Ancient Daffodil (Narcissus)

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These special Daffodil are offered to those of you who love fragrance and love the history behind cultivars that are still with us after hundreds of years.  They are the last to bloom and if you grow some in full sun and some in partial shade, their flowering time will be extended by several weeks sometimes even into the month of June.

Native mainly to the Mediterranean, narcissi were grown by the Egyptians and Greeks and brought into English gardens by the 1200s. While thousands of new tulips and hyacinths were being developed, the number of daffodils grew slowly. Maybe 50 date to before 1700, another 350 by 1860. But then a couple of British enthusiasts set to work and from 1860 to 1900 roughly 1000 new varieties were introduced. By 1930 there were another 6000, making the early 20th century a Golden Age. Sadly only a fraction of those varieties survive today.

Narcissi are deer resistant and best planted in masses for the best visual effect. Planted in the Fall they naturalize well and require little care once planted. Great as a cut flower, these Spring bloomers flower at different times to provide colour and much needed food for pollinators coming out of hibernation. Some are Wister award winners, the highest award given to Daffodils from the Daffodil Society of America and some are Garden of Merit award winners from the Royal Horticultural Society of the UK. A few varieties listed are considered Heirloom and have stood the test of time.

Check the Flower Care tab for planting instructions