Top 10 daffodils

Plant features

There's such a huge range of daffodils available in bulbs catalogues it's often hard to know which varieties to choose. Browse our pick of 10 beautiful cultivars for inspiration.

Daffodils are some of the most reliable spring bulbs, coping well with wet ground and competition from grass. Many species also flower through frost.

There are hundreds of daffodil varieties to choose from, but when it comes to looking through the bulb catalogues, what matters is flowering time. Some daffodils flower months ahead of others so, by combining early and late varieties, you can have daffodils in bloom from January to May.

There's a wide variety of different coloured types to choose from, including acid-yellow, ivory, white and even pink. And whether you prefer the natural look or the more flamboyant, there are types from traditional golden beacons to doubles that almost look like peonies.

10 best varieties

The following daffodil cultivars have been selected for their spectacular spring blooms as well as their complementary flowering times:

'Rijnveld's Early Sensation'

If planted in a sheltered, south-facing spot, 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' will be in flower by Christmas. While most daffodils in bloom at this time of year are usually small, this variety has large, windmill-style flowers and reaches 35cm in height.

'Minnow'

Clusters of cup-and-saucer flowers top the pencil-length stems of this dainty cultivar in March and April. It's a great little daffodil for growing in pots or the front of a border. It has a very sweet fragrance and clumps up rapidly. Prefers full sun.

'February Gold'

Named 'Spring bulb of the year 2011', 'February Gold' has perfectly proportioned, eager-looking little flowers, with swept-back golden petals. It grows up to 30cm tall and it's blooms last for weeks during March and April. Will suit growing in pots or at the front of a border.

'Spellbinder'

The traditional yellow trumpet blooms of this long-flowering daffodil gradually fade to white. It's a tall variety - 50cm - suited to the back of a border. Flowers in March and April.

'Dutch Master'

If you want a classic daff with bright, golden trumpets and a delicate scent, then 'Dutch Master' is for you. It's perfect for Easter vases, growing 45cm tall and flowering in April. Plant in drifts to break up an expanse of lawn, or at the base of a hedge.

'Cheerfulness'

Double-flowered daffodils aren't everyone's cup of tea, but 'Cheerfulness' is lovely. It has a deep, rich yellow colour and a sweet scent to match. Flowering in April, it reaches 40cm in height, so is ideal for the middle of a border.

Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus (pheasant's eye)

This is a beautiful little daffodil with a sweet, citrusy scent. At 40cm, it's tall enough to naturalise in lawns. It's a late-flowering daffodil, appearing in mid-late April.

'Hawera'

A small daffodil that only grows to 18cm, it packs a punch with a strong, musky scent in late-April to May. Pale yellow flowers emerge from grassy stems and leaves, and its petals curve back, giving it a shuttlecock look. Ideal for containers.

'Quail'

An April-flowering variety, 'Quail' reaches 40cm tall and makes an elegant and natural alternative to large, trumpet-flowered types. Although it looks delicate, it's a robust daffodil that looks great in a border. It's scent has a delicious vanilla essence.

'Sweetness'

At 20cm high this May-flowering jonquil type is so small it needs to be planted where you can see it - in window boxes and pots. It's extremely fragrant so position it where you will be able to smell it.

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