The daffodil, the traditional flower of the month of March, is a perennial flower belonging to the genus Narcissus.  It is said that daffodils were first written about by the Greek writer Theophrastus around 300BCE in his ‘Enquiry into Plants’.  They are also referenced in the 6th century writings of the Prophet Mohammed.  With some daffodils, both the petals and corona (the trumpet-shaped center of the flower) are a bright golden yellow.  However, there are some varieties in which the petals and corona are of contrasting colors.  Among the color combinations are yellow/white, yellow/orange, white/orange, and lime green/yellow.

There are many varieties of daffodils.  One variety is the miniature daffodil with a ½ in.-1 in. flower on a 2 in.-8 in. stem, with one or more blooms per stem.  Another variety is the trumpet daffodil with a 1½ in.-2½ in. flower on a 9 in.-18 in. stem, with only one bloom per stem.  It is also referred to as the standard daffodil.  A particularly beautiful variety is the double daffodil with a clustered corona and petals, with one or more flowers per stem.  The split-corona daffodil is another very pretty variety in which the corona is split and flattened against the petals.  It creates a very striking contrast when the corona is a different color than the petals.  A variety that is often mistaken for the standard daffodil is the wild daffodil.  The wild daffodil is more slender in the stems and leaves than the standard daffodil.  The leaves are long and grey-green, rather than the deep green of the standard variety.  The flowers of wild daffodils droop a bit more than the other varieties, and the petals appear to be blown forward, resting close to the corona.  The corona on a wild daffodil is a darker yellow than the pale yellow petals.  The natural habitats for wild daffodils are meadows, open deciduous woodlands and along the sides of roads.

Because the sap of cut daffodils can be damaging to other flowers, you should let them sit alone in a vase of water for about 12 hours before putting them in a mixed-flower arrangement.  And, just in case you were thinking of adding the pretty yellow petals to your salad, please remember that all parts of the daffodil are poisonous!

Because they are among the first flowers of spring, daffodils are thought by many to symbolizing rebirth and a new beginning.  It is believed in many places around the world that spotting the first daffodil of spring will bring you luck and prosperity in the coming year.   Although we can all use a bit of that luck and prosperity, the sighting of the spring daffodils does bring us comfort and happiness, knowing that warmer weather, longer daylight hours, buds, blooms, and hopefully pleasant days are just ahead.