Nick Bailey picks daffs to keep you in flowers for half the year
Use these varieties for six months of blooms
Over the last few weeks I’ve barely been able to open my front door thanks to the inordinate quantity of bulb catalogues that arrive each day. It’s my own fault. Spring bulbs are like an addiction for me and last year I slightly overdid it. My bulbs cost me more than a mini-break, but the happiness they bought lasted far longer than a wet weekend in Bruges. So, this year I’m focusing on daffodils alone. I was lucky enough to spend a day with the undisputed King of Daffs, Johnny Walkers, earlier this year while filming for
Gardeners’ World. What he reminded me was that with careful selection it’s possible to have six months of daffs in your garden from as few as five species or varieties. Yes, really! I managed to do it when I was running Chelsea Physic Garden and here’s how:
Narcissus ‘Cedric Morris’ (Dec–Jan)
This might just be the most expensive daffodil you ever buy but it’s worth it for the sheer decadence of daffs in December. It’s a dwarf bulb reaching up to around 25cm (10in), with delicate nodding flowers in mid-pale yellow with spikey-looking petals. Train the CCTV on this one – the neighbours will want it!
Narcissus ‘Jetfire’ (March–April)
The baby of the bunch at 18cm (7in) ‘Jetfire’ is a real winner for pots, troughs, rockeries and border fronts. It has bright yellow petals with a striking orange trumpet, is easy to grow and just happens to be a favourite of Mr Johnny Walkers!
Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’ (Jan–Feb)
I’ve grown this many times and it should perhaps be called ‘Rijnveld’s Reliable’ as it has always flowered in late January and early February for me, unlike the dubiously titled ‘February Gold’, which regularly fails to flower in said month. It’s much bulkier than ’Cedric’ and starts out with nodding mid-yellow flowers suffused with green at the base of the corolla. As it musters up strength it reaches around 40cm (1¼ft) with forward-facing flowers that will last four to six weeks.
Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Feb–March)
This is our native daffodil and I personally think it’s one of the best. Its trumpet is a light yellow but the petals behind it are a creamy-white, creating a dreamy bi-tone blend. It’s great for naturalising in grass but also works in pots and borders. It has a pretty blue note to its leaves and reaches some 40cm (1¼ft).