The 5 Most Popular Types Of Daffodils

The most popular types of daffodils tend to have big, colorful blooms and fabulous fragrances. But you might be surprised by some of the traits of each popular daffodil and the differences between them! So take a glimpse at our list of the five most popular daffodils below. Can you guess which ones made the cut? And have you grown any of them yourself?

If your favorite daffodils aren’t featured here, let us know which ones you’d choose as the most popular varieties available today!

1. Trumpet Daffodils

Trumpet daffodils might be the most popular type of daffodils among all varieties because they have such a classic look. They also have large blooms with huge frilly cups, giving them a bold, feminine style.

According to the 13 daffodil divisions used to classify these beautiful bulb flowers, trumpet daffodils belong to division #1. And the following two traits are how division #1 identifies them:

• Trumpet daffodils grow one flower per stem.
• Their trumpet-shaped cups (coronas) grow as long as or sometimes longer than their petals.

Trumpet daffodils also usually have a wonderfully sweet scent and flowers that grow about 3-5 inches across.

Popular Trumpet Daffodil Cultivars:

• Narcissus ‘Dutch Master’ – A classic yellow daffodil from the trumpet division
• Narcissus ‘Mount Hood’ – Has white petals and light yellow cups that fade to white
• Narcissus ‘Topolino’ – A miniature daffodil with white petals and yellow cups

2. Double Daffodils

While Trumpet daffodils might be the most traditional-looking daffodils, the double daffodil is probably the fluffiest! Because of their extra petals, double daffodils have fuller blooms that can resemble carnations, roses, or peonies. So it’s easy to see why the double varieties are some of the most popular types of daffodils for home gardens, vase arrangements, and bouquets.

Double daffodils belong to division #4 of the 13 official daffodil divisions. The following characteristics identify these elegant spring flowers:

• Double daffodils grow one or more flowers per stem.
• Their blooms grow double the number of petals as other daffodils or have double the cups or both.

In addition to their round and fluffy flowers, most double daffodils also have a beautiful fragrance. In fact, some double daffodils smell sweet, while others have a spicy scent.

Popular Double Daffodil Cultivars:

• Narcissus ‘Bridal Crown’ – Has yellow and white flowers with slightly ruffled petals and a sweet scent
• Narcissus ‘Golden Ducat’ – An all-yellow flower with pointed petals and a citrusy scent
• Narcissus ‘My Story’ – A bicolor daffodil with white petals, peach-orange cups, and a lightly sweet fragrance

3. Large-Cupped Daffodils

Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between a trumpet daffodil and another variety called the large-cupped daffodil. However, though both flowers are some of the most popular types of daffodils, the size of their cups makes them slightly different.

Large-cupped daffodils make up division #2 of the 13 total daffodil divisions. And according to the Royal Horticultural Society and more gardening organizations, these daffodils have the following traits:

• Large-cupped daffodils produce one flower per stem.
• Their flower cups grow bigger than one-third of (but less than the same length as) their petals.

So this means that the ratio between cups and petals differs for large-cupped daffodils vs. trumpet daffodils. Confusing? Well, if you take a tape measure and compare the blooms in person, it’s easier to understand. So that means you should grow some trumpet and large-cupped daffodils in the fall to compare their blooms next spring!

Toward that goal, here are some beautiful large-cupped daffodil varieties to consider for your home garden plans:

Popular Large-Cupped Daffodil Cultivars:

• Narcissus ‘Accent’ – A bicolor daffodil with slightly reflexed (inverted) cream petals, yellow-orange cups, and a sweet scent
• Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’ – Another sweetly scented daffodil with white petals and ruffled yellow cups that mature to cream
• Narcissus ‘Pink Charm’ – Mildly scented white daffodil with cups rimmed with coral pink

4. Jonquilla Daffodils

You might know jonquilla daffodils by their more common name, jonquils. And, yes – jonquils are also daffodils! To say that jonquils are among the most popular types of daffodils is a huge understatement. For example, jonquillas are a fan favorite because of their wide blooms and intense, pleasing scents. But jonquilla daffs have additional traits that set them apart from other daffodils too.

Here are the characteristics of jonquilla daffodils as defined by their division #7:

• Jonquilla daffodils produce as many as eight blooms per plant stem, though they usually grow 1-5
• Their flower petals (called perianth segments) can be spreading or reflexed (inverted)
• Their cups (called coronas) can be flared, cup-shaped, or funnel-shaped
• Jonquil flowers are usually wider than they are long
• They have an intense and delightful scent

The jonquil daffodil comes in many different varieties, including the beloved and award-winning flowers listed below. All of them produce multiple blooms per stem and are very fragrant.

Popular Jonquilla Daffodil Cultivars:

• Narcissus ‘Sailboat’ – A bicolor daffodil with white petals and yellow cups
• Narcissus ‘Quail’ – An all-yellow jonquil
• Narcissus ‘Sun Disc’ – A two-tone daffodil with yellow petals and golden cups

Miniature Daffodils

Until now, we’ve talked about specific popular daffodil divisions. However, miniature daffodils don’t have their own division. But they’re still some of the most popular types of daffodils grown today! Miniature daffodils come in various divisions like trumpet, tazzeta, and triandrus. Yet they all have at least a couple of things in common, including the following traits:

• Miniature daffodil plants usually grow up to 1 foot tall or slightly taller
• Most mini daffs produce blooms smaller than 2 inches across

Also called dwarf daffodils, miniature daffodils come in many different colors and styles. For example, the three mini cultivars listed below all look a bit unique compared to the others. And each one comes with a lot of charm packed into these small plants.

Popular Miniature Daffodil Cultivars:

• Narcissus ‘Elka’ – A trumpet daffodil with white petals and yellow cups that mature to cream
• Narcissus ‘Grand Soleil d’Or’ – A fragrant tazetta daffodil (division #8) with yellow petals and orange cups
• Narcissus ‘Hawera’ – An all-yellow triandrus (division #5) daffodil with a memorable fruity scent

Are the Most Popular Types of Daffodils Right For Your Garden?

Though the most popular daffodils are beautiful and dependable varieties, you might want to grow other daffodils! Or maybe your local hardiness Zones, soil types, and other conditions require adjusting your daffodil-growing plans. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to learn more about what types of daffodils are available and their growing habits.

To help you decide which daffodil types are best for you, here’s a full list of the 13 daffodil divisions below. You can also talk to the experts at local garden centers for advice about the best daffodils to grow in your area.

• Division #1: Trumpet Daffodils
• Division #2: Large-Cupped Daffodils
• Division #3: Small-Cupped Daffodils
• Division #4: Double Daffodils
• Division #5: Triandrus Daffodils
• Division #6: Cyclamineus Daffodils
• Division #7: Jonquilla Daffodils
• Division #8: Tazetta Daffodils (better for warmer climates)
• Division #9: Poeticus Daffodils
• Division #10: Bulbocodium Daffodils
• Division #11a: Split-Cupped Collar Daffodils
• Division #11b: Split-Cupped Papillion Daffodils
• Division #12: Other Daffodil Cultivars
• Division #13: Daffodils Categorized Only by Botanical Name

Which Are Your Favorite Popular Daffodils?

The most popular types of daffodils come in different colors, sizes, growth habits, and divisions. But they all are gorgeous and loved around the world! And most have lovely scents that draw you back to your spring garden beds or containers day after day.

Which types of daffodils are your favorites or the most popular where you live?

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Walter Erhardt/Shutterstock.com