English
Members of the Amaryllidaceae family, daffodils (Narcissus) represent a group of very popular, early flowering spring bulbs (April/early May).
There are some 70 species and sub-species, natural hybrids and thousands of cultivars. The flowers are predominantly white or yellow. Daffodils are separated into 11 horticultural divisions based on their different flower forms.
Horticultural divisions of daffodils
- Trumpet daffodils
Trumpet daffodils are traditional daffodils with one flower per stem. The corona (trumpet) is as long as or longer than the perianth segments. - Large-cupped daffodils
Large-cupped daffodils with one good-sized flower per stem. The corona has a large cup shape. - Small-cupped daffodils
Small-cupped daffodils with one flower per stem and a cup whose length is no more than one-third the length of the surrounding petals. - Double daffodils
As the name suggests, these daffodils have double flowers, - Triandrus daffodils
Triandrus hybrids are short and usually bear two or more nodding flowers per stem; as well, the petals are reflexed. - Cyclamineus daffodils
Cyclamineus hybrids resemble cyclamens, for which the division is named. The plants are short; the nodding flowers have a long, slender and fringed corona (trumpet) and reflexed petals. This group tolerates moist soil better than any other group. - Jonquilla daffodils
Jonquilla hybrids (or jonquils) have narrow leaves and several fragrant flowers per stem. The corona (cup) is wider than it is long. - Tazetta daffodils
Tazetta cultivars have the characteristics of the N. tazetta species: the strong-scented flowers grow in clusters. Some have single flowers, other have double flowers. They are very good for indoor forcing and cut flowers. - Poeticus daffodils
Poeticus (Poet’s) daffodils have one flower per stem with a shallow corona (cup) and are mid- to late-blooming. - Wild species and hybrids
This division contains all the “wild” species and hybrids that do not fit in any other division. - Miscellaneous daffodils
These are daffodils that do not fit in any other division.
Based on an article by Francine Joly and Lise Lacouture in Quatre-Temps magazine, Vol. 23, No.1.