Description
Daffodil Fragrant Cottage Mixed (Narcissus)
Daffodil Fragrant Cottage Mixed is a captivating collection of spring-flowering, bulbous perennials from the Amaryllidaceae family, native to Europe and North Africa. This enchanting mix features a selection of fragrant daffodils, perfect for adding charm and character to cottage-style gardens. With a delightful variety of forms, including doubles, large-cupped, and trumpets, each pack offers a unique combination of blooms that bring elegance and a sweet aroma to your garden. The blend of heights and shapes ensures no two displays are the same, making every bloom a delightful surprise.
Uses and Versatility
Daffodil Fragrant Cottage Mixed is ideal for gardeners who value beauty and fragrance. Its cheerful, low-maintenance blooms not only brighten your garden but also fill the air with a delightful scent, making it perfect for creating a tranquil, romantic setting.
Ideal Uses
- Cottage-Style Borders and Garden Beds: Add texture, height, and fragrance with grouped or scattered plantings.
- Naturalising: Scatter bulbs beneath deciduous trees or along garden paths for effortless spring carpets.
- Pots and Containers: Perfect for patios, balconies, or small spaces, bringing fragrance closer to your home.
- Cut Flowers: Bring the fresh, sweet scent of spring indoors with elegant, long-lasting blooms.
Climate Preferences
Daffodils can grow in cool to mild tropical climates but thrive in regions with cold winters and mild springs, which provide ideal conditions. They are best treated as annuals in areas with short, hot springs or insufficiently cold winters. For mild tropical or tropical climates, pre-chilling bulbs before planting replicate the winter chill necessary for successful flowering.
When to Plant
Daffodils are best planted from March to May. This period allows bulbs to establish strong roots before winter, ensuring a vibrant spring display. Wait until the summer heat has passed and the soil has cooled for optimal growth. In warmer regions, plant in late April or May once soil temperatures have dropped.
How to Plant
- Site Selection: Choose full sun to partial shade with organic, well-draining soil. Plant in sheltered spots to protect heavy blooms that may appear.
- Planting Depth and Spacing: Plant bulbs 10-15 cm deep and 10-15 cm apart; miniature varieties should be planted 8-10 cm deep.
- Watering: Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil but avoid additional watering until foliage emerges.
Aftercare
- Watering: Keep soil moderately moist during growth but allow it to dry during dormancy to prevent rot.
- Fertilising: Use NPK 6:6:6 or azalea and camellia food when blooms fade but before foliage yellows, replenishing energy reserves for next season’s growth.
- Deadheading: Remove spent flowers to redirect energy to the bulb.
- Foliage: Let leaves die back naturally to recharge the bulb for the following season.
- Mulching: Apply a 5 cm mulch layer to retain moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds.
Division and Maintenance
Daffodils multiply slowly, forming clumps over several years. Divide bulbs every 3-5 years or when flowering declines. After foliage has died back, lift and separate offsets, store bulbs in a cool, dry place, and replant in autumn. Regularly dividing daffodils ensures healthy growth and effective naturalisation.
Pests and Diseases
Daffodils are hardy but may encounter occasional issues:
- Pests: Aphids, slugs, snails, and Narcissus bulb fly.
- Diseases: Basal rot, grey mould, and viral infections, often linked to wet or humid conditions.
To minimise problems, plant in well-drained soil, ensure good air circulation and use organic pest control measures as needed.
Safety
Daffodils contain lycorine, a toxic compound found in all parts of the plant, especially the bulbs. Ingestion can cause stomach upset in humans and pets, and the sap may irritate the skin. Store bulbs securely and plant them out of reach of children and animals. Always wear gloves when handling bulbs to avoid irritation.
Caution: Harmful if eaten. A skin and eye irritant.
Supplied as dormant bulbs.