Daffodils: late-winter colour, vase tips and pet safety

Where the name comes from

Daffodils belong to the genus Narcissus, named after a youth in Greek myth who fell for his own reflection. The flower itself is cheerful rather than vain: six petal-like segments around a central trumpet or cup, in yellow, cream, white or soft orange. Wild forms come from meadows and woodland in southern Europe and North Africa, and gardeners have bred thousands of cultivars since.

What daffodils mean to Australians

• Hope. Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day, held in late August, has made the yellow bloom a familiar sign of support for people living with cancer.
• A fresh start. They come up when the cold is easing, so they are a natural gift for someone beginning something new.
• Cheer. A bunch of yellow on a grey day is hard to beat as a thank-you or a get-well gesture.

Thinking of sending flowers to brighten someone’s week? Daffodils are one of the best-value ways to do it in winter.

Types worth knowing

• Paperwhites: Clusters of small white, strongly scented flowers. They need little winter chill, so they suit Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and warm parts of Adelaide.
• 'Tête-à-Tête': A small, early yellow that fits pots and window boxes.
• 'Ice Follies': Broad white petals with a pale cup, graceful in a tall vase.
• 'Cheerfulness': Double, creamy and fragrant, with several blooms per stem.
• Jonquils: Scented, rush-leaved types that tolerate mild winters better than most.

The sap and the vase

Cut daffodil stems ooze a slimy sap that can shorten the life of other flowers sharing the water. Two easy ways around it:

• Soak them first: Stand the stems in a separate bucket of plain water for several hours. Rinse them, then arrange them with other flowers in fresh water and do not trim them again.
• Keep them solo: A vase of daffodils on their own avoids the issue altogether and looks wonderful in a simple jug.

Anyone can order flowers with daffodils for a friend interstate. For what other blooms say, see our guide to flower language.

Growing them at home

• Plant bulbs between March and May, about three times their own height deep.
• Choose a spot with sun or light shade and sharp drainage, because wet bulbs rot.
• Cool regions such as Melbourne, Canberra, Tasmania and the tablelands do best. Where winters are mild, many types flower weakly after year one unless the bulbs are chilled first.
• After flowering, leave the leaves to die back naturally so the bulb can recharge.

Buying online has never been simpler: browse flowers online and read our care tips to keep a bunch looking good.