[a short article; a long list]
February: It’s too late to plant daffodil (and Narcissus) bulbs (in the Northern Hemisphere). But now is certainly the time to watch the succession of these harbingers of Spring, the flowers you’ve been waiting for since last Fall when you planted so, so many.
For this year’s show (for some, it’s already started), I propose a fun experiment and planning exercise: while you do the watching this year, keep track of what daffodils bloom when. Which variety (by name) blooms earliest, even before winter is officially over? Which blooms in early spring? And all the way through the latest in Spring, sometime in May. It’ll be kinda like “Citizens’ Science.”
Why? Even though almost all good bulb catalogs (paper-copy and online) will give you such relative times of blooms for each variety (and species, if they’re carried), few, if any, will offer a “chart” (or graph or illustration or, you get the picture) that lists all the varieties in one place in a season-by-season order. I’ve seen a handful of bulb specialists who offer beautiful illustrations of the types/classes of daffodils/narcissus in order of bloom but they’re not broken down into translatable/buyable varieties.
To start this off, I’ve put together such a list, a method to help you “fill in the gaps” or maybe even get you started with daffodils. Mind you, it’s a bit crude. I started with my own records of daffodils and species and other hybrids of Narcissus that have bloomed for me. That’s not a lot, relatively speaking. So, I went through a ton of bulb specialists’ catalogs and pulled out their notes on bloom time per each specific variety. Yes, because of vague descriptions, there was some fudging on my part.
What I am hoping for is your valuable input. Your observations, evaluations, trials, and “data” — essentially, all your input. Including and especially, even your own already-done notes.
This year, in the name of “science,” let’s follow one of the key principles of Integrated Pest Management: Monitoring. Or, in the great words of an old friend of mine, Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.D.): “Majores fertilissium in agro oculum domini esse dixerunt.” (“Our fathers used to say that the master’s eye was the best fertilizer.”). Which has usually been credited as an old English saying or an old Chinese proverb, as something along the lines of “The best fertilizer is the footprints of the gardener.” No pest management here and no fertilizer here (not even BS) but I like another translation, one that fits here best: “One of the best things you can do for your garden is to look at it.” Or, as another great philosopher, Yogi Berra, once said, “You can see a lot just by looking.” Make this the year you walk around slowly and carefully, take a LOOK at your flowers, and actually take serious notes (write them down), or even make really good mental notes.
Follow this (check)list if it helps. Add varieties if they’re not listed, of course. Make corrections/adjustments to this list. Ask questions of this list.
Keep in mind that these “seasons” (“PRE-SPRING”, “EARLY SPRING,” etc.) are “relative;” what blooms in EARLY SPRING in the North usually blooms in Winter in the South. This list is based on an estimated average for the middle zones. Find the pattern for your area and adjust your list earlier or later depending on how your varieties line up with those listed.
If you work for a botanical garden or other such public garden, golly gee it sure would be nice if you could share your daffodil blooming records.
Once this is “updated,” I will to offer this amended “tool” to all those who offer up their info and then to everyone — free. I am sure there are thousands of gardeners who want to plan next year’s daffodil show before they start buying bulbs (catalogs will be out SOON).
If you’d like to print out a pdf version of the preliminary list that follows:
DAFFODILS/NARCISSUS BY SEASON
Does not include Fall-blooming and Early-Winter-blooming Narcissus, of which there are many.
.
PRE-SPRING
Casual Elegance
Englander
February Gold
Galilee
Jetage
Little Darling
Little Emma
Little Gem
Little Stuff
Mary Poppins
Melyor
Mite
Narcissus cantabricus
Narcissus minor
Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. lobularis
Pequenita
Picolini
Rapture
Rijnveld’s Early Sensation
Rip van Winkle
Sailorman
Saint Keverne
Snipe
Snow Baby
Tête-à-Tête
Topolino
Twin Cam
.
EARLY SPRING
Abba
Ambon
Andrew’s Choice
Avalanche
Barenwyn
Barret Browning
Bittern
Butter and Eggs
Camborne
Cameo Lady
Carice
Carlton
Ceylon
Charlie Connor
Classic Garden
Color Run
Cornish King
Cotinga
Cyclataz
Delibes
Dutch Master
Elka
Erlicheer
Falmouth Bay
Fineshade
Gipsy Queen
Glowing Phoenix
Grower’s Pride
Happy Smiles
Hillstar
Ice Follies
Inbal
Jenny
Jet Fire (Jetfire)
Jumblie
Katie Heath
Kiss Me
La Riante
Little Alfred
Lucky Number
Mariner
Mallee
Marieke
Minnow
Narcissu fernandesii
Narcissus x odorus flore pleno
Narcissus romieuxii
Narcissus willkommii
Orange Comet
Orange Queen
Orange Sunset
Pebble Mill
Pesita
Pinza
Pistachio
Pledge
Polar Ice
Precocious
Rapture
Roundita
Rubilina
Seagull
Sissy
Skilliwidden
Sovereign
Tangerine Beauty
Tête Boucle
Unique
Velocity
W. P. Milner
Watch Up
White Petticoat
Winter Waltz
.
EARLY TO MID-SPRING
Abstruse
Arctic Bells
Avalanche of Gold
Bath’s Flame
Bell Fly
Bella Ciao
Blossom Lady
Brilliancy
Brindabella
Brush Fire
Cameo Gem
Chanson
Corby Candle
Cornish Chuckles
Country Road
Crowndale
Dane With Me
Dayton’s Choice
Doctor Bill
Dunstan’s Fire
Eden Song
El Condor
First Team
Habit
Hello Sunshine
Honeybourne
Hummingbird
I Love You
It’s A Date
Jack Snipe
Little Spell
Little Spring King
Lord Snooty
Love You More
Lumen Lemon
Manly
Maria Pia
Martinette
Mesa Verde
Mitimoto
My Dearest
Nickelodeon
Online
Orange Comet
Paradale
Peppercorn
POPS Legacy
Red Passion
Right Stuff
Rising Star
Romantique
Sandra’s Choice
Snowcarpet
Spring Petals
Sugared Fruit
Temba
Terminator
The Foxtrot
The Godfather
Trousdale
Twink
White Tea
.
MID-SPRING
Accent
Ahwahnee
Akeepa
Angel’s Whisper
Apricot Whirl
April Queen’ Baby Boomer
Arctic Gold
Areley Kings
Arona
Ashton Wold
Astrid’s Memory
Badgeworth
Beau Beautè
Bellabombe
Best Friend
Birky
British Gamble
Broadwalk Beauty
Bronzewing
Cameo Affair
Cameo Fire
Cameo Joy
Cameo Marie
Canny Choice
Canyon Wren
Carra’s Favorite
Castle Acre
Cherry Hall
Churchfield Bells
Cold Play
Colonial White
Cosine
Creag Dubh
Crystal Blanc
Dainty Monique
Dance All Day
Diversity
Double Smiles
Drama Queen
Draycote Water
Dunchurch
Dutch Crown
Dutch Master
Easter Born
Elizabeth Ann
English Caye
Eric’s Choice
Flower Surprise
F 69
Fencourt Jewel
Feu de Joie
Firebrand
Flight Path
Flor d’ Luna
Frank Miles
French Kiss
Gentleman’s Choice
Golden Echo
Golden Symphony
Grand Monarque
Great joy
Gringo
Hartlebury
Heat Torch
Hollowbridge
High Society
Horace
Ice Follies
Impreza
In Love
Inglescombe
Insulinde
Jamestown
Jammin
Jenna
Juliet’s Choice
Just For You
Joyce Spirit
Kaka Point
Kapiti Peach
Kaykay
King Alfred
Kiwi Magic
Kokopelli
La Delicatesse
Lavender Hope
Lemon Choice
Let’s Dance
Let’s Kiss
Lighthouse Reef
Lilac Charm
Limequilla
Little Dianne
Little Jewel
Love Me Tender
Loving Her
Lowena
Lucifer
Magician’s Choice
Martha Stewart
Mary Lou
Mazzard
Merry Me
Millenium Orange
Minnowlet
Miss Klein
Miss Meliss
Moonlight Sensation
Moon Madness
Mount Hood
Narcissus fernandesii var. cordubiensis
Narcissus rupicola
Narcissus triandrus
Narrative
Neon Blaze
Nightfire
Oh Cindy!
Oma
Ombersley
Oops
Orangery
Orange Trim
Palace Pink
Peeping Tom
Pink Topaz
Pixie’s Sister
Pol Crocan
Polly’s Pearl
Pretty Prickles
Professor Einstein
Rachel’s Magic Spell
Replete
Resplendent
Rongoiti Gem
Round Oak
Rowell Fair
Rustom Pasha
Sailor’s Choice
Salou
Sherborne
Shirley’s Art
Shy Lass
Silk Bay
Silver Convention
Smiley
Solara
Spring Paradijs
Starlight Sensation
Strike A Pose
Summer Breeze
Sundazed
Sunlight Sensation
Sunny Choice
Suzy
Sweet Love
Sweetness
Sweet Ocean
Tiny Bubbles
Triple Crown
Triton Pink
Tropic Isle
Truculent
Vendell
Vivash
Waylon
Whiskey Mac
White Lady
White Spring
Wild Honey
Winks
You’re Beautiful
Zypani
.
MID TO LATE SPRING
Actaea
Airtime
Angel Face
Angel’s Breath
Angof
Bionic
Burning Ring
Canaliculatus (not N. canaliculatus)
Caribbean Snow
Cheerfulness
Contralto
Curlew
Dailmanach
Deb’s Jewel
Dena
Double Dee
Dr. Bob
Early Splendour
Eve Robertson
Evesham
Fairy Chimes
Fashion Model
Firebright
Gay Tabor
Geranium
Greetham
Habari
Holme Fen
Indian Maid
Jody
Louise de Coligny
Montroig
Narcissus × incomparabilis
Niveth
Obdam
Pueblo
Quiet Waters
Ring Fence
Roulette
Sabin Hay
Sheskin
Sidley
Silver Choice
Slice of Life
Stef
Swift Arrow
Tiger Moth
Tommy’s White
Trena
Tru
Will Scarlet
Xit
Yellow Cheerfulness
Yellow Parrot
Yellow Queen
Yellow Xit
.
LATE SPRING
Acropolis
Air Castle
Albatross
Amalgamation
Amore Mio
April Queen
Argent
Arid Plains
Armidale
Aspasia
Baby Boomer
Beautiful Dream
Bebop
Bella Vista
Bobbysoxer
Boslowock
Bravoure
Bridal Crown
Broomhill
Cameo Flush
Cameo King
Cameo Magic
Cameo Star
Camilla Clara Kate
Carol Lombard
Chappie
Cherry Glow
Chinita
Chipper
Chit Chat
Clare
Clovelly Ayr
Dainty Miss
Dancing Moonlight
Delnashaugh
Diego
Doctor Alex Fleming
Edged In Gold
Fortissimo
Flomay
Flower Record
Flying High
Foundling
Fragrant Rose
Frostbite
Garden Opera
Garden Party
Golden Delicious
Hawera
High Society
Hunter Sunrise
Kedron
Lady Meads
Lemon Beauty
Lieke
Little Kiwi
Liverpool Festival
Lorikeet
Martinette
Mary Plumstead
Misty Glen
Motmot
Mount Hood
Mrs. R.O. Backhouse
My Sweetheart
Narcissus canaliculatus
Narcissus jonquilla
Narcissus poeticus
Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus (Pheasant’s Eye)
Neon Light
Netherwood Marsh
Notre Dame
Oxford Gold
Pacific Rim
Palheiro
Perpetua
Petrel
Pipit
Polgooth
Pride of Lions
Proseco
Quail
Queen of the North
Rikki
Ring Flash
Ringing Bells
Roadrunner
Roger Love
Sabrosa
Salome
Silver Smiles
Sinopel
Sir Winston Churchill
Smiling Twin
Snowball
Spinner
Stafford
Stainless
Stratosphere
Stocken
Sufar Dipped
Sun Bronze
Sun Disc
Surfside
Tahiti
Tazetta Compressus
Thalia
Three of Diamonds
Trelissick
Tresamble
Twinkling Yellow
Wink O’ Green
You are welcome to send me your garden notes (partial or whole) at any time during the daffodil season. Or send them when the full season (as indicated by those varieties in the “LATE SEASON” group) is over. Send them by posting a comment here. Or send to my email: backtothenewbasics@yahoo.com. Or send them to my cousin, a Prince in Nigeria, with your ss# and a check for …
Anddd if you have a chance, restack this article; I figure the more gardeners who see it, the more will provide input, and the more definitive and useful this becomes. Thanks.
A big THANK YOU to the Substacker who prompted this article by asking the question about when daffodils bloom. She found serious gaps in her daffodil show (essentially, it was actually one big gap, with only mid-spring varieties providing the whole show). For the life of me, I can’t remember her name/Substack (SO SORRY) and I can’t find her NOTE that asked the question. If anyone knows, please chime in.
© Copyright Joe Seals, 2025.
mine are blowing now