If I had to pick one flower to be, hands down I would choose a daffodil. They have so many wonderful qualities that make them such standouts in the garden, and I’m one of their biggest fans.
Daffodils and narcissus are some of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, are very cold hardy, and can be grown in most zones. Their bulbs perennialize and multiply year over year, they are extremely resistant to harsh weather (especially cold, wet springs), the deer ignore them, and they make excellent, long-lasting cut flowers—many are even fragrant! What’s not to love?
When I first started growing cut flowers, I thought that all daffodils were the same—giant, bright yellow, plastic-looking blooms that were a cheerful sign of spring, but not very well-liked.
But then I met a seventh-generation Dutch flower farmer who specialized in spring flowers grown from bulbs. His fields were filled with dozens and dozens of unique varieties that looked nothing like the daffodils I knew, and he introduced me to so many special cultivars.
Every year since then I’ve expanded my collection, and I now have more than 240 varieties growing around the farm. We’ve recently updated the Floret Library with a ton of new additions, so if you’re looking for some new treasures, be sure to explore it.
In the early years, I chose varieties specifically for cutting, and unless they had really long stems and large, showy flower heads, they didn’t make the cut.
But over time, my needs have changed and my tastes have evolved, and I now grow every shape, size, and color I can get my hands on, including ones with bright strawberry throats, blush outer petals, or shaggy blooms—some even have a glittery wash that gives them an iridescent feel.
Some varieties only grow to be a few inches tall, while others are as long as my arm. Some have a single gigantic flower on a stiff stem, while others produce more than a dozen tiny star-like blooms that dangle from their stems like little bells.
Over time, the way that we grow our daffodils has also evolved. In the beginning, we planted them in long, straight rows in the cutting garden, but as my collection grew, I eventually ran out of space, and a few summers back Chris lovingly moved all 40,000 bulbs out into the orchard to grow at the feet of our apple trees.
In the spring, when both the apples and the daffodils are flowering at the same time, there’s nothing more beautiful.
We also grow quite a few daffodils around the farm. Rather than placing them in rows in beds, they are planted in informal, natural-looking drifts in the grass, where they can multiply and spread over time, called naturalizing.
I was inspired by Tasha Tudor, who planted her daffodils this way, and I love that it gives them a wild quality, like they grew without human intervention.
If you’d like to see the different ways we grow our daffodils, plus get answers to some of the most common growing questions, be sure to watch the video above.
In addition to being so low maintenance and easy to grow, daffodils are excellent for cutting, and they last nearly a week in the vase if they’re picked at the right stage. Harvest blooms before they fully open when the buds are still slightly nodding, also known as the gooseneck stage.
Flowers can also be picked once they’ve opened, but they won’t last quite as long. Their stems ooze a slimy sap, so be sure to wear gloves when picking.
This slimy sap is toxic to other flowers, and their vase life will be significantly shortened if they are combined with freshly picked daffodils. To avoid affecting other blooms in an arrangement, you’ll need to condition the daffodils first.
To do this, place freshly cut stems into cool water, on their own, for 2 to 3 hours. During that time, the stem ends will callus over and the sap will stop flowing. After that, they can be added to arrangements—just don’t recut the stems because they will start leaking again. If you’re arranging daffodils on their own, no special conditioning is required.
Over the years I have purchased bulbs from a number of suppliers, from big wholesale distributors to small, specialty breeders. There’s nothing more thrilling than hunting for new varieties or finding a brand-new source. You can find all of my favorite sources for bulbs here.
Most companies list their availability around the time that daffodils are blooming and you’ll want to order early for the best selection, especially if you’re looking to find some of the more rare and coveted varieties.
I hope I’ve inspired you to explore the wild and beautiful world of daffodils and maybe add a few new treasures to your garden this season!
Please note: If your comment doesn’t show up right away, sit tight; we have a spam filter that requires us to approve comments before they are published.
Kristi Meluck on
Amazing evolution of the plant kingdom !