Flowers go in and out of fashion. And although I’m not one for trends, the current daffodil craze is a movement I can get behind. After all, nothing relieves a gardener's winter weary heart like the sight of a narcissus popping up through hard, frosty earth.Each year I add new daffodil cultivars to my treasured collection, and just like children it’s impossible to choose a favorite one. However, if hard-pressed to create a list of the 10 must-grow daffodils for your flower garden here are my tried-and-true recommendations.
1. Avalanche - This award-winning heirloom daffodil is known for its sweet fragrance and good heat tolerance. The miniature flowers have white, slightly reflexed petals and petite yellow cups. Each stem has clusters of 8 or more blossoms and the short plants are perfect for the front of a border. 'Avalanche' is winter hardy in zones 6-9 and is sometimes called 'Seventeen Sisters.'
2. Pueblo - This petite daffodil opens a soft, primrose yellow before maturing to a creamy white. Each sturdy, 12" tall stem is topped with a bouquet of one to three flowers. 'Pueblo' has a long garden life. After three years in my garden, it consistently blooms along with 'Dutch Master' and stays in flower for a full month. It's a wonderful cut flower and dries gracefully in the vase.
3. Cum Laude - This showy daffodil is reminiscent of the perfect summer sunset. The petals are a creamy white and the cup is a delicate peach with a yellow center. The ruffled edges of the inner cup are sure to make your daffodil-loving heart swoon.
4. Mount Hood - This heirloom variety has been popular since the 1930s and is still considered one of the best early-blooming, all-white daffodils. Mount Hood has an extra-large trumpet that opens pale yellow and then quickly fades to creamy white. It's a vigorous grower that multiplies quickly and flowers reliably year after year.
5. Delnashaugh - This beautiful, late-blooming double daffodil has layers of large, pure white petals interspersed with ruffles of apricot-pink. The flowers are sweetly scented and long-lasting on sturdy stems.
6. Sherborne - This award-winning daffodil has giant, bright yellow blossoms that are held high on strong stems. Rounded guard petals surround ruffled, two-tone centers. Sherborne's weatherproof flowers are long-lasting in the garden and make great cut flowers.
7. Lemon Beauty - This elegant daffodil features pure white petals and a split cup adorned with a bright yellow star. Every time I see the pinwheel blooms of Lemon Beauty, I think of the layered dessert Lemon Lush. Daffodils for dinner anyone? Just kidding. Narcissus are toxic to pets and humans alike.
8. Love Call – Love Call is an eye-catching daffodil with a skirt of ivory petals surrounding a ruffled, tangerine orange cup. Pair it with trumpet and double daffodils for a pretty combination of colors and flower shapes.
9. British Gamble - This massive daffodil will win your heart with its sweet, pastel colors. It has creamy white petals surrounding a flared and ruffled trumpet that's pale yellow at the base and peach-pink at the outer edge. The fragrant blossoms measure 5" across and look lovely in the garden and vase.
10. Cassata - If you have yet to discover the beauty of split corona daffodils, Cassata is a great place to start. Its ruffled, buttery yellow cup lies almost flat against broad white petals. As the blossoms mature, the cup gradually fades to ivory.
Daffodils may be planted from mid-fall through early winter. For the best results, plant the bulbs within a month of receiving them. Dig a hole 6 inches deep and place the bulb pointy side up into the hole. Next, cover the bulbs with soil and water the area if the soil is dry. You can also use a bulb planter to make quick work of daffodil planting. Daffodil bulbs are usually planted 6 inches apart. This gives them room to multiply over time without getting overly crowded. Daffodils look best when they are planted in informal groups rather than in straight rows.
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