It’s all about the Daffodils

Right now, all over the Philadelphia and Northeast region, daffodils are blooming; and they’re no longer just your grandmother’s daffodils. You can find them in combinations that include red trumpets, variegated trumpets, fancy cut, and even exotic blooms. Nature’s colorful introduction to spring has begun; and for the next two months, color will be automatic in the landscape with blooming bulbs. First the daffodils bloom, then hyacinths, and finally the tulips; although nowadays, you’ll see all three blooming at the same time, because there are early and late bloomers in each variety. Philadelphia’s Burpee Seed has a special blended mix of Daffodils that will bloom from February through the end of May called Daffodils 100 Days. Daffodils are similar hyacinth and tulips in many ways; they have the same basic needs, and require the same basic care, indoors and out. They are all perennial bulbs, they make excellent cut flowers, their fragrance is heavenly, they will multiply in the garden over time, and each will last for many years, provided a garden critter doesn’t get to them first, namely the tulips.

For the most part, Daffodils, also called Narcissus, are a member of the Amaryllis family, and they are native to the Iberian Peninsula in the Mediterranean, as well as Northern Africa and the Middle East. (1) Because they are native to woodland areas, they grow well in shaded areas, but love full sun as well. There are 40 to 200 different daffodil species, over 25,000 registered cultivars, and 13 divisions of daffodils listed with the American Daffodil Society. (2) Daffodils have a corona in the center of the petals that looks like a trumpet. The trumpet can either be the same color as the petals or a contrasting color, such as cream colored petals with red trumpets , yellow petals with orange trumpets, or white petals with pink trumpets, and even white petals with green trumpets. The daffodils leaves are available in yellow, white, orange, pink, as well as, shades of apricot.

View slideshow: Daffodils

To enjoy these beauties in the garden, you had to plant them in the fall; but you’re in luck, because bulb growers did the work for you last fall 2010 for the upcoming Easter and Mother’s Day celebrations. You can now find all three varieties of bulbs already blooming in pots for gift-giving and indoor spring decorating. If you received a pot of blooming bulbs, you can plant them directly into the garden after they’re done blooming inside; and you can leave them there all year because they’re all hardy in Philadelphia Zone 6.

Daffodil bulbs are easy to grow and take care of. Plant daffodils in groups as well; staggering them makes a great show. They should be planted at a depth of three times the height of the bulb, just like tulips. The larger daffodil bulbs should be planted at a depth of 6-8 inches, medium bulbs planted 3-6 inches, and smaller daffodil bulbs planted 2-3 inches deep. Space plants three to six inches apart; although daffodils will tolerate some crowding. When planting daffodils, set the bulb roots or the flat side of the bulb down, and the pointy side up; then water thoroughly after planting and mulch with bark, pine needles, or leaves. Daffodils are bitter to animals such as deer and squirrels, and they are poisonous to children and domestic pets.

The downside to planting a lot of daffodils is that if they are planted in your garden beds, you’re left with groups of long, green spears and strands of foliage take up garden space and make the garden or landscape look messy from now into June. But, if you want to see your daffodils thrive and bloom each year, the green foliage must remain for photosynthesis purposes. It's extremely important to leave the foliage until it turns yellow and dies back because the leaves are energy storage factories that feed the bulbs and keep the daffodils blooming bigger and better year after year. Just tie them up or fold and rubber band them down as shown in the slideshow, if they’re a distraction.

Click here for: Longwood Gardens is holding their Daffodil show this Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17.

Click here for: Deer Resistant Bulbs

Click here for: Spring-flowering Bulbs to Plant in the Fall

Click here for: More Daffodil Facts

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