Daffodils are a well-known springtime bloom that are often a golden yellow tint, although they can also be seen in other hues. There are numerous daffodil varieties that come in a wide spectrum of white, pink, orange, with or without yellow, vivid, and pastel colorations. If you’re looking for something different than the typical yellow daffodil, there are numerous options available. Daffodils also come in a range of flower shapes, bloom dates, and heights.
According to the current classification scheme, there are 12 different categories of daffodils. This system explains how the corona and perianth segments (or petals) are arranged (trumpet or cup). Division 1: Garden-grown trumpet daffodils
One bloom per stem, with a corona that is at least as long as the segments of the perianth. Division 2: Garden-grown, large-cup daffodils
Per stalk, one bloom. More than one-third of the length of the corona, but less than the length of the perianth segments. Division 3: Garden-grown, small-cupped daffodils
Per stalk, one bloom. Corona is only about one-third as long as the perianth. Division 4: Garden-grown double daffodils
One or more flowers on each stem, with the corona or perianth segments, or both, doubled. Division 5: Garden-grown Triandrus flowers
A stem with two or more pendent blooms. Segments of the perianth reacted. Division 6: Garden-grown Cyclamineus flowers
One blossom per stalk is typical. well known for its large trumpets and swept-back petals. Flower with a very short pedicle and an acute angle to the stem (neck).
These are renowned for their fragrant, tubular leaves, and 5-centimeter-wide golden flowers.
3–20 flowers are bundled together on a slender stem. wide leaf blades Flowers smell good. Except in moderate climes, most hybrids are delicate and grown by forcing or in containers.
These are distinguished by their white petals and flat, frilled, bright crimson cups of fragrant flowers; they often bloom later than the other narcissi. Division 10: Uncultivated forms
The tiny and less impressive narcissi, as well as all wild forms and wild hybrids, are all included in this section. There are also wild varieties with double flowers.
When this wildflower from Northern Europe started to be grown as a garden flower in the 1600s, the first white daffodils were created in England. Since then, breeders have kept choosing and crossing daffodils. Unfortunately, a lot of white or reverse bicolor cultivars (those with “Madame de Graff” in their lineage) are particularly vulnerable to root rot and hence do not perform as well as many yellow varieties. Nearly all of the divisions have produced white daffodils.
Even though all-white daffodils don’t have the same vibrant impact as yellow ones, they can nonetheless offer style to many gardens. Even though by the time spring-flowering bulbs begin to bloom, the majority of us are ready to put the winter behind us, many of these cultivars have names that reflect how close their color is to the ice and snow of winter.
cultivars that are all white include:
- Although the corona has some yellow, the Division 11 cultivar “Cassata” is thought to be entirely white. When the flower first blooms, the split cup has a bright yellow color; but, after a few days, it becomes white. It grows well in the garden, is exceedingly floriferous, and is simple to force.
- Each of the little flowers on a stalk from “Ice Wings” has a long trumpet and reflexed petals. This dependable Division 5 option reaches a height of roughly 12 feet.
- When it first blooms, “Jenny” is a strong Division 6 garden performer with milky-white petals and a yellow trumpet; however, it soon becomes creamy white. Early spring brings blossoms to this little collection (8–10).
- Deep inside the cup, “Misty Glen” is a pearly white with a green eye. This hardy, late-blooming Division 2 cultivar, developed in England and released in 1976, is also an excellent cut flower.
- Long trumpeted all-white cultivar “Mount Hood” is an older (it dates back to the 1930s) but still well-liked variety. In bright sun, some flowers, especially those that start out very pale yellow, may quickly turn white. This dependable Division 1 daffodil blooms in the middle of spring and grows 10–16 tall.
- Triandrus type (Division 5) ‘Thalia’ has one to three stems of pure white flowers in the middle of spring. The little cup-shaped flowers on the delicate pendants have slender petals. The 10–16 plants thrive in groups and have a good propensity to become perennial. One of the few daffodils that thrive in the Deep South is this cultivar, an heirloom variety.
Varieties with white perianth segments with yellow or orange coronas, for instance, include:
- Division 9’s “Actea” is a well-known cultivar with broad, flat white perianth segments and a shallow yellow cup with a crimson edging. These smell quite pleasant and are suitable for cutting.
- Division 2 daffodil ‘Ice Follies’ has enormous, 10–12-inch blooms. When mature, the cup’s creamy, lemon-yellow tint turns to white and is crinkled or ruffled around the edges. It blooms in the middle of spring and is suitable for forcing or naturalizing.
- With the same pure white perianth but a double lemon-yellow corona, “Ice King” is essentially a double variant of “Ice Follies.” The pleated trumpet also turns creamy white with age.
- ‘Las Vegas’ and ‘Ice Follies’ are quite similar, but ‘Las Vegas’ has a longer and darker yellow trumpet. This Division 1 cultivar grows to be 18 to 24 tall with aromatic blossoms.
- Division 11 daffodil “Sovereign” has a large, ruffled yellow-orange split corona that nearly hides the white perianth. With bigger flowers and better color and shape than the well-known “Orangery,” this is an upgrade.
Use your imagination if you desire a pink daffodil because most cultivars listed as pink in catalogs tend to include a hint of yellow, making them more of an apricot or peach color rather than a genuine pink (despite the photos). For the greatest color, plant the bulbs in partial shade because full sun causes many pink daffodils to quickly fade. Many businesses sell blends or mixtures of five or more pink daffodil varietals. Here are a few commercially available cultivars with pinkish coronas and white perianth segments:
- With a ruffled rim and a pink to salmon trumpet, “Accent” (right) maintains its vibrant color even in direct sunlight. It blooms in mid-spring, grows to a height of 16 to 18 inches, and is a wonderful naturalizer. It was the 1995 recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
- Bell Song has two fragrant, pink-cupped flowers per stem. In late spring, it forms a good cut bloom and reaches 8–14 tall.
- As the first pink variety, “Mrs. R.O. Backhouse” is an heirloom daffodil that was released in 1921. It was created by Englishman Robert O. Backhouse, who gave it the name Sarah Elizabeth after his wife, a fellow daffodil grower. The cup starts off being a delicate peachy pink that ages to a gorgeous blush.
- “Pink Charm” features a soft white ruffled cup with a coral-pink rim and all-white perianth segments on all sides. Mid-spring sees the 12–16 plants’ 3–4 blooms blossom. This cultivar grows well in the wild.
- The cultivar “Precocious” was developed in America and has big, dark rose pink cups. It is a robust grower and has garnered numerous awards at the Keukenhof display garden in the Netherlands.
- With salmony-pink spots on the double-ruffled corona portions, “Replete” is a double. They begin with yellow-orange tones that progressively mellow into a rose-pink color, as is the case with most “pink kinds. Plants have four-flowered, 12–16-inch tall growths.
- Another vintage type with an apricot to coral trumpet is called “Salom.” The aged pastel hue contrasts beautifully with the perianth’s pure white hue. This mid-spring blooming reaches heights of 14–16.
There are numerous types of yellow daffodils that blend yellow perianth segments with orange or “red coronas (“red daffodils are ones that have orange-red cups”) if you want yellow but don’t want plain yellow:
- The cups on “Berlin” are extremely broad, flattened, ruffled, and orange-edged.
- The extra-large Division 2 daffodil “Fortissimo” has 16 plants and a beautiful deep orange trumpet with a hint of frill.
- Division 4 selection “Tahiti” has smaller double orange corona segments and double golden perianth segments.
- Division 1 cultivar “Unsurpassable” is comparable to “Fortissimo.”
Of course, in addition to those mentioned above, there are a huge number of additional cultivars of daffodils in colors other than yellow, and new variations are continually being created and made available for purchase.
How many petals are there on a daffodil?
One of the brightest indications of spring are daffodils. They all belong to the genus Narcissus, whether you call them jonquils, paperwhites, daffodils, or narcissus. The nursery industry offers more than 13,000 different hybrids.
The timing of daffodils contributes to their popularity. From late March to early May, they emerge, breaking up the monotony of winter and illuminating the surroundings. Additionally, once planted, they take very little maintenance and are exceedingly simple to grow. They are durable and adaptable. Since the bulbs are poisonous, deer and rodents won’t touch them. They also make excellent cut flowers, and many types have wonderful fragrances.
Flower arranging tip
It is believed that the sap from chopped daffodil stems reduces the vase life of other flowers that are combined with them. Use them by themselves in a vase, trim them and let them sit in a vase for a few hours before changing the water and adding other flowers, or use a flame to seal the stems.
Planting and care
Simple planting and maintenance instructions are provided. Daffodils thrive in either direct sunlight or dappled shade. Put them in drifts throughout your perennial garden or let them naturalize beneath deciduous trees and bushes. They favor soil that is neutral or acidic and has good drainage. Plant the bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep, based on their size. Generally speaking, space bulbs 3 times their breadth and plant them 3 times their depth (4 to 12 inches).
When planting, amend the soil with a balanced fertilizer or a fertilizer for bulbs. Before removing leaves in the spring, give it at least 6 weeks to remain. The foliage needs to photosynthesize in order to return energy to the bulb, therefore don’t bind or wrap it. As clumps become dormant in the summer, you may need to move or divide them. Be sure to relocate while the foliage is still visible to prevent cutting through bulbs.
There are a few reasons why your daffodils can stop blooming: the setting might be too dark (they don’t like to sit in moist soil), drainage might be inadequate, the foliage might have been cut down too soon, or the plants might require fertilization. When the foliage appears in the spring and once more when the daffodils start to bloom, fertilize an existing planted by adding granular fertilizer. They are fairly self-sufficient, so you don’t need to fertilize them yearly.
A trumpet or cup (the corona) surrounded by six petals makes up a daffodil (the perianth). Based on blossom size and shape, the American Daffodil Society has divided cultivars into 13 groups. Selecting the best daffodils for your yard will be easier if you are aware of these divides. Daffodils come in early, mid, and late flowering kinds, allowing you to enjoy three months of blooms in your garden.
Division 1: Trumpet Daffodils
These daffodils are the standard; they have enormous flowers with coronas that are long and trumpet-shaped. Each solitary flower has a trumpet (corona) that is equal to or longer than the perianth. In Zones 3 to 7, they are great naturalizers. They bloom in the early to mid-season. The most well-known of this group, the famed golden-yellow “King Alfred,” is a classy option. The actual thing can only be found from specialized growers. Numerous more recent variants are also spectacular. Arctic Gold, Dutch Master, Las Vegas, Lorikeet, Mount Hood, Rijnveld’s Early Sensation, Silent Valley, and Spellbinder are a few cultivars.
Division 2: Large-Cupped Daffodils
This group includes the vast majority of contemporary daffodils. These single blooms have cups (coronas) that are longer than one-third of the length of the petals but not quite as long (perianth). They come in every shade of yellow, from white to pale pink, and cover the entire spectrum of color seen in daffodils. There are several cultivars, including “Accent,” “Ambergate,” “Carlton,” “Delibes,” “Fortissimo,” “Fragrant Rose,” “Kissproof,” “Louise de Coligny,” “Misty Glen,” “Pink Charm,” “Romance,” “Salome,” “Scarlett O’Hara,” and “Serola.”
Division 3: Small-Cupped Daffodils
These are often more delicate and smaller than large-cupped daffodils. Each solitary flower has a cup that can extend up to one-third the length of the perinath. A lot of people adapt nicely. After All, Barrett Browning, Birma, Dreamlight, Edna Earle, Mint Julep, Polar Ice, Sabine Hay, and Sinopel are a few cultivars.
Division 4: Double Daffodils
Each stalk has one or more flowers, and the corona, perianth, or both are doubled. Doubles have flowers that resemble gardenias. Many have several flowers on each stem and a great smell. Abba, Acropolis, Bridal Crown, Cheerfulness, Erlicheer, Ice King, Manly, Replete, Rosy Cloud, Sir Winston Churchill, and Tahiti are a few cultivars.
Division 5: Triandrus Daffodils
These daffodils feature heads that droop and petals that reflex, or curl backward. They can be highly aromatic and often have several flowers on each stem, mimicking fuchsias. Fairy Chimes, Ice Wings, Katie Heath, Petrel, Stint, Thalia, and Tresamble are a few cultivars.
Division 6: Cyclamineus Daffodils
These little daffodils bloom earlier than other daffodils and can handle shaded areas and thick soils easier. Typically, the flowers have a large cup that angles sharply toward the stem. These cultivars have petals that retract, giving them cyclamen-like appearance. They work well as plants in rock gardens. February Gold, Foundling, Itzim, Greenlet, Jack Snipe, Jetfire, and Peeping Tom are a few cultivars.
Division 7: Jonquilla Daffodils
These daffodils feature small, shallow cups and up to 5 blossoms per stem. They are renowned for their scent and foliage that is shaped like a cylinder of reeds. Zones 5 through 9 are suitable for growing jonquils, which thrive in the South. The cultivars “Dickcissel,” “Fruit Cup,” “Golden Echo,” “Hillstar,” “Intrigue,” “Kedron,” “Pappy George,” “Pipit,” “Stratosphere,” and “Sweetness” are among them.
Division 8: Tazetta Daffodils
These typically fragrant daffodils favor warmer climates (Zones 5 to 9). This category includes the paperwhites that we cultivate inside. They typically produce up to 20 flowers per stem and are floriferous. They feature circular petals and tiny cups. Avalanche, Canarybird, Falconet, Geranium, Hoopoe, Inbal, and Scarlet Gem are a few cultivars.
Divizion 9: Poeticus Daffodils
These daffodils have huge, white petals, tiny, red-rimmed cups, and a spicy scent. They are typically solitary flowers. They blend in well. The wild pheasant eye daffodil is the parent plant of poeticus daffodils (Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus). Actaea, Dactyl, Green Pearl, Milan, Pheasant Eye, and Felindre are cultivars.
Division 10: Bulbocodium Daffodils
These little daffodils feature big trumpets and tiny petals. They are also known as hoop-petticoat daffodils. The species Narcissus bulbocodium var. conspicuus is the progenitor of this group. The cultivars “Golden Bells,” “Greenlet,” “Kenellis,” and “Spoirot” are some examples.
Division 11: Split-Corona Daffodils
This division results in huge, striking flowers by splitting the corona of these typically solitary flowers along more than half of its length. This section is divided into two categories: collar types with frilly or ruffled cups and papillon types with an open cup resembling a butterfly. The cut blossoms from these daffodils are wonderful. The cultivars “Cassata,” “Colblanc,” “Mondragon,” “Orangery,” “Palmares,” “Rosado,” and “Tripartite,” as well as “Broadway Star,” “Lemon Beauty,” “Papillon Blanc,” “Sorbet,” and “Space Shuttle,” are just a few examples.
Division 12: Miscellaneous Daffodils
These daffodils don’t belong in any other categories. They are frequently combined with miniatures and many of them are little. The cultivars “Bittern,” “Jumblie,” “Quince,” “Royal Tern,” and “Tte—Tte” are among them.
Division 13: Species and Naturally Occurring Hybrids
Many of these untamed species and the natural hybrids they produce are rather small. It is recommended to cultivate them in a rock garden or tiny bed so that you can readily appreciate their gorgeous flowers. They go well with some of the below-listed tiny daffodils. Narcissus jonquilla, N. obvallaris, N. pseudonarcissus, and N. triandrus albus are among the species.
Miniatures
These daffodils have blossoms that are under 11/2 inches long and no taller than 6 inches. Minis are divided into other categories based on the flower’s shape. There are several cultivars, including “Baby Moon,” “Hawera,” “Little Gem,” “Midget,” “Minnow,” and “Sundial.”