Daffodils

Common names: Daffodil, jonquil, narcissus

Kingdom: Plantae (Plant)

Division (Phylum): Magnoliophyta (Angiosperms--flowering plants)

Class: Liliopsida

Order: Liliales

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Daffodils are attractive  perennial flowers that are trumpet shaped. These flowers bloom during the springs and are known as the first sign of the season. They are known to symbolize new beginnings, rebirth, and friendship. This is the birth month flower for the March month. It is also very popular as the flower for the tenth wedding anniversary.

These flowers are the natives of the European region. Daffodil belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and genus Narcissus, which is also commonly known as daffodil. It has around 50 species and 13000 hybrids. These flowers are classified into 13 divisions because of the huge number of varieties. This division is done on the basis of their size, color etc.

The plant is easy to grow and has one flower on each stem, which are generally yellow in color, but the hybrids of this flower are also found in pink, orange, apricot or lime color. Some are even found in two-color shades. These flowers have 3 sepals and 3 petals that are identical.

Daffodils needs properly moist soil and good amount of sunlight. The stem is 4 inch to 24 inches in height and the flower grows on the tip of the stem. The leaves are grey in color and are long and narrow in shape. The flower is around up to 3 inches in diameter.

Because of their beautiful appearance and tough nature of these plants, they are a favorite of gardeners and florists.

How to Grow:

These flowers are very rough and tough and can be grown in direct sunlight too. You need to keep these flowers in proper sunlight and properly drained soil. Though these are the conditions that are ideal for the flower, but they can be grown in all types of soils and conditions.

1. Plant carefully chosen daffodil bulbs, not too small, carefully in the fall. This should be done before the ground freezes.
2. These bulbs should be planted around 2-3 inches under the ground and at a distance of 3-6 inches from each other.
3. Water them at regular intervals and try to protect your small shoots from the cold drying winds of the cold weather.

Propagation:

One way of propagating this flower is using the bulbs of the flower as discussed above. This method is called asexual cloning and is one form of planting using division.

The second way is by sexual cloning by using the seeds.

Uses:

These are a favorite of the gardeners and florists because of their beautiful appearance and pretty colors. The fact that the flowers grow as single flowers on long stem also favors them as decorative flowers. Very suitable for bouquets, mass flower arrangements and also in the gardens. They look very beautiful when grown in the gardens. Also, the fact that these flowers represent new beginnings also makes them a favorite gift on various occasions. 

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