Daffodils: Types, Planting, Care and Vase Rules

Daffodils are among the first garden flowers of spring: yellow, white or cream, often with an orange or pink cup. They are easy to grow, come back in the same spot for years and are rarely touched by rodents. But they have one quirk worth knowing before you make a bouquet: their sap harms other cut flowers. More flowers with photos, names and meanings are in our types of flowers guide. This is a birth month flower; see March flowers.

Spring flowers: tulips and potted plants.

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Types of daffodils

The genus Narcissus belongs to the amaryllis family. There are several dozen wild species and tens of thousands of cultivars; the international register is kept by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Garden daffodils are grouped into 13 divisions by flower shape.

• Trumpet — the trumpet is at least as long as the petals; the classic yellow daffodil.
• Large- and small-cupped — the cup is longer or shorter than a third of the petals, often in a contrasting colour.
• Double — full flowers with many petals.
• Tazetta — several fragrant flowers per stem; this group includes Paperwhite, which blooms indoors without chilling.
• Poeticus — white petals and a small flat cup rimmed in red.
• Cyclamineus, Jonquilla, Triandrus — miniature types for rock gardens and containers.

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Planting and care

Plant the bulbs in autumn, from mid-September to late October, so they can root before the frost. Set them two to three bulb heights deep and 10–15 cm apart, in sun or light shade and in loose soil that does not stay waterlogged.

• After flowering remove only the flower stalk and leave the foliage until it turns yellow (about six weeks): this is when the bulb stores energy for next year.
• One feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring is enough; do not use fresh manure.
• Every 4–5 years lift the clumps in summer, divide and replant them, otherwise the flowers get smaller.
• Tazetta types can be forced in pots without chilling; other daffodils need a cold period.

Daffodils in a bouquet: the main rule

A cut daffodil stem releases a slimy sap that clogs the stems of other flowers, so tulips and roses next to fresh daffodils wilt sooner. That is why freshly cut daffodils go into a separate vase for 6–12 hours first. After that they can join a mixed arrangement, but do not recut the stems, or the sap will flow again.

• Cut the flowers at the “goose neck” stage, when the bud is coloured and bent over.
• Use cool water and change it every day.
• Daffodils usually last about a week in a vase. For spring decorating ideas, see “Spring home decor with flowers”.

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Safety

All parts of the daffodil are poisonous, especially the bulbs: never mistake them for onions or store them next to food. The sap can irritate skin, so gloves are handy when you handle a lot of stems. Keep the plants away from cats and dogs.

Daffodils in culture

The name is linked to the Greek myth of Narcissus, the youth who fell in love with his own reflection. The daffodil is one of the symbols of Wales and is worn on St David’s Day, 1 March. Ukraine has its own natural wonder: the Valley of Narcissi near Khust in Zakarpattia, where the narrow-leaved daffodil, listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, blooms from late April into May. Picking the wild flowers there is prohibited.

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FAQ

When should I plant daffodils?

In autumn, from mid-September to late October. In spring you can only plant daffodils grown in pots.

Why did my daffodils not flower?

Most often the leaves were cut too early, the clumps have not been divided for years, or the spot is too shady.

Can I put daffodils with tulips?

Yes, if you condition the daffodils on their own for 6–12 hours first and do not recut the stems afterwards. More about tulips: “Tulip varieties and colours”.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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