Narcissus Daffodil?

What is the difference between Narcissus and Daffodil? Is Narcissus easier to force than Daffodil?

Thanks

Gary

I'm thinking that Daffodil is just a common name for the Genus Narcissus. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/48947/

This is a good site for answers to many of my questions about daffs.
http://daffodilusa.org/daffodils/faq.html

Thanks for the fast reply. Walmart has many boxes of each - Narcissus and Daffodils. I have tried forcing Daffodils with no success. Is there some Daffodils that are better for forcing?

Thanks

Gary

Gary, I've never tried forcing Daffodils, but I have learned that it's best to buy cultivar named bulbs. There is a table on the site below that gives you the names of cultivars that show good performance when forcing these bulbs to bloom.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8531.html

Deborah

I just noticed that Gloria Cole (Gloria125) has written an article on Daffodils. It's on Dave's Garden home page. Nice article too.

I think daffodil and narcissus are used interchangeably. One difference is that Paperwhites (a type of tender indoor narcissi) do not need a period of cold to bloom. These are often sold as kits with advice to plant in bowl of small stones and water instead of soil. Where the regular narcissus/daffodils need a period of cold to bloom.

Sue

gary-

If you are shopping at the big retailers, particularly if you are buying the forcing kits, then "Narcissus" in that particular context, means paperwhites. Daffodils could refer to any variety of daffs (again, in the mass-market context). If you want to force indoors without cooling, get paperwhites. They are idiot-proof. You just pot them up and water them (although I suggest taking steps against fungus gnats). If you want to provide a cool period, get daffodils. Both can be forced, but the procedures are different. And yes, some daffs are better for forcing than others. Check the B&B catalog for good reference points on this.

This message was edited Oct 17, 2007 7:28 AM

As a general rule of thumb, the earlier blooming daffs are easier to force (like Ice Follies, Jetfire, Tete a tete). And if you cool bulbs in a refrigerator, be sure there is no fruit in there with them; the ethylene gas fruit releases can cause premature sprouting of the bulbs.

Gemini_sage makes good points. Another thing I look for when forcing daffodils is shorter varieties. Also do this for Tulips so force many early, single blooming tulips with success. Shorter varieties in my opinion are easier to keep looking nice in the pots (i.e. prevent flopping).

Thanks sedum, and so true about shorter varieties. The warmth indoors really makes bulb plants grow fast and lengthen stems and leaves, and they're just not as pretty when you have to stake and tie them up. I have been seeing some clever and attractive techniques to deal with this by using tall, cylindrical or hurricane glass containers. The stems are held upright by the glass, but the bulbs and stems can still be seen. If forced for Christmas decorating, sprigs of holly, pine, cranberries or glass balls are pretty to drop in for extra snazz.

Question and an emergency one too. I planted 80 daffodil bulbs as I was instructed to do, as I was told that they need to be planted before the cool weather, I live in zone 8B, close to Pensacola, Florida. We have been getting some chilly nights; but now it's warming up again, this crazy weather has caused some of my daffodils to start shooting leaves up, should I be worried? I mean, I still got winter coming on.
joy112854

I would not worry. It is a weird weather year already. My paperwhites are already blooming!!! Some of my bubls are putting up their leaves too.

Whew, was getting a might worried as it hasn't even started to get as cold as it will before winter's over with here.
joy112854