Daffodils (Narcissus)

Daffodils Over Tulips

I love tulips. But tulips don't love me. Daffodils are different. Plant the bulbs in early autumn (zone 7a); they'll reward you spring after spring.

Daffodils increase their flowers and bulbs. Unlike tulips. Cultivated tulips are expensive though some gardeners suggest growing them like annuals. Sure, money bags.

Daffodils are scented. It's elusive outdoors. But cut some to bring indoors. Smell it's delicate, clean perfume. It's the essence of spring.

Top that, tulips.

A Daffodil Reverie

In my fantasy garden I grow daffodils/narcissus with reckless abandon. Jonquils, heirlooms, yellow, white and bicolor. Pink? Double? Doubtful.

Lavish daffodil bouquets sit atop every indoor table. Filling the house with spring's freshness.

Fantasies are meant to be grand.

In reality, I wanted to grow more daffodils. I didn't have the space for my grand plans. But I was pleased with the three cultivars I grew.

Daffodils I grew in my garden:

Daffodil (Narcissus 'Mount Hood')

Daffodil (Narcissus 'Holland Sensation')

Daffodil (Narcissus 'Unsurpassable')

I especially loved how 'Mount Hood' flowers opened with an egg yolk colored trumpet that gracefully aged to white. So the two toned flower with a short ruffled trumpet transformed into an elegant all white.

'Mount Hood' bloomed first and was the most robust. 'Holland Sensation' bloomed last and was the most tender of the three. Sunshine yellow 'Unsurpassable' fills the gap between the two.

Daffodils grew in several of my neighbors' gardens. I snapped a few photos in my walk arounds. That's when I encountered double daffodils (Narcissus 'White Explosion'). I'm ambivalent. Is a daffodil a daffodil without a trumpet? Hmmm.

Wild Heirloom Daffodils: Botanical Endurance

These wild heirloom daffodils endured long after the garden and gardener.

While walking around taking photos in a not so picturesque office park, I spotted these lovely specimens growing unseen at the edge of a parking lot (I saw them because I'm nosier than most when it comes to plants).

As yellow is daffodil's default color, I skipped the maddening work of cultivar identification. I declined going down that rabbit hole.

The freaky look of 'Van Sion' compelled me to find out if it's a mutation or not. Is it even a daffodil? Yes, it's a daffodil. Rare today but popular centuries ago.

Daffodil (Narcissus 'Van Sion')

Why Grow Daffodils

It's hard to name a favorite flower when you're a flower fiend. But daffodils are at the top of the list. Why? They're the first showy flower in late winter or early spring. Daffodils don't have the color range of tulips or ranunculus. That's okay. I'm good with yellow, white and cream.

• Easy to grow

• Reliably flower every year (will likely outlive the gardener who planted them)

• Deer and squirrels won't eat them

• Perennialize and multiply their flowers and bulbs (leave foliage after flowers fade; this feeds the bulbs)

• Inexpensive and hardy compared to tulips

• Flowers bloom in many forms and sizes

• Lovely, long lasting cut flowers