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Daffodil
Narcissus

Daffodil is the commonn English name for all Narcissus. They are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring. Like other bulbs, Daffodils are easy to grow. They should be planted in the fall for spring blooming. Plant daffodils in full sun to partial shade. Plant the bulbs 2 to 3 times as deep as the bulbs are tall. Daffodils need minimal care after planing. They look beautiful when naturalized under trees.

After they bloom in the spring, allow the plants to grow until they die off. They need time after blooming to store energy in the bulbs for next year.Let the leaves die down naturally after the blooms fade. These yellowing leaves are not attractive, so it's tempting to cut them down, but it's essential that all the nourishment in the leaves return to the bulb before it goes dormant for summer. You can hide the yellowing foliage with flowering annuals or perennials, but daffodil bulbs need a dry summer to remain healthy while they are dormant. If you must hide your unattractive bulb foliage with other plants, choose plants that can tolerate dry conditions, such as vinca, begonia, marigold, dusty miller, butterfly bush, yarrow, and black-eyed susan.

Daffodils come in many sizes, shapes, and colors. We are most familiar with the bright yellow daffodil. The most common flower colors are yellow, orange, and white. But, there are pink daffodils, which generally emerge yellow and turn pink as they mature. Many cultivars have bicolor blooms. Like tulips, the bloom season varies and cultivars are generally rated as early, midseason, or late blooming. If you plant daffodils from each blooming period, it is possible to have daffodils blooming in your yard for close to 3 months in the spring.

Also, like tulips, daffodils have been divided into divisions based on flower shape and origin. Catalogs and well-labeled garden center displays refer to these divisions when describing their bulbs. Knowing these divisions exist will help you make good choices and help you extend your blooming season. Selecting bulbs from several different divisions will ensure you of an interesting variety of flower shapes and sizes.

Most full-sized daffodils are3-1/2 to 4-1/2 inches across. However, there are tiny 1-1/2 selections like the mini-daffodils pictured above. Also, full-sized daffodils are generally around 18 inches tall, but there are miniatures that are only 4-6 inches tall. Sometimes, the smaller daffodils are referred to as Jonquils.

The bulbs and all parts of the plants are poisonous. Therefore, deer, squirrels, chipmonks, and other rodents leave them alone.