Daffodils, The Spring Bringers
Tulips, narcissi, hyacinths, snowdrops…. there are so many beautiful flower bulbs, and they all have their own charm and characteristics. In this blog series we would like to introduce you to a variety of them, helping you to make the best choices for your garden and grow the spring display of your dreams!
Yellow For True Spring
When you see the first daffodils, you know that winter has truly gone! This hardy spring bringer comes in an astounding range of varieties, from little yellow mini daffodils to dramatic and frilly white & salmon eye catchers. Beloved the world over, there’s a daffodil for every taste and garden. Let’s find out more about this versatile flower bulb:
Plant Passport
- Height
Larger daffodils grow up to 18 inches, while mini daffodils measure between 8 and 14 inches in height.
- Fragrance
About half of the daffodil varieties sold at DutchGrown are fragrant. If you want your spring to be a feast not only for your eyes, but also for your nose, mini daffodil Rockgarden Mixed or daffodil Daffodil Fragrant Mix are excellent choices.
- Color
When you think of daffodils, the first thing that comes to mind is their striking yellow color. And maybe you remember having seen some white and pale yellow varieties as well. But did you know about varieties like Sunny Girlfriend, Prosecco or Red Devon, that wow with their apricot, salmon and orange contrast-colors?
- Bloom time
The majority of daffodils bloom in early to mid-spring, but if you simply can’t wait for those first daffodils, mini daffodil February Gold lives up to its name by gracing your garden as early as late winter.
- Longevity
Daffodils are perennial flower bulbs, coming back year after year. The majority of daffodils are also naturalizers, meaning that every year you’ll get a few more of them.
- Different types
From a botanical point of view, daffodils can be divided into four categories: double daffodils like the festive Queensday, trumpet daffodils like the classic Dutch master, mini daffodils like snow white Thalia, and large cupped daffodils like pale yellow Avalon.
But when deciding on which daffodils to get for your garden, you could also place them on a scale from classic to extravagant: starting with a beloved standard like Salome, via the more unusual Flower Parade, all the way to the flamboyant Apricot Whirl.
- Planting
Daffodils should be planted on a crisp fall day, 2-4 weeks before the ground freezes. Pick a place that gets full sun or partial shade, with well-draining soil. Plant the daffodil bulbs between 4-6 inches deep, depending on the variety. Daffodils will tolerate some crowding, but they prefer to be spaced 3 to 6 inches apart. After you’ve watered them well, you can pretty much forget about them all winter long, since you don’t have to protect them from deer and others critters, who don’t like their taste.
- Forcing
The Paperwhite variety of daffodils is one of the most popular bulbs to grow indoors during the winter. You can force them in soil or in water. For soil forcing, choose a container with drainage holes that can hold at least 3-5 inches in soil. Plant the bulbs with their tips slightly below the pot rim, 1-2 inches apart. Water them very well and let them drain. Paperwhites don’t need a long chilling period, two weeks in a space where it’s 50-60 F is enough. After that, move them to a warmer room with indirect sunlight for a week. Finally, place them on a windowsill or table in a warm room, and enjoy this spring presence in your home. For water forcing, fill a container half full of clean pebbles or marbles and place the bulbs on top of this material, close enough to almost touch. Add a bit more material to support the bulbs, and then add water until it reaches just the bottom of the bulbs. Place this container in a cool dark location for two weeks, making sure to keep checking the water level and replenishing when needed. After two weeks move them to a warmer, sunnier area and enjoy a flowery festive season.
- Container Planting
Daffodils are excellent for container planting, and they are an excellent middle layer for lasagna planting. Follow the instructions in the link and you’ll be able to create a stunning mini-garden on your porch, in your hanging planters or on your windowsill.
- Pricing
Here at DutchGrown we want to offer you the largest online collection of wholesale daffodil bulbs, including many unique varieties. If you want to plant a large amount of daffodils, then our landscaper specials are just the ticket: daffodil Flower Record starts at $0.58 / bulb for 50 bulbs, but you can save up to 40% if you get larger quantities, like $0.36 / bulb for 5000 bulbs. If you feel fancy, the amazing reversed bi-color daffodil Green Garden is the perfect variety for you. Prices start at 1.25 / bulb for 10 bulbs, but go all the way down to 0.74 / bulb for a thousand bulbs.
- Combinations
Daffodils go very well with tulips, especially highly contrasting red and purple tulips like Golden Gate Collection or Sunlover.
Daffodils, delivered.
Want to feast your eyes on the luscious color of daffodils next spring? The great Eight Weeks of Daffodils collection or our Double Daffodil Mix will help you get the most out of this quintessential spring flower. Simply go to our colorful website, place your order and your daffodils will arrive at your door at precisely the right moment for fall planting.
