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Narcissus

Narcissus, also known as daffodils, return year after year as long as the soil is well drained and the foliage is allowed to die back naturally every season. Cheerful and reliable for beds, borders, cutflowers, forcing, and naturalizing. Use our handy Narcissus Chart to choose the right ones for your garden!

Narcissus

Narcissus, also known as daffodils, are found around the foundations of abandoned homesteads because they return year after year as long as the soil is well drained and the foliage is allowed to die back naturally every season. Deer and other critters are unlikely to eat them, as they are toxic to animals and people. Cheerful and reliable for beds, borders, cutflowers, forcing, and naturalizing.

Narcissus thrive in full sun and some (where noted in descriptions) do well in dappled shade. Pink, orange and red varieties hold their color longest in dappled shade or during cool wet springs. In a dry season, water late varieties in midspring to ensure bloom. Hardy in Zones 3–8, except where noted. 12–14cm bulb size, unless specified.

Daffodils in Mixed Arrangements

Daffodils make great cutflowers, and last a long time in the vase, but the freshly cut stems exude a sap that clogs the pores of other types of flowers. If you want a mixed arrangement, place the freshly cut daffodil stems in a container of cool water to soak for 10–12 hours before mixing them with others.

Are they Daffodils, Jonquils or Narcissi? Yes!

Confused by the different terms used to describe these familiar flowers? They are all in the genus Narcissus, so calling them that is perfectly fine, just as we say Crocus or Iris.

Narcissus, Narcissuses and Narcissi are all acceptable as the plural, so use the one you like. ‘Daffodil’ was first used in Wales and England to refer to certain wild forms. It is now used to refer either specifically to the Trumpet class, or generally to mean any type of Narcissus. ‘Jonquil’ is also used to refer generally to any type of Narcissus, especially in the South where jonquils thrive. Horticulturists use it to refer to the wild Narcissus jonquilla and its progeny, the Jonquilla class of cultivars. So, really, all of these terms are fine.