Whether you’re interested in daffodil varieties for your spring garden, or bulbs to force indoors for dazzling color, you’re in luck! Today I have information on daffodils that never disappoint. If you love them as much as I do, stick around.
The earliest known references to daffodils is found in the writings of the Prophet Mohammed, during the 6th century A.D! Now that is amazing!
Daffodils never disappoint because of their unmatched beauty and graceful trumpet shape set into a star-shaped petal background. In some varieties, the trumpet is a contrasting color from the star-shaped petals, yet the same in others. These flowers include the more common trumpet flowers known as Narcissus. In fact, there is actually no difference between daffodils and the flowers commonly known as narcissus. Narcissus is actually the botanical name for daffodils!
The most common variety is a golden-yellow color all over, but there are some with contrasting colors. It is common to see yellow and orange, white and orange, white and yellow, and even pink or lime green. Names such as Empress of Ireland, Golden Harvest, February Gold and Ice Follies are as descriptive as the flowers they name. Did you know daffodils also come in all sizes? They range from 5-inch flowers that bloom on top of 2-foot-tall stems, to miniature flowers on tiny, 2-inch stems. The miniature daffodils happen to be some of my personal favorites and they never disappoint!
Daffodils grow perennially from bulbs, and often in clusters. But you can successfully plant them in a long oval shape for a meadow effect. They love well-drained soil in a sunny spot, with lots of water. Once your plants have stopped blooming, never cut the foliage back until it has turned yellow. The reason is because after the blooming period is over, the foliage continues to feed the bulb. If the bulb doesn’t get fed because the foliage is cut off too early, next year’s bloom will be lacking, if it happens at all. So don’t do it!
Cut your daffodils and take them indoors, where they will never disappoint. Do this on a cold day when spring seems to be struggling. The sunny yellow daffodil will provide an instant lift to your mood!
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