Sunshine harbinger

The sight of shimmering daffodils growing en masse, with their faces turned to the sun, is sure to lift your spirits as spring gets underway in the garden. Among the most recognisable perennial bulbs, daffodils and jonquils are the common names of the garden forms of the genus narcissus, which has over 50 species. The word narcissus is derived from the Greek ‘narka’, meaning numbness, and probably relates to the poisonous nature of the bulbs and flowers.

Since the 19th century, classification and breeding has resulted in thousands of cultivars. There is great diversity in the shapes and colours of , from the common yellows, to pastel pinks and white, with single, double and split corona forms. They are divided into 13 divisions, based mainly on flower form, such as trumpet, largecupped, double or split-corona, with more