Daffodil Fact and Fiction plus Planting Ideas

Did you know that Daffodils are reliably in the top 5 most popular flowers in the UK? But that’s not the whole story, so read on for a selection of Daffodil fact and fiction anecdotes, tips and more…

Daffodil Fact and Fiction: What are Daffodils?

Firstly, lets clear up the confusion: Daffodils and Narcissus are the same plant. Narcissus is their botanical name.
They are bulbous perennials. The nutrients stored in the bulb are used up by the flowers, which is why you should leave the foliage to die back rather than cut it off. These leaves continue to photosynthesise, making ‘food’ which is then stored in the bulb to be used the following year.

There are between 30 and 60 different species, variously called Daffodil, Narcissus and Jonquil. These are split into thirteen divisions or types, including ‘trumpet’ which is perhaps the first one most of us think of when somebody says ‘daffodil’.

Daffodil Fact and Fiction: Myths and Legends

What’s in a Name?

Why are Daffodils called Narcissus? There are two legends for the origin of this name: –

Firstly, Daffodils may be named after Narcissus of Greek legend. He was the handsome youth who scorned others as not being worthy of his affection. The gods became angry with Narcissus for his cruelty and self-absorption; and they cursed him, so that when he crouched to drink from the river, Narcissus became enamoured of his own reflection. He became so besotted that he stayed gazing at his likeness until he starved to death. The Narcissus flower sprang from where he had lain.

Secondly, Narcissus may be from the Greek ‘narkao’ to numb. As we shall see below, the daffodil has these medicinal qualities, so this name origin is a contender.

Wales and Daffodils

Daffodils are the national flower of Wales, and St David, Wales’ patron saint, is celebrated on March 1st with daffodils and leeks. But why does Wales have the Daffodil as well as the leek? I know of 3 reasons: –
David Lloyd George, a Welshman and early C20th British Prime Minister is supposed to have promoted the daffodil as a national emblem, including at the 1911 Prince of Wales’ Investiture.
In the Welsh language leek is ‘cenhinen’ and one phrase for Daffodils is ‘cenhinen bedr’, so the two became confused by the English.
As a less military alternative to leeks. Leeks became a Welsh symbol when they were worn by the Welsh in a C12th battle against Saxons so they could tell friend from foe.

Daffodil Fact and Fiction: A Word of Warning

Every part of the Daffodil is toxic to one degree or another, but the bulb is the most poisonous.

The toxins contained in daffodils are alkaloids; in particular lycorine in the bulb. Lycorine causes diarrhoea and vomiting, and although recovery is usual after a few hours, occasionally days, Daffodil bulbs are potentially fatal in large doses. So keep your dogs and toddlers well away when you’re planting Daffodil bulbs in the autumn!
Furthermore, crystals found in the outer layer of daffodil bulbs cause a severe skin irritation, sometimes known as ‘florists itch’.

However, despite their toxicity, Daffodils have been used for centuries in traditional medicine. The bulbs were pounded and made into a paste which was applied to wounds, gout, burns, and joint pains. Both flowers and bulbs have been used to treat hysteria and epilepsy. But please don’t try these remedies without the appropriate medical diagnosis.

Today, Daffodils are grown in Wales to produce galantamine. This alkaloid has been found to be effective in warding off symptoms of Alzheimer’s and poliomyelitis. Appropriately, the Welsh Daffodils have a particularly high level of galantamine, as the potency seems to be partly linked to the height above sea level at which the plants are growing.

Planting Ideas

Miniature Daffodils for Pots and Containers

Daffodils in pots by your front door may be enjoyed by passing pedestrians as well as your family, whereas patio containers are private. Grow your miniature daffodils where you’re most likely to enjoy them. For example, do you rush through the front garden, but linger by the back door with your morning cuppa?

Pots filled with sweetly scented Daffodil flowers are a real bonus, so here are five of my clients’ favourites.

Narcissus canaliculatus
An heirloom variety with a sweet scent and multi-headed blooms of white and yellow.

Narcissus cyclamineus
A native of Spain and Portugal, this miniature Narcissus is scarce in the wild. The more reason, perhaps, to grow it in your garden and keep the species viable.

Narcissus ‘Jetfire’
More lightly scented than the others, but the bright yellow and orange combination are guaranteed to cheer you up on a dull day.

Narcissus ‘Midget’
This has bright yellow trumpets and a long corona, just like its bigger cousins. Fragrant flowers during February – March make this an early herald of spring.

Narcissus ‘Spoirot’
Named after Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot, this bulbocodium Daffodil has greenish white petals with a green centre. Also known as a ‘hoop petticoat’ Daffodil from the shape of the petals.

Daffodils for Flower Borders and Naturalising

Naturalising Daffodils as part of a woodland edge garden, planted under deciduous trees, is understandably more popular than growing them in a lawn. The reason is simple, the leaves need to die back naturally and that can look messy and prevent lawn mowing.

For those of us with gardens of less than half an acre, Daffodils are luckily quite at home in the mixed herbaceous border. I often plant them under herbaceous perennials which will grow up around the foliage and hide the ‘messiness’ as the Daffodil leaves slowly die down.

Again, I’ve limited myself to five suggestions that have been popular with clients.

Narcissus ‘Bridal crown’
A strongly scented white daffodil, with many small flowers per stem. Also sold as an indoor plant, it is perfectly hardy.

Narcissus poeticus
The Pheasants eye Daffodil will grow happily both in a flower border or naturalised and is delightfully scented.

Narcissus pseudonarcissus
The native species flowers in March and is generally the easiest and most reliable Daffodil for naturalising. This is Wordsworth’s daffodil, although Dorothy rather than William first noted down the “host of golden daffodils”.

Narcissus ‘Rip van Winkle’
An unusual frilly yellow Daffodil, you’ll find it’s a ‘marmite’ reaction to this one!

Narcissus ‘White lion’
A large Daffodil whose flowers have layers of soft coloured petals. Richly scented, the flowers can be top heavy.

Daffodil Fact and Fiction

So, I’ve recommended Narcissus varieties for you to grow; explained why you shouldn’t eat them and that wearing gloves when planting or cutting is a good idea. And info on Daffodils that could come in useful at the next pub quiz!

If you would like or need more help in designing with Daffodils do get in touch. And you’ll find Welsh Daffodil fact and fiction and more in the blog links below.