In many gardens and parks, the daffodil is one of the first splashes of color in a young season. This species of daffodil has bright yellow flowers and in a suitable spot after planting can propagate into extensive stands with little maintenance.

As beautiful as it looks, the daffodil is highly poisonous

Description of the daffodil

  • Botanical name: Narcissus pseudonarcissus
  • Area of origin: Central Europe and North Africa
  • Use: ornamental plant in the garden, cut flower
  • Growth height: about 35 to 40 centimeters
  • Shape and color of the leaves: 4 - 6 basal and lanceolate leaves with a blunt end and blue-green color
  • Flower Shape: Tube of 6 fused petals in front of a corolla-shaped, six-pointed flower, hanging nodding on the stem
  • Flower color: light yellow
  • Flowering time: March to April
  • Perennial: Yes, propagated by seeds and bulbs
  • Hardy: Bulbs as outlasting organs, fully hardy in the ground
  • Toxic: Yes, the highest concentration of poison in the onions - Effect: Vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac arrhythmias resulting in death

Caring for daffodils properly in the period after flowering

Compared to other plants, it is noticeable that the actual growing season of daffodils is limited to a short period in spring. During most of the year, the bulbs in the soil serve as outlasting organs. Withered flowers can be removed sooner or later depending on whether or not you want seeds to ripen on the plants. With the mostly optically motivated care and cutting measures, you should consider that the plants store solar energy with their leaves in the bulbs for flowering in the following year. Therefore, after flowering, the leaves should not be removed until they have turned yellow.

Caution: daffodils are poisonous

Actually, there is rarely a need to dig up the perennial and hardy daffodils again after planting. But be careful:

  • to never store the bulbs of the daffodils next to onions due to the risk of confusion
  • not leaving onions lying around within reach of children or pets
  • not to get plant sap on your skin when cutting daffodils for the vase

The juice of the daffodils does not usually cause any symptoms of poisoning in the time before washing your hands, but it can lead to skin irritation.

tips

Daffodils are grateful heralds of spring that can largely be left to their own devices in a suitable location. They are therefore a good alternative to tulips if you want to plant spring-wet locations or if you want to bring color to the perennial beds that are often rather bare in March. Hidden behind other perennials, the leaves of the daffodil are not as annoying after the flowering period as when they are free-standing in a meadow.

Category:

Vegetable garden