Daffodil Bulbs

The range extends from yellow trumpet daffodils to white and double narcissi and small wild daffodils for naturalising. Daffodils flower from March to May, are hardy and are avoided by voles. They are planted from September to November, in borders, in lawns or in pots. For indoors, choose Tazetta narcissi such as 'Paperwhite'.

Buy daffodils: forms, colours and varieties

Daffodils (Narcissus) are divided into groups by flower shape. Trumpet daffodils, the classic Easter daffodils, have a long central trumpet. Large-cupped daffodils such as 'Salome' with a salmon-pink cup or 'Sempre Avanti' with an orange cup have a shorter, wide cup. Double daffodils such as the creamy yellow 'Obdam' or the bicoloured 'Replete' bear dense, rose-like flowers. If you are looking for white daffodils, you will find suitable varieties among the doubles and the Tazettas.

The pheasant's eye narcissus (Narcissus poeticus) flowers late, in May, with white petals and a small red-rimmed cup, and is strongly scented. Multi-headed varieties such as 'Golden Dawn' carry several flowers per stem. For wildlife-friendly gardens, the 'Botanical Wild Daffodil Mix' contains small species that spread over the years. 'Paperwhite Ziva' is not hardy and is forced indoors without a cold period.

Planting time and position in Switzerland

Plant daffodil bulbs from September to November. Daffodils root early, so planting by mid-October is ideal, and by early October at higher altitudes. They grow in sun and partial shade, including beneath deciduous trees and shrubs. The soil should be free-draining but should not dry out in spring. Daffodils do not cope well with waterlogging in winter.

Planting and care

• Planting depth: about 10 to 15 cm, roughly twice the height of the bulb. Small wild daffodils 7 to 8 cm.
• Spacing: large varieties 10 to 15 cm, small species 5 to 8 cm.
• Height: 15 to 50 cm depending on variety, mostly 30 to 40 cm.
• After flowering: remove spent flowers but leave the foliage until it turns yellow. Do not knot it.
• Winter: garden daffodils are hardy throughout Switzerland and need no protection.

Clumps that flower less after a few years can be lifted in summer once the foliage has died back, divided and replanted in autumn.

Combining and uses

Daffodils go well with tulips, grape hyacinths, squills and spring perennials. Small and botanical varieties in particular naturalise in lawns. They are popular as cut flowers but release a sap that makes other flowers wilt, so stand freshly cut daffodils in water on their own for a few hours first. All parts of the daffodil are poisonous, which is why voles and deer avoid the bulbs. You will find more spring-flowering bulbs under Bulbs for autumn planting and Tulips.