Almost everyone is familiar with the common Daffodil, whose scientific name is Narcissus. These flowers seem to pop up everywhere in early spring. They’ve become a very popular bulb to plant in autumn and I always look forward to seeing them on cold, chilly, April mornings at Windy Hill in Pennsylvania.

what’s interesting about this common flower?

You may not know that the name Narcissus comes from a Greek myth about a handsome youth who fell in love with his reflection in a pool of water. He was so obsessed with his reflection that he tried to grab it and fell to his death. When Daffodils sprung up on that site, they were named Narcissus in remembrance of the boy. Fun stuff.

So diverse

Narcissus is a diverse genus with over 50 species of flowering plants, including daffodils, jonquils, and paperwhites. They are a bulbous, perennial plant which means you’ll see them year after year. They also naturalize very well, meaning they will spread around to other areas of your garden if you want them to. I always leave my daffodil bulbs in the ground and each year I see more and more. Here are a few varieties growing on our farm.

Did you know?

Historical texts and archaeological digs reveal that daffodils were cultivated by the ancient Greeks and Romans, who believed that the sap from daffodil bulbs contained healing powers. This belief carried into medieval Europe, where daffodils were used in various remedies. As interesting as that is, they are also very toxic.

Toxicity

All parts of the narcissus plant are toxic if ingested, especially the bulb. They can cause skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, and even death in extreme cases. Keep them away from children and pets. Likewise, when placing stems in water, it’s best to separate daffodils from other cut flowers, as they could poison the vase.

On The Bright Side

Daffodils are the official 10th wedding anniversary flower and it is also the national flower of Wales. You can read more about that here. I have included some Narcissus links for your convenience. If you are not already growing some, please give them a try. Thanks for visiting, come again. - Kim