Beginners guide to growing Daffodils

Daffodils, the handsome and well known bulbous plants are the essence of spring. The bright golden yellow flowers bloom almost everywhere during Feb-March. Daffodils symbolize friendship because of their exclusive unmatched beauty. They are constantly recurring flowers, where climate is moderate. Daffodils often bloom in clusters. The term Daffodil and Narcissus are synonymous. Daffodil is the common name for all the members of the genus Narcissus (L). The main difference between Daffodil and Narcissus is that Daffodil has a long corona or trumpet shaped structure, while Narcissus has short coronas or cups. Both have a star shaped background. Often the colour of trumpet contrasts from its background.

Botanical name: Narcissus Spp. (L)

Family: Amaryllidaceae

It originates in Europe and the Mediterranean area including Spain & Portugal.

Daffodil uses

Daffodils are excellent for pot plants, cut flower production, for mass planting in public gardens, roundabouts and open spaces for producing colourful spring displays. Daffodils are also suitable for rock gardens, edging and in outdoor containers. Daffodil flowers last long around three weeks in pots and containers. When cut in bud for floral arrangements, they will last in water for a week.

Daffodils have a numerous variety and come in several exciting colours, shapes and forms. Some are double flowers and some come with 3-8 blooms per stem. Some species in Jonquil, Poeticus and Tazetta hybrids are also scented. The miniature type of Daffodils flower earlier than the large cultivars.

Daffodil flowers have two major parts. The back row of six petals is called the perianth (segment) and it varies in size, shape and colour. Attached to this is another row which looks like a tube. This is called cup, corona or trumpet.

Daffodil flowers are yellow or white, sometimes fragrant, erect to drooping, solitary or in umbel of 2-20.The leaves of Daffodils are long, narrow and flat.