Wild Daffodil
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Also listed as Ajax pseudonarcissus, Ajax breviflos
Also known as Daffodil, Lent Lily, Common Daffodil
Climate Match for your location
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A spring-flowering bulb with golden-yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and naturalistic growth habit, ideal for naturalizing in meadows and woodlands. It is the ancestor of modern daffodil cultivars and multiplies reliably over time.
Why grow it
Wild daffodil offers a more delicate, naturalistic alternative to large modern hybrid cultivars, with smaller flowers that blend more readily into meadow and woodland settings. Unlike cultivars bred for cut flowers, this species readily self-seeds and spreads vegetatively over years, making it efficient for large-scale naturalization with minimal ongoing management. It tolerates the cool-season growing conditions and variable moisture of temperate grasslands better than many ornamental bulbs.
Watch out for
Bulbs require a winter chilling period and may perform poorly or fail to flower in warm climates without adequate cold hours. Flowering is sensitive to late-season frost after warm spells, which can damage emerging buds in variable spring weather. In areas with strong deer or rabbit populations, young foliage may be grazed heavily before plants establish.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
Native Range
Western Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A spring-flowering bulb with golden-yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and naturalistic growth habit, ideal for naturalizing in meadows and woodlands. It is the ancestor of modern daffodil cultivars and multiplies reliably over time.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Wild Daffodil grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Wild daffodil offers a more delicate, naturalistic alternative to large modern hybrid cultivars, with smaller flowers that blend more readily into meadow and woodland settings. Unlike cultivars bred for cut flowers, this species readily self-seeds and spreads vegetatively over years, making it efficient for large-scale naturalization with minimal ongoing management. It tolerates the cool-season growing conditions and variable moisture of temperate grasslands better than many ornamental bulbs.
Watch out for
Bulbs require a winter chilling period and may perform poorly or fail to flower in warm climates without adequate cold hours. Flowering is sensitive to late-season frost after warm spells, which can damage emerging buds in variable spring weather. In areas with strong deer or rabbit populations, young foliage may be grazed heavily before plants establish.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
Native Range
Western Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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