Narcissus

Our native daffodil, N. pseudonarcissus, is the classic colour, yellow and shape, with a long, trumpet-like corona. In contrast to that is the pheasant's eye, N. poeticus, which is white, with a very short, almost flat corona, of yellow to orange. Much breeding and hybridising has taken place over the last 200 years, with an incredible 25000  cultivated forms registered. Most of these are not available to buy, but there is still plenty to choose from, with a range of sizes, shapes, colour shades of white though to yellow, with peach, pink and oranges in addition. Most of the larger species and hybrids, along with some of the smaller wild ones,  appreciate a good moist soil, in sun or dappled shade. For an early traditional daffodil, try N. 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation'. Subtlety of colour N. 'Jenny'. Diminutive in stature, N. 'Gipsy Queen', 'Snow Baby', N. minor, N. cyclamineus, (used in breeding to reflex the petals backwards, as though they are caught in the wind). For long flowering period and scent, try N. 'Hawera.

All species of daffodils and most cultivars are of great value to spring insects, providing abundant pollen and nectar. Bees and larger flies are the pollinators of forms with a broad trumpet, while those with long tubes (e.g. N. pachybolbus) and sometimes evening-scented attract long-tongued moths and butterflies. The only exceptions are the doubled forms that produce lower amounts of nectar and pollen, or make it more difficult to access. While most would consider them to be pests, narcissus bulb flies are actually attractive hoverflies when adult, that are important pollinators of garden plants in their own right. Given the beautiful delicacy of our single native daffodil, bulbs of different forms or unknown provenance should never be planted in the wild in areas where the native ones are to be found.