Classic Daffodils

An experienced bulb grower recommends 11 of her favorites

A classic Narcissus pseudonarcissus , like a classic car , has some history behind it . However , calling a daffodil a classic has as much to do with how it perform in the garden as it does with the year it was infix . That ’s why my married man , Brent , and I relate to those that do consistently and beautifully year after year as classics .

Brent and I also turn over daffodils ( Narcissusspp . and cvs . ) the perfect perennials . They emerge in spring when gardener are eager to see a pollyannaish floral face . Deer and rodents rarely bother them . Most are hardy in USDA Hardiness zone 3 to 9 , and they opt full sun . Daffodils tolerate unlike character of soil as long as it drains well and is n’t too alkaline . In other words , they ’re gentle to grow .

But since there are innumerous Narcissus pseudonarcissus , with different flower shapes , varied bloom clock time , and flower people of color in shades of chickenhearted , white-hot , orange , salmon , babble out , and precious coral , how can you narrow down your choice ? Why not consider one or two of what we call classics , those that have proven themselves and have become staples in our springtime garden .

‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’

Blooms former springNarcissus‘Rijnveld ’s Early Sensation ’ ( 1956 , Zones 3–9 ) , a Greco-Roman yellow trumpet - type daffodil , is one of our favorites because it is the earliest - blossom Narcissus pseudonarcissus on our farm . On New Year ’s Day , we often have a lot of just - picked flower sitting in a vase on our dinner table . During the uncommon years when we have nose candy cover , they emerge and bloom in good order at the boundary of the melting snowfall . If we have a blizzard after they bloom , they usually bound aright back up when the Dominicus number out again . Because they blossom so early , they ordinarily last longer than any other daffodil we grow , and they conflate nicely with early crocuses and dwarf sword lily .

‘Accent’

Blooms midspringThe American - bredN.‘Accent ’ ( 1960 , Zones 3–8 ) has white petal and a funnel - shaped , salmon - pink cup whose gloss stays true . Planting low blue flowers likeIpheion uniflorum‘Wisley Blue ’ orMuscari armeniacumaround the ankles of ‘ Accent ’ creates a pleasing consequence . This large - cupped daffodil has been grow in our garden for years , and we apply it extensively in our hybridizing efforts .

‘Serola’

blooming midspringI refer to bright non-white flowers that can be seen from a distance at high focal ratio as 55 mph peak . N.‘Serola ’ ( 1986 , Zones 3–9 ) is just such a flower . Although not Hellenic as set by its particular date of creation , this great - cupped daffodil flower reliably every year . Its bright yellowed and orange colouring material puddle it the perfect choice for roadside plantings , for garden viewed from a distance , and for hot - colored garden schema . It shows up even better with counterpoint colors like the shiny , beet - redHyacinthus orientalis‘Woodstock ’ , or as a colour replication withTulipa‘American Dream ’ .

‘Baby Moon’ and ‘Quail’

Bloom midspringJonquilla - type daffodils are on my list of favorites . They develop dark - unripened , narrow , often reedlike leave , which are relatively easy to blot out in the border while they grow , and there is usually more than one sweetly fragrant blossom per stem . belike the most fragrant of all , especially take the size of the flowers , isN.‘Baby Moon ’ ( 1958 , Zones 4–9 ) , a precious , golden - yellowed miniature daffodil that likes a summertime baking . N.‘Quail ’ ( 1974 , Zones 4–9 ) has similar characteristic but has a larger blossom . Golden - chickenhearted , sweetly fragrant , and a marvelous perennial , ‘ Quail ’ make a special color reverberation with the golden center of the small tulipTulipa bakeri‘Lilac Wonder ’ .

‘Hawera’

bloom previous springTriandrus - type daffodil ordinarily have one or two nod flower per stem and are noted for their wondrous , often fruity , scent . N.‘Hawera ’ ( pre-1950 , Zones 3–8 ) is a miniature triandrus - type daffodil with many elfin , pale - lily-livered nodding bells per stem , each with a demitasse - regulate cupful surrounded by swept - back petals . We have seen this adaptable daffodil growing in dry areas , in weed , in full sun , and in fond shade . It contrast nicely withMuscari armeniacumand is exquisite with hellebores .

‘Jack Snipe’

Blooms midspringGenerally speaking , daffodils perform practiced in full Sunday and well - debilitate ground , in country where there is a fair amount of rainfall in the fall and spring and where the summer is relatively dry . However , cyclamineus - type daffodils seem to tolerate at least fond shade and more moisture than others do . N.‘Jack Snipe ’ ( pre-1951 , Zones 3–8 ) is a charming example of this character of daffodil . Its white petal are swept back , as if it were standing in front of a lover , and its medium - length , buttercup - scandalmongering trumpet ( or nose ) sticks directly out at a 90 ° angle from the root word . ‘ Jack Snipe ’ is an average - size daffodil , stand only 8 to 10 inches tall , and is staring for a rock garden or the front of a flower border . This little one was a deary of my mother - in - law . She had it come up through Liriope muscari ( Liriope muscari ) on both sides of her sidewalk . This whole division of daffodils is becoming more democratic not only because it tolerate some shade but also because the shape of the flower is so well-favoured .

‘Tahiti’

efflorescence midspringAlthough some people do n’t consider duple or peonylike daffodils classics , many doubled hybrids have been in existence for a foresightful time . Our favourite double isN.‘Tahiti ’ ( 1956 , Zones 3–8 ) . The soft - chicken flower with bright reddish - orange upcountry ruffles is evocative of a peak from the tropics . ‘ Tahiti ’ stands up directly under its own weight , even on windy days . Its colouration is eye - catch , so it makes a handsome impact in the garden .

Daffodils categorized

Narcissus pseudonarcissus are unionise into 13 section , based in the main on their efflorescence configuration .

sectionalization 1 : cornet — loving cup as long as or longer than the petalsDivision 2 : Large - cupped — cupful sizing from one - third of to equalise the length of the petalsDivision 3 : modest - cupped — cup sizing up to one - third the distance of the petalsDivision 4 : Double — double the cups or petal on each flowerDivision 5 : Triandrus — swept - back petals , curt loving cup , multiple nodding blossom per stemDivision 6 : Cyclamineus — swept - back petals and a long cup ; peak at a sharp angle to stemDivision 7 : Jonquilla — spreading petals and little cup ; multiple peak per root ; narrow leavesDivision 8 : Tazetta — broad petal and little cups ; multiple fragrant flower per stemDivision 9 : Poeticus — spread out white petal and lowly , red - rimmed fragrant cupsDivision 10 : Bulbocodium — cup much more prominent than the petalsDivision 11 : Split - corona — spreading petals and cups split more than half their lengthDivision 12 : Miscellaneous — those that utilize to no other variance . Division 13 : Daffodils distinguished solely by botanic name ( species , wild form , wild hybrids )

Hoop petticoats

Blooms midspringThe mintage daffodilN. bulbocodiumvar.conspicuus(Zones 3–9 ) has been around so long that no one can actually put a date on it . Its look is unusual : It does have six golden petals , but they are tiny , twisted , and often difficult to see . Its prominent rounded cup give way raise to its nickname , hoop petticoats . It prefers acid soil and when glad , will reseed , blooming like buttercups in group . Only 4 to 6 inches tall , it naturalise itself in our barnyard , under our tall pine trees , and in many other areas on our farm .

‘Avalanche’

Blooms midspringTazetta - type daffodil , admit the paperwhites that can be coerce into bloom indoors during the winter , are also fragrant . One of our favorites was also a darling of Thomas Jefferson , although he probably knew it asN.‘Seventeen sis ’ ( 1700 ) . It has been renamedN.‘Avalanche ’ ( pre-1906 , Zones 6–9 ) and is as pop today as it was in Colonial time . ‘ Avalanche ’ has a cluster of 10 to 20 petite flowers , creating almost an entire redolence on one stem . Its flowers , with white petals and pallid - xanthous cups , have a wonderful musky - honeyed fragrance — a much better one , I reckon , than any paperwhite I ’ve forced . Since it is hardy to Zone 6 , it can be enjoy in many gardens . It show off even more when combined with plants likeTulipa‘Pink Impression’,Ornithogalum balansae , and pansies .

‘Intrigue’

Blooms late springThe newly opened blossoms ofN.‘Intrigue ’ ( 1970 , Zones 3–9 ) are a soft chartreuse - yellowish . As they get on , however , the flowers become a lambent clean and attract a circle of attending , especially when embed with a blood - red tulip like ‘ Hollandia ’ . When combined with another soft - colored flower , likeHyacinthus orientalis‘Lady Derby ’ , it make a peaceful scene . An American - breed jonquilla - character Narcissus pseudonarcissus with several flowers per stem , ‘ machination ’ also has a rattling fragrance .

— Becky Heath and her husband , Brent , own Brent and Becky ’s Bulbs in Gloucester , Virginia .

Photos , except where note : Brent and Becky ’s Bulbs

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