Narcissus spp. is a genus of plants known for their eye-catching flowers – with many different species, native to North Africa and Europe. More commonly known as daffodils, they are one of the most popular and easily grown bulb plant for the landscape. In Southern California (like other warm climates), daffodils are mostly planted as annuals (they die after one growing season). Known as one of the first plants to bloom in early spring, daffodils represent rebirth and regeneration coming out of winter.
Daffodils, which have many different varieties and forms (by some estimates it has over 100 species with many more cultivars), ranges in shape and flower color, but they are mostly found in yellow with trumpet shaped cups. These plants are planted as bulbs in mid to late fall, blooming in early spring and reaching their most spectacular around a month after the last frost.
The iconic daffodil
Landscape Planting – Narcissus spp. Basics
Botanical Name: Narcissus spp.
Common Name: Daffodils
Type: bulb, annual and perennial
Native Range: North Africa and Europe
Size: 6 to 20 inches tall, 2 to 12 inches wide
Bloom Time: Spring
Bloom Color: Yellow, white, orange, pink
Sun: Full sun to partial sun
Growth Rate: Fast
Water & Soil: Organically rich, moist, but well-draining soil
Maintenance: Much of the work for daffodils is in planting the bulbs. As the blooms fade, you can remove the top portion of each flower stem to remove the spend flower and prevent them from seeding.
Suggested Use: Group planting, spring color
Daffodils have any different species and bloom colors and shapes
For landscape planting, daffodils usually grow best in full sun areas, but many species can handle part sun. Our landscape designers at Creative Concepts Landscape will be happy to look over your property and determine areas that are optimal for these types of plants.
Our designers can take a look at your property and see if daffodils’ needs can be met. We create a design plan for all of our consultations to determine what plants and needs match each individual property. Daffodils makes an excellent addition to colorful spring gardens. Their long light green leaves and beautiful flowers can be incorporated into many different design types. Again, Creative Concepts Landscape will help to determine the best location on your property, or create the conditions to promote a healthy, beautiful garden.
Daffodils have moderate water requirements and prefer to stay in moist, organically rich soil. But make sure the soil is well draining – the bulbs will rot if they sit in soaked soil. During spring they will need irrigation systems or regular hand watering. Creative Concepts Landscape has installed many irrigation systems (drip and sprinkler), and we would be happy to take a look at your property to come up with a design that could meet daffodils needs.
Daffodils prefer well-draining soils, which much of the soil in Southern California is. Often, you will want to add potting soil to increase the organic content of the soil. Creative Concepts Landscape will determine what conditions would be best for daffodils in your landscape and make the necessary additions and changes.
Daffodil bulbs should be planted in fall for an early spring bloom
Pruning & Maintenance
Daffodils do have maintenance needs, from planting the bulbs at the right time in fall, to making sure they have adequate water (but not too much), and finally trimming them and tending to their bulbs. In many cases, providing supplemental water for these plants, while they are growing in spring, is the highest maintenance requirement. Creative Concepts Landscape has been installing irrigation systems for over twenty years. We will be happy to schedule a consultation and come up with an irrigation system plan and install it. Creative Concepts landscape also repairs and refurbishes existing irrigation systems, so they are in optimal, efficient condition.
Outside of maintaining an irrigation system for daffodils, they will need some pruning when the time is right. Creative Concepts Landscape has options for maintenance schedules. Many of our clients have us maintain their property weekly or two times a month, however we also offer periodic cleanups. These cleanups range from four times a year, twice a year, and sometimes once a year. We will be happy to talk with you and determine a maintenance/cleanup schedule that fits your property needs.
Daffodils planted in large groupings makes for an eye-catching carpet of color
Landscape Uses
For landscape planting, daffodils grow well in a variety of locations with full sun and partial sun, and is useful as an eye-catching group planting. Creative Concepts Landscape gets many requests for garden installations, of which daffodil can be a beautiful addition. Our team of designers and technicians has decades of experience designing and installing gardens.
Creative Concepts Landscape creates a landscape plan and design for your specific property characteristics along with your wants. Our highly experienced designers will be able to see what plant types and layout will complement your landscape’s existing features to come up with a planting design plan.
Thank you for joining us again in this week’s horticultural adventures. Please come back next Wednesday for out next blog post, and as always, contact us for all your landscape needs!
By Daniel Williams
Client Liaison for Creative Concepts Landscape