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All daffodils are members of the genus narcissus. Daffodils and Jonquils are the common name.
Horticulturalists classify narcissus into “divisions” or “categories”. Some divisions include: Trumpet, Large-Cupped, Small-Cupped, Double, Tazetta with several small scented flowers per stem, Hoop-Petticoat Daffodils and Split-Corona Daffodils. There are many hybrids between and within divisions.
All daffodils are perennial (they bloom year after year). One bulb will divide each year making 2 bulbs, the 2 bulbs making four and the progression continues year after year. Gibbs Gardens has millions of bulbs produced through these divisions. We now have over 20 million daffodils.
Do not cut the green leaves on daffodils for 6 to 8 weeks. Let them turn completely yellow or brown to produce next year’s food for the bulbs.
Daffodils (Narcissus) have the same basic flower structure. Each bloom has a perianth (six outer petal-like segments) that surrounds the central corona called the trumpet or cup.
Daffodils are most commonly yellow or white. Some have orange accents. Some are bi-colored. Some are scented. Some new varieties are apricot to almost pink.
Daffodils are some of the first flowers we see in springtime and are a great indicator that winter is over. Many people refer to daffodils as the cheerful, yellow, harbingers of spring. They represent rebirth and new beginnings. They are also a symbol of hope and joy.
If you give a daffodil to a loved one, it means “they’re the only one” and is said to ensure happiness.
Over the river and through the streams…
Our daffodil gardens feature two side-by-side hillsides, each flowing down to a valley adjoining the Valley Gardens. We have planted daffodils along each hillside to create a “stream” of daffodils. Each hillside stream is vertically divided in separate, narrower streams based on the color and bloom time of the daffodil varieties. Using four daffodil bulbs per square foot, every group – early, early-mid, mid, mid-late and late – is planted in its own separate stream based on bloom time.
Streams of daffodils – ranging from 5 to 10 feet wide – in subtle shades of yellow, gold, white, pink and orange flow and curve down each hillside then blend together to create a river of daffodils that gently flow into the valley. This breathtaking vista is a one-of-a-kind garden experience.
The different elevations are more attractive than looking at a flat surface and provide interesting contrasts with vertical accents. This year we added 100 new cherry trees for visual interest. Part of North Georgia’s attraction is its beautiful topography.
Fifty acres of Gibbs Gardens vast 376-acre property is dedicated each year to daffodils. In 1985, we started planting hundreds of thousands of perennial daffodil bulbs. Because perennial bulbs divide every season, our number of blooms have exponentially increased from year to year. We now have over 20 million daffodils. In November 2022 we planted more than 577,000 bulbs-the largest number ever in one year.
Our visitors have lots of questions about the daffodils – how we plant them and create these unique designs.
I began with reviewing the topography of our 50-acre daffodil garden, noting the angles of the land, vertical accents, curves of the hillsides, shaded and wooded areas, direction and hours of sunlight, nearby streams/water venues and walk-able paths for our members and visitors.
Every element contributes to my final planting design.
Study your daffodil site before planting.
Look at existing site to determine what daffodil varieties to plant.
Plant 5 blooming varieties of daffodils for 10 weeks of color.
Always plant the first early daffodils to bloom in the back row. This is contrary to what most people think.
Picture this, you’re going to plant 3 rows of daffodils:
If you plant in this order, the focal point of your gardens will always be the blooming daffodil flowers in front, not those with spent blooms.
Daffodils are great cut flowers.
For home gardeners who want cut flowers for their homes, I recommend buying a mix of perennial daffodil bulbs to extend the blooming season for cut daffodils. Gibbs Gardens has naturalized perennial mix bulbs for sale.
Advice for Home Gardeners
Daffodils prefer a slightly acidic soil with a ph between 6.0 and 7.0. Soil with a ph level below 7.0 is acidic soil while soil ph levels above 7.0 indicate alkaline soil. Use a slow-release fertilizer lower in nitrogen and phosphorus and higher in potassium (10-10-20) at the rate of ¼ cup per square foot.
Never cut daffodils – always pick them. Reach all the way to the base of the flower to snap it off. The solid white part at the end soaks up water and holds it.
Plant daffodils with companion plants like quince, forsythia, spirea and daylilies.
Most daffodils will perennialize better when planted at a depth that equals at least 3 times their height. That’s 6 to 8 inches deep for large bulbs, 3 to6 inches for medium-size bulbs and 2 to 3 inches that are 1” in diameter or smaller.
We use power augers to plant daffodils. Six people can plant 7,000 bulbs in one day with 3 people digging with the augers and 3 people placing bulbs in holes and covering with soil.
Daffodils are poisonous to animals. Deer will not eat daffodils because the narcissus sap contains calcium oxalate that forms little bundles of crystals in the leaves. However, deer love to eat tulips because they don’t have poison in their leaves. We have to spray our tulips with a deer repellant every two-weeks.
Accolades
Recently named, “One of the World’s 10 Best Places to see Daffodils,” by Flower Magazine, the article noted, “Gibbs Gardens offers the country’s largest daffodil extravaganza.”
Southern Living described Gibbs Gardens as “The largest display of daffodils outside of Holland.”
We are listed as one of the “Best American Botanical Gardens.”
We are also listed as a top garden in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and explore Georgia.
We always have something new in bloom. The five feature gardens and 21 seasonal collections gardens offer unique and continuous delights for garden lovers of all interests. If you would like to learn more about Gibbs Gardens continue to explore our website.
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