Beautiful Spring Bulbs

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Delightful daffodils, jazzy jonquils, natty narcissus. These delightful blossoms are some of the most vigorous and colorful spring flowers but many gardeners are fooled by the names. Confusion has existed over the proper name for these plants for many decades. Are they a daffodil, narcissus or jonquil?

Narcissus is the generic botanical name given these plants in 1753. In England, the flowers are commonly were known as daffodils. The name spread to other countries by English-speaking people

According to the American Daffodil Society (ADS) the name daffodil and narcissus are synonyms and are interchangeable. Narcissus is the Latin or botanical name for all daffodils, just as Hemrocallis is the genus name for daylilies. Daffodil is the common name for all members of the genus Narcissus, and the ADS suggests that name unless you are writing scientific papers.

In some parts of the country any yellow daffodil is called a jonquil but the name is usually incorrect. As a rule, jonquils have several yellow flowers, strong scent, and rounded foliage. The term "jonquil" is correctly applied only to a select group of daffodils. If you follow the genealogy, narcissus is the correct botanical name for the genus; daffodil is the correct common name for all members of the genus; and jonquil correctly refers to one particular division of the genus.

Whatever their name, daffodils are a diverse group of flowers. Most botanists think there are at least 25 species and several natural hybrids. In addition to the species, the Daffodil Data Bank lists over 13,000 hybrids so there is certain to be something to please even the fussiest gardeners. All of the daffodils are divided among the twelve divisions of the official classification.

Daffodils were brought to Britain by the Romans. They thought that the sap from daffodils had healing powers but the sap actually contains chemicals that can irritate the skin. The name narcissus is not Roman but comes from Greek mythology.

A young very handsome Greek named Narcissus was quite taken with himself. A nymph called Echo had the misfortune to fall in love with Narcissus but he broke off the relationship. Heartbroken she hid in a cave and finally died. Later, Narcissus, as a part of his vanity, saw his face in a pool. As he leaned over to see himself better he fell in and drowned and was turned into the flower.

When the tree leaves show their autumn colors, get out and plant daffodils and other spring blooming bulbs. These will brighten the landscape as they push through the snow next spring. Daffodils need time to develop a good root system before cold weather sets in and the soil freezes. Try to get all of your bulbs in the ground before mid-October. Bulbs planted near the house foundation in a southern exposure or those on a southern slope generally flower earlier than the same variety in another location.

Daffodils like most other bulbs are some of the easiest flowers to grow. They come prepackaged, meaning both the flower and its food supply are already contained inside the bulb. All were formed as the bulb grew that previous year. Literally all you have to do is to plant and add water.

If you want them to establish and come back in the future, you must be a little more exacting. Select a sunny spot for your daffodils. If it seems that you have few choices, remember that when the bulbs bloom in spring, most deciduous trees do not yet have their full complement of leaves.

All spring blooming bulbs including the daffodils insist on well-drained soil. Soggy soil will quickly rot the bulbs. Avoid planting bulbs in any beds where water collects. Prepare your planting site by mixing in plenty of course organic matter to build up the soil and improve the drainage.

Do not make the mistake of planting your daffodils in holes that are not deep enough. Place them at least eight inches deep. Bulbs that are not planted deeply enough are likely to frost heave, meaning that the freezing and thawing action forces the bulbs out of the soil so they are exposed to the elements. Needless to say, bulbs that are lying on top of the soil are not going to produce decent blooms.

From a design standpoint, group your daffodils together. Many novice gardeners plant their daffodils in single, evenly spaced rows in a line or along a walkway or border or spotted throughout a bed. Whether you plant ten or ten thousand bulbs, cluster them to get the maximum color impact. Plant daffodils or other bulbs in a triangle pattern to fool the eye into seeing more flowers than you have actually planted. Face the narrow point to the common viewing position with the broad expanse of the triangle towards center of the bed. When the flowers bloom, you see a larger mass of color.

Healthy bulbs that are planted in good locations have few problems once established. To control rot problems, plant high-quality bulbs, that are well cured and free of cuts or bruises. Avoid over-fertilization, especially with nitrogen or manure and destroy any diseased plants immediately so problems do not spread.

In our area, deer and squirrels cause the most problems. Neither animal will eat the bulbs because they are poisonous but squirrels often dig them out of the soil as they tunnel. The best way to keep out the squirrels is to cover the area with chicken wire or netting. Although the mesh is not attractive at first, it is soon covered by the foliage and is barely noticeable.

No spring garden is ever complete with generous planting of wonderful narcissistic narcissus. Get your spring garden designed and planted to enjoy superb gardens next spring.