Daffodils with a difference
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils. ”“ William Wordsworth, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”
There are so many reasons to dance with the daffodils ”“ spring-blooming bulbs whose planting season is late summer/early fall. They aren”™t fussy about where they are planted. They come back to bloom again year after year and aren”™t bothered by deer, rabbits or other garden pests. And there”™s a whole world of beautiful types beyond the classic yellow ones. Their unusual styles and unexpected colors can bring a whole new look to spring gardens.”¯
”¯Get an early start on next year”™s daffodil season with Barrett Browning, a variety with pure white petals and brilliant red-orange trumpets that was named for the 19th-century British poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. It is an excellent choice for naturalizing. Pink Charm also boasts white petals but has a large coral-pink trumpet with ruffled edges. It is considered one of the best pink daffodils and is known for its vigor and reliability.”¯”¯
”¯Add eye-catching color with the dependable heirloom”¯Red Devon”™s brilliant yellow petals and flashy orange cups. For a more subtle approach, choose the pastel hues of British Gamble. Its white petals are a perfect backdrop for the ruffled peachy-pink trumpet on these enormous, 5-inch blossoms.
”¯Change the shape of things with some split trumpet daffodils.”¯Cassata is a strong grower with”¯a ruffled lemon-yellow cup that lies almost flat against broad white petals.”¯Cum Laude”¯boasts”¯big, bright, extra-frilly flowers with peachy accents. Lemon Beauty”™s flowers feature pure white petals, and its split trumpet resembles a bright yellow star.
”¯Double daffodils add elegance to gardens and spring floral arrangements. They also stretch the season by blooming several weeks later than most other types.”¯La Torch”™s upward-facing fragrant double flowers are a mix of”¯yellow petals and bright orange ruffles. Delnashaugh is a late-blooming double with layers of pure white petals interspersed with apricot-pink ruffles. Lingerie”™s extra-large blooms”¯have thickly ruffled centers of white and golden yellow petals.
”¯Some daffodils produce a bouquet of blossoms on each stem. Pueblo, which grows just 12 inches tall, has”¯primrose yellow flowers that gradually fade to creamy white.”¯Beautiful Eyes has two to three flowers per stem, with white petals, bright orange cups and a gardenia-like fragrance.
”¯Take things down a notch by planting a few miniature daffodils. Tuck them into rock gardens, under shrubs, along paths, in containers and mix them with other spring flowering bulbs and perennials.”¯Tete a Tete has perky, bright yellow blossoms and grows just 7-inches tall. Tete Boucle is similar in size, but its double flowers display layers of yellow, gold and green petals.
”¯Jet Fire is another outstanding miniature daffodil. It has”¯bright orange trumpets and golden yellow swept-back petals and is a great small-scale naturalizer in the landscape ”“ returning and multiplying. Minnow is an adorable little gem with pale-yellow petals and bright yellow trumpets. Sundisc”™s petite flowers have pale yellow petals and an almost flat, deep yellow trumpet. Miniature daffodils are a particularly good choice for perennials gardens, where they won”™t overwhelm neighboring plants.
With so many daffodil varieties to choose from, you are sure to find new ways to add spring beauty to your yard and gardens.
For more on these and other unique daffodils, see”¯“Longfield Gardens Types of Daffodils to Know and Grow.”
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including “The Midwest Gardener”™s Handbook, Second”¯Edition””¯and “Small Space Gardening.””¯She hosts “The Great Courses”™””¯“How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD”¯series”¯and the nationally-syndicated”¯“Melinda”™s Garden Moment””¯TV and radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for”¯Birds & Blooms”¯magazine. For more, visit here. https://www.melindamyers.com/