Daffodils: Texas Tough Perennials. Beautiful Spring Blooms.

September 28, 2014 | By webadmin

We love to design landscapes that fit your busy lifestyle. Between work, school, family and the occasional bit of relaxation, many of us just don’t have the time to plant and maintain beautiful garden color each season. We also know that in addition to low-maintenance landscapes, you also want gorgeous plants! So, what plants are low-maintenance, heat tolerant, drought tolerant and offer up beautiful blooms? You might be surprised to find out that the delicate daffodil tops our list of Texas-tough bloomers! Fall is the perfect time to plant them for spring blooms.

Daffodil 'Salome'

We love daffodils for their bright yellow, white and even peachy-pink flowers. Different varieties bloom at different times in spring and are classified as either early, mid- or late blooming. Choose varieties from each category and you can extend your daffodil bloom season. By planting large swaths of daffodil bulbs in areas of your landscape that may normally be less-tended, you can create a natural yet beautiful spring display.

Daffodils go dormant in summer, after they’ve finished blooming in spring. They require a resting period and are in less need of water while dormant. This is one of the reasons daffodils perform so well for us: They’re dormant during our most challenging weather! Many types of daffodils also tolerate our heavy clay soils.

Daffodil tip: Plant bulbs as soon as they are available in fall. When buying daffodil bulbs, they should feel completely solid (no mush), heavy and not have any indentations or discoloration. If you pick “double-nose” bulbs you’ll get more blooms the following spring. (Double-nose bulbs have two separate shoots emerging from the top of the bulbs).

Often, daffodils will be the first plants to bloom in your early spring garden; some blooming as early as mid-February. You can combine them with herbs such as dill and rosemary; plant underneath cool season color such as pansies and Iceland poppies; or add bunches of bulbs among your perennials and shrubs. While many perennials are still dormant, daffodils will be in full bloom. Daffodils also make great container plants. Don’t be afraid to drop some daffodils into your winter pots and then over-plant them with seasonal color.

Sweetly scented Daffodil 'Thalia'

Some of our favorites include:

‘Erlicheer’ Fragrant, small, double-blooms in pale yellow and white. Blooms early to mid spring.

‘Carlton’ Large, bright yellow flowers in early spring. Great way to welcome the season!

‘Thalia’ Fragrant, delicate, small white blooms. Blooms mid to late spring.

'Salome' Pretty white petals with a peachy-salmon center cup. Blooms mid to late spring.

‘Texas Star’ Has unique curved foliage and bright yellow flowers. Very heat tolerant. Blooms early spring.

‘Cheerfulness’ White, heirloom flowers with yellow centers. Blooms late spring.

As tough as they are, daffodils still need to be fertilized at planting time and then annually after they finish blooming. When planting, be sure to mix in some bonemeal in the base of the planting hole and a bit of bulb fertilizer. In late-spring, just after plants finish blooming, sidedress them with bulb fertilizer.

Don’t cut daffodil foliage down until the foliage begins to turn yellow and fall over. If you cut the green leaves off too early, plants won’t be able to store enough food for next year’s flowers!

There are too many favorites to mention them all! We can guide you to the varieties whose colors and styles will best fit your landscape and do all the planting. Call us to plant bulbs this fall.