My Corner Online

Flower Index Index by Family 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6

Narcissus | Daffodils, Jonquil

First Daffodil blooms:

2017 February 24

2018 March 7

2019 March 17

2020 March 3 (lots of new varieties planted last Autumn!)

2022 March 10 (Also Tete-a-Tete this date) (Squill also started blooming)

2023 February 27 and then March 2

2024 February 25

Narcissus pseudonarcissus | Daffodils, Jonquil

Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis family) (Pronounced am-uh-ril-uh-DAY-see-I)

Pronounced naar-SIS-uhs (named after the myth of a boy with the name who fell in love with is own reflection and loved to admire his own beauty; or a Greek word meaning "to make numb")

Pronounced soodo-narr-SIS-uhs (meaning "seeming to be" and "numb sensation") Why it repeats is unknown to me. This is the most common species, but there are many others.

Pronounced daff-o-dill (derived from asphodel(elus) which is a flower that I do not think looks any similar!)

Pronounced john-qwill (derived from Latin or Spanish "junco" which is a type of reed, similar in leaves.

Daffodils are in thirteen Divisions.

Division 1 – Trumpet (Cup is longer than the length of the petals)

Division 2 – Large Cupped (Cup more than 1/3 length of petals, up to same as length)

Division 3 – Small Cupped (Cup less than 1/3 length of petals)

Division 4 – Double (Double the amount of petals)

Division 5 – Triandrus (two or more flowers on a stem; aka Angels Tears; flowers droop) (tree-AN-drus)

Division 6 – Cyclamineus (petals pushed back like they are blowing in the wind) (SIGH-kluh-min-ee-us; It is also shortened to just Cyclamen (with an 'e' instead of an 'I')

Division 7 – Jonquilla (or Apodanthi; one to five flowers on a stem; fragrant; spreading petals) (Jon-KWUIL-ah)

Division 8 – Tazetta (three to twenty flowers on a stem; aka Bunch-flowered) (ta-ZEET-ta)

Division 9 – Poeticus (Pure white petals; cup flat disc; aka Poet's or Pheasant's Eye) (poe-ET-i-cus)

Division 10 - Bulbocodium (small petals with petticoat hoop-shaped cup) (bulb-oh-KOD-ee-um)

Division 11 – Split corona (a) Collar (2 whorls of 3 each) (b) Papillon (single whorl of 6)

Division 12 – Other, miscellaneous, hybrid

Division 13 – Wild or natural

Varieties vary by size of cup (short (6") or long (16")), a double flower, flowers that hang like bells, petals that look as if they are blown back by the wind, flat petals, number of blooms on a stem, color of cup, a petticoat shape cup, cups that are split so they look more like petals, or miniatures. I need to get out of the big box stores and buy some specialties to have fun learning about Daffodils!

Daffodils are mostly white and yellow, although some hybrids have other colors such as peach.

Bulbs are planted in the Autumn and bloom in the Spring.

Daffodils multiply both asexually (without sex organs, by bulb division) and sexually (by seed produced after pollination).

If the flowers are not dead-headed, a seed pod forms. If you do not want the seeds, it is best to dead-head them and let the leaves die back before removing them. While the leaves are dying back, as in all bulbs, the essential nutrients are pulled back down into the bulb so that it blooms the next year. If the leaves are cut off too soon, the bulb most likely will not bloom the next year.

In my garden, when the Daffodil is in my flower bed, the leaves that are dying back sprawl everywhere and take up too much room in my flower bed at a precious time when I am needing to plant other flowers. I have always gathered them up and but a rubberband over them so they stand upright until they can brown and can be removed. However, I have decided that this is too much work as I get older, especially with the thousands of Daffodils in my beds. I am trying to remove them from my beds and to keep them in the grass instead where they can die back on their own and then merely be mulch mowed over. Learn from me and do not put them in the beds unless you want to care for them into your old age. Put them in the yard instead. In about 2021 we dug up and sold thousands of them and the next year they still came back and now in 2024 we are trying to dig them up yet again. We had the same problem moving Surprise Lilies out of our beds, which also follow the pattern of growth and dying back as Daffodils.

Daffodil bulbs and leaves are poisonous to rodents and squirrels, which keeps the pests away.

Daffodils have petals called "perianth" or "tepals" and you can do an internet search for the difference, which I read as "perianth is the collective term used for calyx and corolla of a flower. When the perianth is indistinguishable into calyx and corolla, it is termed as tepals." I am just going to call them petals!

Daffodils have cups called "corona" mounted on top of the petals. The shape of the corona makes each daffodil variety unique as some have long or short trumpet shapes and some have more frilled edges than others.

Inside the cup (corona) is the stamens (stigma and anthers).

A leaf-like structure beneath and supporting the flower is called the "bract" and is often mistaken for petals. On a Daffodil, the bract is the brownish tissue-paper-like part. It is much like an onion skin. I have seen that brown part so many times and never knew what it is was called!

IN MY GARDEN

Narcissus telamonius plenus | Van Sion Daffodil is on it's own website page and in the video are also the Pink Charm listed below as they were blooming later than when I recorded the above video.

Narcissus 'Ice Follies'

I have had this variety for a long time. I have photos from 2002, so I most likely had them before that time. The Missouri Botanical Gardens list them in Division 2 as "large cupped." My petals are 1 1/2 inches and the cup was only 3/4 inch. One-third of 1.5 is .5, and therefore, my .75 cup is larger than .5 so it does put it in the large cupped division.

When I think of "ice follies," I think of the 1930's ice show, similar to the "ice capades," only it sounds so much more fun! It sure matches when these Daffodils bloom as they are often zapped by sudden freezing temperatures.

Ice Follies Daffodils have white petals and yellow cups and are well known and recognized. Since they are bi-colored, they do not need to be planted with other Daffodils to achieve the popping contrast as they have it all in one.

Narcissus 'Pink Charm'

I absolutely love this Daffodil! Although it says 'pink' in the name, it is very much a soft and lovely peach color cup with white petals. It is the common Division 2 "large cupped." It's blooming time is not early, but rather early-to-mid season.

Narcissus 'Tete-a-Tete'

Narcissus 'Tete-a-Tete' is a miscellaneous daffodil in Division 12. It is a miniature Daffodil at about 6 to 8 inches tall and blooming early. It has one to three buttercup-colored yellow flowers with long and narrow trumpets (coronas). I actually absolutely love this species! I like that it still packs a punch of color, but the miniature size is easy maintenance when allowing the leaves to die back after blooming time is over.

Tête-à-tête is defined as a private conversation or interview, usually between two people. It is also used interchangeably with vis-à-vis. a sofa shaped like an S so two people are able to converse face to face. A Tete-a-Tete daffodil is imagined as being head-to-head just like nodding heads sharing each other stories and secrets. They're friends!

My petal is 1/2 inch and the cup is a 1/2 inch, making them even in size.

Narcissus 'Sailboat'

The Sailboats bloomed with the Grape Hyacinths, so you can see more of them on that page 52.
Sailboat Daffodils are in Division 7 Jonquilla. The petals are spreading or reflexed. The petals are somewhat swept back as if blowing in the wind, hence like the name - sails. The petals are white and the cups are a soft yellow that turns to cream as it matures.

I put this smaller Daffodils behind grape hyacinths as they bloom at the same time and I love it every time! They are miniature Daffodils at a height of 10 to 12 inches high, but not as small as my 'Tete-a-Tete' of 6 to 8 inches high. The petals are white and the cups are a pale yellow. Sailboats blooms early-to-mid season.

2024

This lovely Sailboat Daffodil photo shows how they are like a sail blowing in the wind!

This photo shows the Bract, which I learned about this year.

This shows the bract while it is still green.

I learned how to measure the petals and cups this year. This is the Ice Follies showing 3/4 inch cup.

They almost fit the flat disc type of Daffodil, but they are not that category.

We moved these Daffodils out of the front beds and dug up, yet again, almost all of the Daffodils in the bag beds. I have determined that these need to be in the grass, but the Tete-a-Tetes are better in the beds.

This petal of a Tete-a-Tete is about a half inch.

This cup of a Tete-a-Tete is about a half inch, making it equal with the petal size.

2023

As described above, we tried to dig up and sell, making hundreds of dollars, our Daffodils in our flower beds. A few years later they were stronger than ever! And we used a big shovel and dug deep! We are trying in 2024 yet again to dig them up, throwing away a lot of them.

These are at the street. We have spread them everywhere! This is a good spot for them to die back.

These are in the side bed in the front yard. I may go ahead and leave them in the bed as they look good and I can reach over the wall and rubberband them. Keep it simple.

These are just sell phone photos moreso to document the first blooms. These are Tete-a-Tete Daffodils in the grass outside the flower bed. I really like these as they are SO much easier to maintain. I think I am DONE buying anything but miniature Daffodils.

These are also in a flower bed, but I rather like them there and may leave these where they are located. These Ice Follies must get the best sunlight to allow them to bloom first in my yard over other locations.

2022

Tete-a-Tete and a little bit of Blue Squill showing at the bottom.

These look beautiful in the Spring in my front bed, but I think in 2024 I am going to try to move them out of the bed. They are not too difficult to rubberband up, but I need to think about my future older self. I like these as they are the traditional yellow cup and yellow petal Daffodil that are bright and cheery. I do not have too many of these in my garden. Most that I have are Ice Follies.

This is a good photo of the Ice Follies that have come back after being dug up in the back yard. They are beautiful, but a lot of work to maintain.

This shows the beautiful Pink Charm Daffodils mixed with the Ice Follies in the front side bed. I really love the peach color, even though they are named as pink. The white is so crisp as well. I am not sure why they are not seen in 2024 in this spot. They should still be there, but it is all Ice Follies now. I did move some from the front yard bed to the grass in 2023, but I have not seen them bloom yet in 2024.

As the Daffodils are reaching their end, the Hyacinth are blooming. It's so beautiful!

2021

This is a Tete-a-Tete with the Blue Squill. It is SO small that I have to get down on my hands and knees to appreciate it.

Oh my! The Pink Charm actually looks pink here! I love it! I would get more of them.

2020

These are at the base of our Redbud tree that has since been cut down. It was next to our mailbox. The Sailboat Daffodils work so well with the Grape Hyacinths.

These are Sailboat Daffodils with Grape Hyacinths in front. I absolutely love it!

We have the Sailboat and the Grape Hyacinth in three locations. There were SO many bulbs when we bought them. So much joy. These are small and easier to maintain, although not as small as the Tete-a-Tete.

Tete-a-Tete and Blue Squill. Beautiful!

The Tete-a-Tete's are beautiful lining the walkway!

I lined either side of our walkway with Tete-a-Tete. A few years later, the ones on the right did not survive except closer to the bed. The ones on the left in front of the flower bed are still blooming in 2024, but not in front of the chairs.

2019

2018

2017

2016

Here's a grand example of the Daffodils gathered and rubberbanded as they die back. Some people will tell you that this does not work and inhibits them from getting the nutrients they need for the next year as they die back. I have done this forever and a day and have never had any problems with blooms the next year.

Raindrops will make them droop, but they pop back up!

Daffodils are resilient in the cold weather. Before they bloom, they are not harmed by snow.

2015

However, this is what a hard rain will do to them. They have been pounded into the dirt and will not pop back. On the other hand, a little frost will make them droop, but the sun will pop them back up.