There are over 26000 different daffodils registered; of these, it is thought that only about 10% are available commercially.
The National Gardening Association database has 26669 Daffodils listed with 7100 photos.
The most widely sold daffodil of all time is the large cupped yellow daffodil 'Carlton'. It is still available. The world's leading growers of daffodils are England, Netherlands, then USA (mostly on the west, north west coast areas of California, Oregon, and Washington).
A well-drained, sunny spot, with excellent drainage is best. Daffodils can grow in semi-shaded areas, but thrive in sunny areas.
Daffodils need plenty of water during their growing season and like to be dry in summer.
Daffodils do well with minimal fertilizer. The many large, naturalized fields of Daffodils attest to this fact, so enjoy with minimal effort in your own gardens.
The bulbs make their next year's bloom after flowering, so never cut the foliage until it begins to yellow (usually late May or June). The bulbs are receiving nutrients for next years' growth from the foliage.
They may be lifted and divided after 3-5 years if they are getting too crowded.
Daffodils may be forced for inside bloom. After forcing, you can plant them outside in the ground to enjoy for years to come.
Daffodil Division 1 - Trumpet Daffodils - The cup (trumpet) is longer than or equal to length of the the petals. One flower per stem.
Daffodil Division 2 - Large Cupped Daffodils - The cup is more than 1/3 length of the petals but not longer than the petals. One flower per stem.
Daffodil Division 3 - Small Cupped Daffodils - The cup is less than 1/3 length of the petals. One flower per stem.
Daffodil Division 4 - Double Daffodils - Double the number of petal parts or cup parts or both. No clear distinction between cup and petals.
Daffodil Division 5 - Triandrus Daffodils - Two to five pendent (hanging downward) flowers per stem. Petals are somewhat reflexed (bent backward).
Daffodil Division 6 - Cyclamineus Daffodils - Petals are swept back from the cup (significantly, at an acute angle), very reflexed.. One flower per stem.
Daffodil Division 7 - Jonquilla Daffodils - One to five small fragrant flowers per stem. Petals are spreading or reflexed. (Good for southern gardens)
Daffodil Division 8 - Tazetta Daffodils - Up to twenty fragrant small flowers per stem. (Good for southern gardens)
Daffodil Division 9 - Poeticus Daffodils - Pure white petals, small disk like cups with green or yellow center and red rim. Fragrant.
Daffodil Division 10- -Bulbocodium Daffodils - 'Hoop Petticoat' Petals insignificant to cup. One flower per stem. Short.
Daffodil Division 11a - Split-Cupped Collar Daffodil - Cup is split into segments, usually two whorls of three segments.
Daffodil Division 11b - Split Cupped (Papillon) Daffodil - cup split into six laid back (against petals) sections.
Daffodil Division 12 - Miscellaneous - Cultivars that do not fit into any other division.
Daffodil Division 13 - Distinguished by botanical name, species and wild daffodils.
According to RHS, Div.2 is the largest division accounting for 45% of registered daffodils.
Mucronate - term used describing petals meaning an abruptly tapering point such as at the end of a petal.
Variation - Daffodil color or division may vary as the bloom reaches full maturity.
Poetazes - Cross of N. poeticus (division 9) and N. tazetta (division 8). Began in the 1890's. Examples include 'Admiration', 'Martha Washington', and 'Laurens Koster'. Usually listed under division 8 Tazetta
Daffodil blindness - failure of daffodils to bloom despite healthy foliage Usual cause is overcrowding.
Crenate - having a round-toothed or scalloped edge (term used in description of cup's rim).
Striate - marked with lines
Whorl - rings of petaloid segments in a double flower
Corona - cup
Perianth - petals
ADS - American Daffodil Society
RHS - Royal Horticultural Society This esteemed body is the Keeper of the Gate for the daffodil world.
Classic - daffodils created between 1940 and 1969
Historic - daffodils created before 1940
Heirloom - pre 1930
Intermediate - Neither miniature nor standard size (examples include 'Rip van Winkle', 'Topolino', 'Grower's Pride', 'Dallas', and 'Smiling Twin').
Miniature - not an official designation; usually describes daffodils in the 6 inch height range with blooms about an inch in diameter. 'Tete-a-Tete' is a good example, probably the most utilized 'miniature'.
Sport - a mutation
Reverse bicolor - Petals are predominantly yellow, cup white.
Bicolor daffodil - Petals are predominantly white, cup yellow.
As an example - the daffodil 'Roulette - 2 _ _W - YYO and the daffodil Altun Ha - 2 YYW - W_ _.
The number (which starts the code) is which daffodil Division it is assigned to, in both examples it's a 2 which translates into Division 2, Large-Cupped Daffodil.
Roulette
The remainder of the code relates to color, the first 3 spaces available is the color of the petals, hyphon, 3 more available spaces. The spaces to the right of the hyphon relate to the color of the cup. 1st example is a blank, blank W. If only one space used, that's the color of the petals, in this case a W which equals white. Hence we now know the daffodil in question, Roulette. has all white petals. YYO completes the first code, this means the cup has a yellow base, a yellow middle and an O for orange rim to the cup.
Altun Ha
Large Cupped YYW, meaning yellow, yellow, white, or yellow tips, yellow body, white base to the petals. Then, the hyphon, W blank blank, meaning white cup.
If the daffodil code read 2 YYW-YYO, we'd have a daffodil with petals of yellow ends and yellow middle, and a white base.. Hypon. YYO meaning the cup is yellow based, with a yellow body and an orange rim.
Conversely a daffodil code might read 1 W - Y, which means Division 1 Trumpet with white petals and yellow cup.
Abbreviations used in Daffodil color codes:
Y - yellow, W - white, R - red, O - orange, P - pink, G - green
Daffodils multiply readily making them an excellent investment.
Daffodils are good for cut flowers.
Most Daffodils are forcible to make winter more colorful indoors.
Acts as a protectorate against squirrels and other garden bulb raiders because they are toxic to animals.
Deer resistant, as close to deer-proof as a plant can be.
