Paper White Narcissus

Daffodils are fast-growing, perennial, deciduous bulbs in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family. Their native range is northern Africa, Europe, Afghanistan, China, and Japan. With an erect, clumping habit, plants will be 8 to 30 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide. The genus Narcissus is named for a beautiful youth who became so entranced with his own reflection that he pined away, and the gods turned him into this flower.

Daffodils require full sun to partial shade and acidic soil. The flowers follow the sun so consider this when planting. While drought tolerant, the plants require moisture and good drainage during the growing season. The best time to plant the bulbs is in the fall. Plant in groups of at least six sweeping masses, and they can be mixed with all varieties of other spring-flowering bulbs. You will be able to plant 10 to 12 bulbs per square foot when planting them 2 to 3 inches apart. Plant the bulbs 8 inches deep. After the flowers have bloomed, the top portion of each flower stem may be removed as practicable to prevent seed formation, but foliage should not be cut back until it begins to yellow. Bulbs can be left undisturbed for a number of years. If bloom quality and quantity decline over time, clumps can be divided by digging just after the foliage dies back. 

The Narcissus genus has 13 divisions or shows or cultivar groups. 

Division I - Trumpet Narcissus

Division II - Large-cupped Narcissus

Division III - Small-cupped Narcissus

Division IV - Double Narcissus

Division V - Triandrus Narcissus

Division VI - Cyclamineus Narcissus

Division VII - Jonquilla Narcissus

Division VIII - Tazetta Narcissus

Division IX - Poeticus Narcissus

Division X - Bulbocodium hybrids

Division XI - Split Corona Narcissus

Division XII - Miscellaneous Narcissus

Division XIII - Species, Wild Variants and Wild hybrids

Daffodils are great for use in beds, borders, rock gardens, as fresh cut flowers, ground covers, and in woodland gardens. They are deer, rabbit, and salt resistant. The fragrant flowers bloom for two to three weeks between late winter and late spring. Some varieties can be forced to bloom indoors in the winter. 

Quick ID Hints:

• Geophyte with flat or reed-like leaves
• Flowers with six-parted perianth and projecting corona

Insects Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No serious insects or diseases. Bulb rot may occur in wet soils. Watch for bulb mites and slugs and snails.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.