New Fancy Daffodils for Early Spring

We introduced a number of fancy daffodils to our Early Spring program last year, and the response was pretty good. It was so good that we are adding three new cultivars to our collection, and bringing back most of last year’s mix. Daffodils are turning into interesting display plants—especially the doubles. Breeders are turning out different styles of ruffles and scallops on the bloom, as well as extending the color mixes into some deeper tones.

In the singles, we have seen some standard color combinations get even bigger blooms and stronger stems—always a plus for outdoor rain performance. If you haven’t reviewed your daffodil choices in the past few years, this would be a good time for a refresher.

THE NEW ONES

‘Akita’
In our opinion, a better orange trumpet daffodil. A very big trumpet on a very big single bloom, it grows about 14 to 16 inches. Known for its strong stems that stand up to the rain; landscapers like it for its high visibility from a distance.

‘Holland Sensation’
Another large trumpet daffodil. This variety has clean white petals and a very long, golden-yellow trumpet. It grows taller than other daffodils at 18 to 24 inches.

‘Double Fashion’
Unique lemon petals with twists of orange in the center. Best used where people can approach it closely to see the unusual blooms. Popular in Europe and now just arriving over here. Grows about 12 to 16 inches.

RETURNING SINGLES

‘Mon Cheri’
White daffodil that opens with a pale apricot trumpet. As it matures, the color on the trumpet deepens to a rich orange. It looks as if the same plant has different daffodils. Grows 14 to 16 inches.

‘Red Devon’
Deep yellow petals that lie very flat with a dark orange trumpet. Red Devon has a cup-style trumpet, so the flower is very flat compared to others. Grows 12 to 16 inches.

‘Sempre Avanti’
Very pale petals that like to curve backwards. Large cup-style trumpet starts off light gold when it opens and darkens to an orange as it matures. Grows 14 to 18 inches.

‘Pink Parasol’
White petals with a light pink trumpet that darkens to a rosy hue. The petals are short, so this is a round-looking daffodil. Grows 14 to 16 inches.

‘Ice Follies’
The popular all-white daffodil. Probably the second most popular cultivar for mass plantings after the standard yellow. Sometimes, we see the two mixed together to create a butter & cream bulb garden.

‘Yellow’
Standard yellow daffodil—the classic daffodil we remember from when we were children. Grows about 16 inches.

RETURNING DOUBLES

‘Double Beauty’
Deep butter-yellow petals with a nasturtium-orange ruffle in the center. Double petals and a double trumpet make for a richly colored daffodil that’s great in cut flower arrangements. Grows about 18 to 20 inches.

‘Double Pink Paradise’
Yellow double petals surround a small double trumpet. This is a very sculpted daffodil. Grows about 12 to 14 inches.

‘White Lion’
Double white petals crowd around a creamy yellow double trumpet. This daffodil is a very full flower. Grows about 16 to 18 inches.

It’s important to pre-order the fancy daffodils if you want them. Even though we are increasing our numbers, we suspect a lot of the popular ones will be pre-sold even before we have them in bloom. As a result, you can’t count on them to be on the Availability List when the time comes.