Daffodils are one of the easiest bulbs to grow and provide a wealth of early spring colour in your English Garden.
They are found growing wild in many parts of Britain.

Narcissus is the botanical name for the entire species, however is often used the dainty white-flowered types or those that grow in clusters.
Daffodils are the traditionally the common large yellow trumpet types.

Today you can buy daffodils from purest white to golden yellow and all the shades in between.
There are tiny dwarf species suitable for rockeries through to large double flowered varieties that make excellent cut flowers.

They burst into bloom before the majority of herbaceous perennials have started to grow so extending the flowering season your borders and are usually hardy in zones 3 – 8.

Daffodils look good growing under deciduous trees and shrubs or in lawns planted in drifts of twelve or more bulbs and left to naturalise.

History
In Greek mythology Narcissus was a handsome youth who on looking into a pool, saw his own reflection and thinking what he saw was a water nymph promptly fell deeply in love.
He refused to leave his own reflection – and was dying from lack of food and water when the Greek gods took pity on him and turned him into a flower on the bank of the pool

Cultivation

• Daffodils will grow in most soils but they thrive in well drained, fertile soil in a sunny spot or light shade.
  
  
• September to October are the best months for planting but you can plant up to the end of November if the weather is frost-free.
  
  
• Plant in a hole deep enough so that you have about 4inches or 10cm of soil above the top of the bulb.
  
  
• If the soil is clay then add a little sand underneath the bulb to assist drainage. Daffodils hate having wet bottoms!
  
  
• Daffodil flowers will look at the sun so take note of this when you are deciding where to plant. them; otherwise they may all be facing away from you!
  
  
• Dead head after they have flowered and then give them some bone meal.
  
  
• The most important thing to remember is - not to cut the foliage until at least six weeks after they have flowered.
  
  
• For the best blooms, lift and divide daffodils every 4 – 5 years.
  
  
  
  I recommend Geoff Hodge's book on bulbs if you want to find out more on the different types of bulbs and how and where to plant them. It is easy to use and has an interesting section on dealing with bulb problems and pests.
  
  Bulbs by Geoff Hodge
  
  

Enjoy your garden !