Flower facts – Narcissus and Daffodils

Whether you call them daffodils or narcissus, everyone can agree that these blooms are absolutely gorgeous. Bursting in colour and beauty, here are some fun flower facts you should keep in mind when displaying them as cut flowers or growing them yourself.

Unique appearance

When you order these blooms from your local florist, you will notice that one of the most obvious flower facts is that they have a truly unique appearance. The way in which the petals are shaped and arranged create a superb floral trumpet. These flowers grow from bulbs and they are known to bloom in the spring. This makes them a popular choice during the Chinese New Year. While we all associate them with the colour yellow, they are also available in white. Regardless of the colour, they are known for their sweet perfume.

Growing them yourself

If you are planning on growing these plants in your home or garden, it’s important that you plant the bulbs in autumn. This is one of the most important flower facts to keep in mind since they need to spend the winter in the ground so that they are ready to grow and bloom the following spring. They prefer slightly acid soil and it should be properly drained too. Once the plants are done blooming, you should let the leaves turn yellow. You should wait until May or June to cut away the dying plant material. This ensures that the plant will grow and bloom the next year. In most areas, you can leave the bulbs in place and they will grow all on their own after resting through the winter season.

Now that you know a few important narcissus and daffodil flower facts, it will make them that much easier to grow. Don’t forget, if you do wish to display them as cut flowers, you should wear gloves when picking them. The substance they release through their stems can cause skin irritations. If you wish to display them with other flowers in the same vase, you should allow them to rest in their own vase or bucket of water for 24 hours first. If not, the substance released by the stems can cause your other flowers to perish.