The Different Colors of Daffodil Bulbs

Daffodil Bulbs

• The color of daffodil bulbs is fairly universal, regardless of the color of the blooms. All daffodil bulbs are brown, to rust, to cream, with a papery outer skin that is usually brown, as well. Buy daffodil bulbs in bulk if possible, so you can hand select each one. Choose bulbs that are firm and heavy for their weight, with no soft spots or other signs of decay. Store them in a cool, dry location until planting time.

Blossom Colors

• Yellow is the color most people associate with daffodil blossoms, but the plants are also available in white, peach, orange and multi-colored varieties. Some have fringed petals, while others resemble a peony or rose. Most have the traditional cup-shape.

Planting

• Plant daffodils in early fall, four to six weeks before the first frost. Amend the soil so it is loose and well-draining and plant bulbs 6 to 8 inches beneath the soil surface with the pointed tip up. Water the bulbs in the fall during dry periods to help them establish strong roots, and mulch the soil with 2 to 3 inches of wood chips to prevent heaving. Plant them in bulb traps if mice and voles are a problem. These metal containers have openings for the flowers to grow through, but keep rodents out.

Care

• Plant several varieties of different colors or plant an abundance of yellow daffodils for a unified effect. Daffodils also make cheery indoor displays as cut flowers or as forced bulbs. Fertilize the daffodils when they first emerge in the spring with a handful of bulb fertilizer. Water them to keep the soil slightly moist and cut the plants back after blooming only after the foliage has turned brown.