Daffodil Flower
One of the earliest Spring blooms to show up are the lovely Daffodils.This post is all about the Daffodils. Daffodils (Narcissus) may be the most popular of all spring-blooming bulbs. The classic yellow daffodil, with its big ruffled trumpet has been welcoming spring for generations.
What do Daffodils symbolize?
The daffodil symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings. It became associated with new beginnings (and the coming of spring) because it is one of the first perennials to bloom after the winter frost.
Daffodils and Spring breeze
Brightly colored daffodils in yellow and white, dancing in the spring breeze is always a joy to behold.Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae.
Various common names including daffodil, narcissus ice follies and jonquil are used to describe all or some members of the genus.
Daffodils ~ William Wordsworth
Did you know April, is the National Poetry month? No one could have painted such a beautiful picture to the mind’s eye, like the poet William Wordsworth did with his poem on Daffodils.
Read on……
DAFFODILS ~ William Wordsworth
“I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”
The first time I read these lines I was a kid. I had not seen a daffodil in the country I grew up in. Yet, with the poet’s lines “They flash upon that inward eye….and dances with the daffodils” I pictured something as beautiful as the real ones did years later when I moved to this country.
What comes to mind when we think about early Spring blooms? The Daffodils! Not the one to miss the Spring blooms each year, I would walk in the parks just to see these flowers everywhere.
This year however we are home bound with all that is going on around.It is sad , yet essential that we stay indoors and safe. So here, is my little virtual escape to the gardens filled with daffodils ( from pictures taken last year).Join along, if you miss being out & about in this season of Spring flowers too!
Daffodils : How to plant, grow and care for these flowers?
What kind of soil do daffodils grow in?
Daffodils prefer well-drained soil, though they will grow almost anywhere.They are not fussy about soil, will grow in sun or shade and are not bothered by deer and other critters.
Do daffodils grow back each year?
Planted in the fall, Daffodils are known as early spring blooms and will bloom from early to late spring, depending on the weather conditions and cultivars. Hardy, they do very well within hardiness zones 3 to 9.
Can you leave daffodil bulbs in the ground all year?
After blooming, do not remove their leaves for about 6 weeks to allow the bulb to absorb nutrients and grow for the following year.
How many daffodil bulbs should you plant together?
Among the Spring blooms, Daffodils look best when they are planted in informal groups rather than in straight rows. Clusters of bulbs in a triangular, oval or rectangular shape will have a fuller, more natural look.
It is quicker and easier to plant multiple bulbs by shoveling out a dozen holes for clumps of bulbs than by digging little individual holes with a bulb planter.
Planting Tips
Should I soak daffodil bulbs before planting?
Soak bulbs for 12 hours in warm water before planting in Fall. Soaking allows bulbs to absorb enough water to begin growth immediately, saving two or three weeks of time.
1. Dig a hole 6” deep.
2. Set the daffodil bulb into the soil pointy side up.
3. Cover the bulb with soil and water if the soil is dry.
What is the best month to plant daffodil bulbs?
The best time to plant daffodil bulbs is in the Fall (exact timing can range anywhere from September to late November, depending on where you live). The soil needs to have cooled off, but the ground still needs to be workable when you plant.
When do daffodils sprout?
Daffodils sprout after 12-15 weeks of chilling. They generally sprout after 1-3 weeks after the required period.
When do daffodils bloom?
Daffodils are a fall-planted bulb, so plant them in fall and they will bloom in late winter or early spring
What happens if you plant daffodils in the spring?
If you miss planting your bulbs at the optimal time, don’t wait for spring or next fall. Bulbs aren’t like seeds. They won’t survive out of the ground indefinitely. Even if you find an unplanted sack of tulips or daffodils in January or February, plant them and take your chances.
Though yellow is by far the most common color for daffodils, the flowers also come in white, cream, orange and even pink. There are many different flower styles, including trumpets, doubles, split-cups, short cups and miniatures. Planting an assortment of different types of daffodils will give you more than a month of carefree color every spring.
This large-cupped beauty brings elegance to the spring garden with strong, white petals and a ruffled, yellow center. Make sure to plant extra for gorgeous spring bouquets! (Narcissus)
One of the most loved daffodils in this country, Ice Follies is at home in casual and formal gardens alike. The bloom has a light fragrance and its wide yellow cup is edged with a jaunty crimp.
More widely planted than almost any other daffodil in the world. Ice Follies has a frilly, lemon yellow cup surrounded by six pure white petals. It blooms in early spring and is an excellent choice for naturalizing as the bulbs multiply quickly.
A first rate choice for meadows and slopes, Ice Follies holds a well-earned reputation for stellar naturalizing performances. Even excels in tough sites like office building entrances. A workhorse with charm. Deer and rodent proof. An Easy to Grow Bulbs favorite.
How to grow Daffodils?
START WITH CHOOSING A BETTER BULB
It’s easy to see the difference in QUALITY when you compare two narcissus bulbs side by side. As with most flower bulbs, narcissus are graded by size, measured in centimeters around the circumference of the bulb. Larger, 14/16cm daffodil bulbs (shown at far left) will produce more stems and more flowers than smaller, 12/14cm bulbs.
Where do daffodil bulbs come from?
At the base of a daffodil is its bulb, from which roots extend into the ground. In order to create more daffodils, the bulb splits, forming smaller bulbs called bulblets. Another way for the daffodil to reproduce asexually while using its bulbs is for the plant to develop very tiny bulbs on its stem, called bulbils.
How do you divide daffodil bulbs?
Use a shovel or pick to dig into the ground several inches away from the bulb clump and work your way around, taking care you don’t accidentally cut into the bulbs. Lift the clump and gently shake off excess soil to reveal the bulbs. Divide daffodil bulbs by twisting and pulling them off the clump
Will daffodil bulbs multiply?
Bulbs will not multiply if they are dug up and stored for the next year, as gardeners often do with tulips. Leave them in the ground instead. … About every three years in fall, dig up your bulbs and divide them by gently breaking apart the bulb clusters.
How fast do daffodils multiply?
Daffodil bulbs begin to multiply over a three- to five-year period, and they deplete the surrounding soil of nutrients. As a result, you have a thick display of stems and foliage without the bold blossoms.
PLANNING FOR SUCCESS WITH THE BLOOMS
Daffodils are very easy to grow. Here are some things to remember for successful blooms and to get your bulbs off to a great start.
- SHADE AND SUN: Daffodils are remarkably versatile because they will grow in sun, part sun and shade.
- ZONE: Daffodils are winter hardy in zones 3-8 and will return to bloom again each year.
- WHEN TO PLANT: Daffodils should be planted in mid to late fall, anytime before the ground freezes.
- WHERE TO PLANT DAFFODILS – (a) Entryways and Borders: Planting daffodils in the front of your house will create a wave of welcoming spring color for years to come. For a long-lasting display, plant varieties with different bloom times. Mixing a number of different flower shapes and colors creates a more informal look. (b)Perennial Gardens : Daffodils are in bloom before most perennials begin to stir. A few clumps of daffodils will welcome you with a splash of color. (c)Containers and Window boxes: Daffodils are traditionally planted in yards and gardens, but they also grow well in containers. This makes it easy to add instant spring charm to porches and patios. In zones 6 and colder, pots will need winter protection from extreme cold. (d) In Pots : Fill your container with a high-quality potting mix (don’t use garden soil) and plant your bulbs as deeply as you would in the ground; for instance, 6 or 7 inches deep for tulips and daffodils. (e) Cut Flower Gardens: Celebrate the color and fragrance of spring with big bouquets of daffodils for your home and to share with friends and family. Planting daffodils in a cutting garden will ensure you always have plenty of blossoms to cut. (f) Naturalizing: Daffodils are ideal for naturalizing in meadows, wooded areas or near ponds and streams. They come back reliably every year and are naturally resistant to deer.
How to care for Daffodils after they bloom?
Daffodils are hardy in zones 3-8 and do not need to be dug out at the end of the season. Once planted, the bulbs will bloom again every spring, usually in increasing numbers.
These simple tips below will help you enjoy beautiful daffodils for many years to come.
(a) After the flowers have wilted, you can remove the spent blooms. This will keep the plants looking neat, but isn’t essential.
(b) Most importantly, allow the foliage to continue growing until it dies back naturally. Daffodil bulbs use their foliage to build up food storage reserves so they can produce more flowers the following year.
(c) Once the foliage has withered and all traces of green are gone, it can be cut down to soil level or can usually be removed with a gentle tug.
What do I feed daffodils?
Mature daffodils respond well to early spring fertilizer. Use a gentle liquid fish emulsion fertilizer mixed in water for fertilizing daffodil plants and pour it around the bulb zone. You can also scratch a small amount of 5-10-5 granular food into the soil if spring rains will help wash it down into the root area.
Do you remove daffodil bulbs after flowering?
Daffodil bulbs survive if you dig them at any time after the foliage dies back, usually about six weeks after flowering. The leaves collect energy that replenishes the bulbs, so digging any earlier can weaken or kill the plants
Can you dig up daffodil bulbs and replant?
Daffodils are usually replanted in Fall, so you should store bulbs dug immediately after leaves die down in the end of Spring or wait to dig until Fall.
Are daffodils toxic?
All parts of the daffodil contain a toxic chemical, lycorine. The part of the plant that contains the highest concentration of lycorine is the bulb. However, eating any part of the plant can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.Daffodil bulbs are highly toxic to dogs!
What colors do Daffodils come in?
The appeal of daffodils lies in their beauty and durability. Their flowers come in a range of colors (yellow, of course, but white, too, often with contrasting cups of orange, yellow or apricot) and in a variety of shapes and sizes.
To enjoy the daffodil season for as long as possible, select varieties that bloom at different times (early, mid and late season).
For naturalized plantings, an assortment of different varieties will ensure new flowers are opening as others are fading.
How long do daffodil flowers last?
Daffodils blooms can last up to three weeks when temperatures remain between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. But when temperatures rise above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, flower longevity is greatly shortened to only a few days.
Do daffodils have a fragrance?
Most daffodils have a fragrance, some will miss it completely, and others will delight in its light, cool, spring-like notes. However there are some narcissi that are deliciously fragrant, a scent that is sweet, captivating and unique.
I hope you enjoyed this post on the Daffodils, one of the first Spring Blooms.
Share your thoughts on how you enjoy these Spring blooms.Would love to hear if you had any other tips on growing these beauties and caring for them.
Do share in the comments section below or on an email!
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