How to Grow and Care for Daffodils

Wild daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is a perennial flower that grows from bulbs. It is a common ornamental plant, famous for its pale-yellow flowers with a bright-yellow central trumpet. In the wild, Narcissus pseudonarcissus can be found in forests, grasslands, and rocky terrains. Its bulbs and leaves are poisonous when ingested.

Chinese sacred lily (Narcissus tazetta) is an ornamental perennial plant. The chinese sacred lily notably grows from a bulb and is native to the Mediterranean region and grown throughout the world. It is a commercial source of essential oil in France.

Petticoat daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium) is a perennial plant that grows from a bulb and will reach heights from 30 to 91 cm tall. A member of the daffodil family, it produces unusual-looking flowers that resemble hooped petticoats. Flowers are bright yellow, fragrant and bloom in spring. Thrives in full sun to partial shade, requires little maintenance.

The paperwhite narcissus is suitable as a cut flower for use in table displays during winter. The blooms are incredibly fragrant and act as a perfume in the room, and the stems can bear up to ten beautiful white flowers. All parts of the plant are poisonous, including the bulbs. It’s often sold at Christmas time and given as gifts.

Poet's narcissus (Narcissus poeticus) might be the fabled narcissus of ancient times—celebrated so much in literature and art. Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher, mentioned a flower in his Historia Plantarum that scholars think might be poet's narcissus. It was also the flower that, in Ancient Greek mythology, Persephone was collecting when Hades pulled her down into the underworld.