By Mary Jo Baur
Further types of daffs that you might consider--in the jonquill division, which includes fragrant flowers with 1-5 blooms per stem, are several award winners: Hillstar, Intrigue, Quail, and Sweetness. Of the Tazetta variety, I have grown 'Avalanche' which is sometimes called '17 sisters' because each stem has between 15 and 20 small, very fragrant flowers. In division 9, Poeticus, I would recommend Actaea or Angel Eyes. They look delicate, but are good perennials and will return year after year. There are daffs with split coronas that are very showy and unusual looking. Curly Lace is one. I haven't grown any daffs from Div. 5 or 6 since I don't really like their forms. One has pendent flowers which means their heads hang down rather than up-facing and the others have reflexed petals, which means they curl back. But perhaps you'd like them. It's a matter of personal taste.
And lastly there are dozens of miniature daffodils. My favorite is Tete-a-Tete, which have bright yellow petals, usually 2 per stem. These can also be used to force indoors in the winter. And maybe you've grown or heard of Paper White Narcissus, which are only grown indoors and will perfume whatever room they are in with a very sweet smell.
If you've never planted daff bulbs, I urge you to buy some this fall, plant them, and then sit back and wait for spring.
To me, they never disappoint. (Click catalog for photos and other information.)
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