GardenLife :: Daffy about Daffodils

My philosophy when it comes to planting bulbs in the fall is that you can never have too many daffodils, aka narcissus. Native to the Mediterranean, narcissus were first cultivated by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks and were introduced to European gardens in the 1200s and thousands of new varieties were developed during the early 20th century.

Courtesy of Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center.

Their nodding, cupped flower heads seem to dance in the mild spring breeze and they take my breath away when I come across them en masse in open spaces or scattered willy-nilly under a grove of trees. Since I do not have a vast grassland or grove, I like to stuff them in containers or flowerbeds and overplant them with lower-growing violas and pansies. Also, when my indoor narcissus are spent, I bury them under my deciduous trees and forget about them until three or four years later when they randomly pop up flowering once again in spring.

After the long grey days of winter, the daffodils unabashed floriferous displays are a welcome antidote. Another big plus is deer and rodents steer clear of them because of their toxic alkaloids. In fact, farmers used to plant daffodil bulbs as a protective barrier around their crops. And many have distinctive perfumes ranging from light vanilla to intoxicating spice. Also they naturalize beautifully for years to come if given the proper conditions. Hopefully long after I am gone, my children and grandchildren will appreciate my daffiness over daffodils when they sprout in serendipitous spots around the garden.

Planting directions:

For a long bloom season, select early-, mid- and late-blooming varieties
Although most daffodils are hardy from zones 7-11, hardiness varies -some may even survive in zones lower than 7 and some do better in zones 9-11.
Check with your local nursery or trusted mail order company such as Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, Old House Gardens or Easy to Grow Bulbs to make sure the varieties you select are suitable for your area
Plant them in full or partial sun in well-draining soil
Space them 4-8 inches apart at a depth of 12 to 18 inches
During growth and bloom season, fertilize with an organic food once a month
Water every 5-7 days during spring, decrease frequency during fall and winter and withhold water during summer.
Continue to care for them until their foliage yellows. (Next month’s GardenLife newsletter will feature a how-to about forcing narcissus bulbs indoors)