Plant guide: Narcissus
Narcissus ‘Minnow’ growing in a reclaimed water butt
One of the very first bulbs to push their leaves above the soil at the start of the year, the sunny daffodil brightens up the garden when not much else is in flower.
Though the bright yellow varieties are undeniably cheery, we have a soft spot for the paler daffodils, with elegant flowers of white or pale cream. But whether bright and bold, or pale and sophisticated, daffodils deserve a space in any garden…
Botanical name: Narcissus
Plant type: Bulbous perennial. Daffodils grow from a bulb, flower, die back under the ground and reappear from the same bulb the following year.
Growing conditions: Daffodils grow well in most soil types and areas, just avoid any heavily waterlogged ground or complete shade. Ideal spots would be part shade in moist but well drained soil, but they can cope happily in plenty more locations than this…
Bulbs can be planted into the ground, where they will come back year after year with little attention, or into pots. Smaller varieties, such as ‘Tete a Tete’, do well in the front of beds or borders or naturalized in the lawn. Larger varieties, such as ‘Thalia’, are perfect for the middle of beds.
How to plant:
Plant bulbs in the Autumn time, from September onwards, but before the first frost. In the ground, plant bulbs three times their own depth in the soil, and spaced at least one bulb’s width apart. Bulbs planted in pots can be packed in more tightly, with just enough space so they’re not touching each other.
See our guide to planting bulbs for more detailed info.
Care:
Daffodils need almost no care once planted. Water in immediately after planting, but after this they shouldn’t need any extra watering in the ground. Narcissus growing in pots may need watering while they’re growing, if the compost dries out. (As their growing season is during early Spring months, there is usually plenty of rain, so they tend not to dry out as much as pots of later Spring flowering bulbs such as tulips. But do keep an eye on any pots that are close to walls, or window boxes, which tend to get less rainfall.)
Grow with:
Small daffodils can be naturalised in lawns, where they pop up above the grass and give a splash of colour in Spring time. If you grow daffodils (or any bulbs) in a lawn, make sure the foliage has fully died back down before mowing in late Spring.
In pots or in the border, daffodils can make a spectacular display grown on their own. We are very fond of the white Narcissus ‘Thalia’ growing in drifts throughout beds.
For a more colourful display, mix daffodils with other early Spring flowering bulbs, such as muscari, ipheion or chionodoxa.
Uses:
Daffodils make excellent cut flowers and are perfect in a vase.
The bulbs can also be “forced” – grown in pots inside so that they flower earlier than they would in the garden, and can look amazing on the mantelpiece.
Our favourite varieties:
Narcissus ‘Thalia’ is a tall, elegant white-flowered daffodil that looks stunning in beds. (Pictured below)
Narcissus ‘Minnow’ is a small pale cream daffodil, with a deeper yellow centre. We love this planted in pots. (See main picture at the top.)
Narcissus ‘Bridal Crown’ is another pale variety, with especially frilly petals and a strong scent. It makes a real statement as a forced bulb grown inside.
Narcissus ‘Thalia’
