Daffodil

When do daffodil bloom?

Daffodil starts blooming early in the year. They start to bloom from the early spring. If you want continuous flowering for a longer duration, choose carefully different varieties considering their bloom times.

There are over 10000 Daffodil varieties available in the market. Daffodil’s popularity has resulted in the production of many varieties.

In addition to the classic yellow color form, there are so many contrasting color combinations available like yellow-orange, white-pink, white-orange, red-orange surrounded by yellow petals, creamy white-yellow, and many more contrasting multi-color combinations.

You can consider the following varieties to get blooms from later January through April.

Popular Daffodil varieties

King Alfred:

  • Easy to grow
  • Grows from 12-18 inches tall
  • Great Naturalizers
  • Deer & Rodent Proof
  • Blooms early to mid-spring with flower per stem
  • Growing zones – 3 to 8
  • Can be used for cut flower

Jetfire Daffodil:

  • More tolerant of partial shade and moisture than other groups
  • Grows from 10-12 inches tall
  • Growing zones – 4 to 9
  • Blooms early to mid-spring with flower per stem
  • Can be used for cut flower
  • Deer resistant

Quail:

  • A compact and elegant hybrid with pendant lemon-yellow flowers
  • Grows about 14 inches tall
  • Growing zones – 3 to 8
  • Blooms Mid – Late Spring with 3 to 5 flowers on each stem
  • Great Naturalizers
  • Deer resistant

Daffodil Geranium:

  • White rounded petals surround a delicate orange cup 
  • Grows about 16 inches tall
  • Growing zones – 5 to 9
  • Blooms early spring to late spring
  • Deer and Rabbit resistant
  • Amazing fragrance

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Daffodil flower

What does a daffodil symbolize?

The daffodil symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings. It represents a new beginning because it’s one of the earliest bulbs to appear in spring.

The sunny, yellow daffodils are a great sign that spring has arrived.

How to grow and care for daffodils?

Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), which is also called Trumpet Narcissus, is native to northern Europe that can be grown in almost all zones except for a few tender cultivars.
It is the easiest to grow and most forgiving plant. It is ideal for beginners in gardening.
They are usually one of the first flowers seen in the springtime.
The long, narrow leaves of the Daffodil plant are slightly greyish green in color and rise from the base of the stem.
With good drainage, they thrive in most soils, although they prefer a medium-heavy loam.
All it needs is well-drained soil and a sunny place, though it can thrive in partial shade.

Daffodil Geranium

Daffodil bulbs

How to choose the best daffodil bulbs?

The bigger bulbs will produce more stems and more flowers.
Smaller bulbs tend to multiply, but it will produce fewer stems and hence fewer flowers.
Bulb size varies based on cultivator or variety. Also, depending on the weather conditions, each year daffodil bulb’s size may be different.
Healthy bulbs are usually heavier. You can put the bulb in a bucket of water and check if it floats. You can discard the bulb that floats.

How many daffodil bulbs per square foot?

Depending on the type of soil and temperature, plant the Daffodil bulbs about 6-8 inches deep and 4-5 inches apart.  You can plant about 5-6 daffodil bulbs per square foot.

Also, make sure that their pointy end up and root side down.

Fall is the best time to plant Daffodils, ideally two weeks before a severe cold, so that it will have time to develop a root system before cold weather sets in and the soil freezes.

Plant Daffodils in the fall to expect blooms for next spring. You need to pick a spot that has well-draining soil and full sunlight (preferably) or partial shade.

Planting Daffodils in grouping looks better.

References:

https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6610#:~:text=Daffodils%20must%20have%20time%20to,may%20still%20give%20good%20results.

Daffodils how deep to plant bulbs

6-8 inches, depending on the factors like the type of soil and temperature.

While placing the bulbs in the soil, see that you cover the bulb with about 2-3 inches of soil. If you have freezing temperatures, dig deeper (about 8 inches deep) and add a thicker mulch.

Daffodils and tulips

Daffodils and Tulips are often the first flowers of spring.

Daffodils and Tulips are best known cold-hardy spring plants that naturalize easily.

They both have similar growing conditions making them great companions.

Combining the two bulbs in a single bed creates a colorful and beautiful spring display.

Daffodils garden

The American Daffodil Society (ADS) Display Garden Program was established to display a wide variety of daffodil cultivars to the general public. Its purpose is to educate visitors on how Daffodils can be used effectively in the landscape.

You can visit Local and ADS daffodil shows in March, April, and May to see many different varieties available.

https://daffodilusa.org/events-show-calendar/calendar-of-events/

 

Is daffodil perennial?

Daffodil is a perennial flowering plant, which keeps coming year after year.

Why daffodils don’t bloom?

Daffodils get their energy for next year from its bulbs. This energy is transported from the leaves to the bulbs, so you need to make sure foliage dies back naturally.

Once they finished blooming, the leaves stay green for around one more month. It will start to yellow, which signifies the completion bulb re-building process.

You water them till the leaves turn yellow.  Cut the leaves only when the leaves turn completely yellow.

Some of the other possible reasons for Daffodils not blooming could be because it may be growing in the same spot for many years without division, or it is planted in a shady area or with poor drainage.

Daffodils in pots

Daffodils can be grown in containers. Daffodils in containers can bloom for about 2-3 years. After that, you can transplant them in the ground.