Daffodils: More than King Alfred
by Diane Linsley
pictures by Mary Durtschi and Diane Linsley
There's nothing like a garden full of
daffodils to cheer up the winter-weary
gardener. With enough varieties, a
garden can be bursting with these bright
blooms from late March to early May.
Those who are only familiar with the old
standby, King Alfred, will be shocked to discover that there are many different colors and forms of daffodils. Daffodils are grouped into 13 classes or divisions. For full descriptions of these, plus beautiful pictures and helpful hints, visit the American Daffodil Society.
Growing Daffodils
Daffodils are one of the easiest bulbs to grow, often living for many years with minimal care. Of course, they don't mind a little pampering. Here are some tips for growing great daffodils:
1. Plant the bulbs about 6" apart and 6" deep, or twice as deep as the bulb is tall (from the root end to the pointy tip).
2. Plant in well-drained soil in a spot that receives at least half a day of sun. Planting under deciduous trees is fine, since most trees don't leaf out until the bulbs are finished blooming.
3. Mix some organic, granular bulb fertilizer (5-10-10) into the soil at the bottom of the hole at planting time, and top-dress again in early spring when the new growth emerges. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which encourage leaves at the expense of flowers. Follow the directions on the label. Because I like to use the most natural, organic gardening methods possible, I mix bone meal with well-composted manure, and I place a small handful of this mixture in the bottom of each hole. Water thoroughly after planting so the bulbs can start growing roots.
4. When the daffodils are done blooming, cut off the faded flowers so they won't waste energy making seeds. You'll be rewarded with more flowers the next year.
5. Don't cut off the leaves until they turn completely yellow or brown. The leaves help the bulb store up energy for next year's flower display. True, the dying daffodil foliage can be a little unsightly in June. But if you have enough other plants blooming in the garden, no one will notice. Hardy annuals can be grown as "bulb covers". The seeds are sown in the fall, and they grow quickly and bloom early the following summer, hiding the daffodil foliage from sight.
6. Divide clumps of daffodils every few years when they become crowded, after the leaves turn yellow. This is a good time to spread the bulbs around, share them with friends, or trade with other daffodil collectors.
Companion Plants for Daffodils
There are daffodils to fit into any garden design, even miniature varieties for the rock garden. Daffodils look best planted in groups of five to twenty or more. Planting in patches looks more natural than planting in rows. Be sure to add some companion plants to bring out the best in your daffodil display. Here are my favorite companion plants for daffodils:
Chinodoxa (Glory of the Snow)
Daphne odorata (a spring-blooming shrub)
Grape Hyacinths (Muscari species)
Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis)
Tulips (early and midseason)
Striped Squill (Puschkinia libanotica)
Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica)
Viola (Violets and pansies)
Pictures of Daffodils
Now for the fun part. Some of these pictures were taken by my friend, Mary Durtschi, who has a fantastic collection of daffodils.
Warning: Collecting daffodils can become an addiction. My favorite source for daffodil bulbs is John Scheepers. Mary gets some of hers from Mitsch Novelty Daffodils.
