Daffodils are one of the most vivacious spring flowers that are truly fascinating. Discover the interesting details about this wonderful flowering plant and steal these tips on how to use daffodils in making your own cut flower arrangements.
Fast Facts About Daffodils
Botanical Name: Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Common name: Daffodils, Jonquil
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Tribe: Narcisseae
Genus: Narcissus
Type species: Narcissus poeticus
Blooming season: Spring, March to May
Flower colors: White, yellow, pink, and orange and two-toned varieties
Flower meaning: Rebirth, a new beginning, good fortune, and happiness
Daffodils or Narcissus?
Before you get confused, let us set the record straight first. Daffodils and Narcissus are just the same. Narcissus is the proper botanical name of this flowering genus while daffodil is the common name. However, it is not uncommon to hear people from other parts of the country call daffodils as Jonquils, which is based on the name of one of its popular species Narcissus Jonquilla.
The genus name Narcissus was taken from Greek mythology of a young man who was obsessed with his own handsome looks and who broke the heart of a nymph named Echo. Narcissus fell into the water after being so engrossed in looking at his reflection and was cursed to become a flower.
Daffodil Plant Description
Daffodils are true spring perennial flowering plants. They are robust, live a long life, and easy to propagate with proper flower care. They stand out with their showy trumpet-shaped flowers that are typically composed of six petals and a cup-shaped corona. Daffodil flowers are usually white and yellow but there are also some pink and orange and two-toned varieties.
Daffodils hail from Mediterranean countries, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. In Britain, Cornwall, and Lincolnshire, there are golden fields of daffodils cultivated to be used as cut flowers.
Types of Daffodils
This flowering genus was originally described by Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus, and has 11 sections or divisions and approximately 50 recognized species and thousands of daffodil varieties.
Check out the different types of daffodils and varieties.
- Trumpet or Long Cup Daffodils (Narcissus W.P. Milner, Narcissus Mount Hood, and Narcissus Dutch Master)
- Large-cupped Daffodils (Narcissus Salome, Narcissus Carlton, Narcissus Pink Charm)
- Small-cupped Daffodils (Narcissus Birma, Narcissus Berger)
- Double Daffodils (Narcissus Delnashaugh, Narcissus Golden Ducat, Narcissus)
- Triandrus Daffodils (Narcissus Thalia, Narcissus Ice Wings, Narcissus Hawera)
- Cyclamineus Daffodils (Narcissus Jetfire, Narcissus Tete a Tete, NarcissusBaby Boomer)
- Jonquilla Daffodils (Narcissus Lemon Sailboat, Narcissus Martinette, Narcissus Pipit)
- Tazetta Daffodils (Narcissus Cragford, Narcissus Ziva, Narcissus Falconet)
- Poeticus Daffodils (Narcissus Pheasant Eye and Narcissus Actaea)
- Split Corona Daffodils (Narcissus Love Call, Narcissus Lemon Beauty, Narcissus Cassata)
- Bulbocodium Daffodils also known as Golden Bell
There are also miscellaneous unofficial divisions that are dedicated to miniature daffodils and wild species.
Daffodils Flower Meanings
In the beautiful language of blooms, daffodils have a lot of unique flower meanings. Here are some examples of daffodil symbolism all over the world.
New Beginning
Because it blooms in springtime Lent or when Easter is celebrated, spring flowers like daffodils have long been associated with rebirth, a fresh start, or new beginnings. These seasonal flowers are gorgeous announcements that winter is finally over and that spring has finally arrived. Daffodils are also fondly called the Easter Lily or Lent Lily.Luck and Prosperity
Daffodils have several flower meanings around the world. In China, the paperwhite varieties are used in the celebration of the Spring Festival or New Year, which is a major celebration for the Chinese and which happens in January or February, for good fortune.Paradise and Spiritual
In western and central parts of Europe, daffodils are normally used to adorn many churches during feasts and celebrations of spring. In artworks during the Medieval Christian times, daffodils were used to symbolize paradise.
Life After Death
In the book, Daffodil: The remarkable story of the world's most popular spring flower by Noel Kingsbury, it is said that in Muslim nations in the Middle East fresh daffodils were planted or offered in cemeteries as a symbol of death and the afterlife.
Longing and Desire
In classical Arabic poetry, Poeticus daffodils were said to represent love, longing, and desire.
Hope and Healing for Cancer Patients
The Marie Curie Cancer Care Charity gifted the spring daffodils with a new and valuable flower meaning in the 1990s -- as a symbol of hope for cancer patients. This is a known meaning in the United Kingdom and Ireland. As a matter of fact, a new Jonquil type of daffodil was named Marie Curie Diamond in commemoration of the charity’s Jubilee celebration back in 2008.
Other lovely flower meanings linked to daffodils include inspiration, forgiveness, and well wishes. Daffodils are also the birth flower of people born in the month of March.
Also Read: Flowers And Their Meanings: What Is Your Birth Flower
How to Grow Daffodils in Your Spring Garden
Daffodils can be grown anywhere, whether it is in a sprawling front or backyard garden, entryway, or in pots and containers.
- Midfall, at least two weeks before the frost, is the perfect time to start planting your daffodil garden.
- Start with good-quality bulbs.
- Make sure it receives full sun or partial shade.
- Use fertile soil and well-draining pots to avoid rotten roots.
- Keep the soil moist but do not overwater.
- Give it a little boost with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season. Switch to a low-nitrogen, high potassium fertilizer if your daffodils look unhealthy.
- Cover with mulch, which can be dried leaves, to shelter it from snow and cold winds.
Wait to be rewarded with cheerful daffodil flowers come springtime. Because they are perennial plants, expect to have another round of daffodils blooming next spring.
Spring Flower Arrangement Tips Using Daffodils
A winning quality about daffodils is that they look fantastic as a spring flower arrangement. Here are some expert tips.
Florists suggest to use them alone as a monofloral arrangement because their sap can be a bit harsh when it comes into contact with other flowers. But we do love pairing different varieties and colors of daffodils though.
If you really wish to use daffodils with other colorful spring blooms in a mixed flower arrangement, we suggest soaking them first overnight and rinsing the ends of the stem thoroughly. Using floral foam can also help to reduce the issue with the sap.
Take our your charming jars, pitchers, and whatnots and use them to carry your daffodil flower arrangements. To make them last longer, snip the end of the stems daily and change the water to prevent the bacterial growth, which causes speedy wilting and browning of the flowers.
Our latest Spring Collection features the finest flowers of this season, including tulips, peonies, daffodils, and more! Check it out now and get your orders for same-day flower delivery in Los Angeles and Orange County.
Sources:
Daffodil: The remarkable story of the world's most popular spring flower by Noel Kingsbury
A Victorian Flower Dictionary: The Language of Flowers Companion by Mandy Kirkby
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