stem, perianth tepals bent backwards from the corona, distinct Narcissus cyclamineus look.
Jonquilla daffodils: One to five flowers per stem typical, corona may be cup, funnel, or flared in shape, wider than long, and may be scented.
Tazetta daffodils: Three to twenty flowers per thick stem, usually fragrant, with perianth tepals curling slightly forward.
Poeticus daffodils: white perianth tepals with a disc-shaped or short corona, has characteristics of Narcissus poeticus.
Bulbocodium hybrids: One flower per stem usually, extremely large corona with minimal perianth tepals
Split-cupped collar or papillon daffodils: Two variations (collar or papillon) of daffodil with split corona rather than tubed.
Other daffodil cultivars: Narcissi that don’t fall into the above categories, usually inter-category hybrids.
Daffodils distinguished by botanical name only: Species, wild variants, and wild hybrids found outside established gardens.