10 Types of Small-Cupped Daffodils

Small-cupped daffodils make a big splash with their colorful blooms in the spring. Though their cups are tiny, many of these cultivars have showy 4-5 inch flowers. And it’s not uncommon to see small-cupped daffodil blooms with fiery orange hues or a rare glimpse of green. So enjoy discovering the spectacular 10 types of small-cupped daffodils featured below!

Or learn about the traits of small-cupped daffodils first. That way, you’ll know what to watch for when they make their big splash in your garden next spring.

What are Small-Cupped Daffodils?

With their dainty center trumpets, small-cupped daffodils are usually easy to identify. Though keep in mind that there are other daffodil varieties, like tazzeta and poeticus, which have small cups too. However, these daffodils can differ in how many flowers they produce per stem.

According to the American Daffodil Society, daffodils that officially belong to the small-cupped division have the following traits:

• One bloom per stem
• A cup (corona) that grows no more than one-third the length of the flower petals (perianth segments)

Small-cupped daffodils comprise division #3 of the 13 daffodil divisions used to classify all these plants. Therefore, daffodil growers benefit from learning about all 13 divisions to understand their differing growth habits.

Want to know more about daffodil divisions? Take a look at our quick reference list below!

Daffodil Divisions

Separating daffodils into divisions helps growers classify the many daffodil types. For example, double daffodils (division #4) have double the petals as other daffodils. Hence, growers know these flowers will be very fluffy. Or gardeners who want daffodils with more blooms per plant might skip the small-cupped varieties and choose jonquillas instead.

Here’s a quick reference list of all 13 daffodil divisions. Have you grown any of them in your garden?

• 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
• 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

It’s time to discover 10 gorgeous types of small-cupped daffodils! These cultivars often bloom in mid-spring. And most of them produce medium to large flowers with – of course – small cups.

1. Narcissus ‘Aflame’

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Aflame’

Common Names: ‘Aflame’ daffodil, ‘Aflame’ small-cupped daffodil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-7

Flowering Seasons: early to mid-spring

Cultivar Colors: white petals with red-orange cups

The heirloom daffodil ‘Aflame’ is a stunning bicolor variety with white petals and firey red-orange cups. A favorite among daffodil gardeners since its introduction in 1938, ‘Aflame’ works well as a cut flower. It grows 18-22 inches tall and produces one showy flower per stem in early to mid-spring.

2. Narcissus ‘Albatross’

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Albatross

Common Names: ‘Albatross’ daffodil, ‘Albatross’ small-cupped daffodil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-7

Flowering Seasons: mid to late spring

Cultivar Colors: white petals and light orange cups with yellow centers

The ‘Albatross’ small-cupped daffodil looks similar to ‘Aflame’ but has light orange cups with yellow centers. With ‘Albatross,’ you’ll enjoy 4-5 inch bicolor blooms in mid to late spring. ‘Albatross’ is also an heirloom cultivar with a great track record for hardiness in Zones 4-7.

3. Narcissus ‘Altruist’

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Altruist’

Common Names: ‘Altruist’ daffodil, ‘Altruist’ small-cupped daffodil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Flowering Seasons: mid-spring

Cultivar Colors: coppery peach petals with dark orange cups

Previously classified as a large-cupped variety, the ‘Altruist’ cultivar moved to the small-cupped division in 1972. But it’s been a standout daffodil for many years with its dark orange trumpets. This award-winning flower is also beloved for its coppery peach petals that fade as the bloom matures.

‘Altruist’ grows best in Zones 3-8, reaching about 14-20 inches tall. This type of small-cupped daffodil also has bowl-shaped cups with frilly rims.

4. Narcissus ‘Barrett Browning’

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Barrett Browning’

Common Names: ‘Barrett Browning’ daffodil, ‘Barrett Browning’ small-cupped daffodil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Flowering Seasons: mid-spring

Cultivar Colors: white petals with dark-rimmed orange cups

The ‘Barrett Browning’ small-cupped daffodil is a striking sight in the spring sunshine. For instance, it grows 4-inch flowers with dark-rimmed orange cups that contrast beautifully against its white petals. This plant is an heirloom daffodil introduced in 1945, which blooms in mid-spring.

‘Barrett Browning’ won the American Daffodil Society’s Wister Award for beauty and hardiness. Also, this reliable small-cupped cultivar grows 14-18 inches tall and does well in Zones 4-8.

5. Narcissus ‘La Riante’

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘La Riante’

Common Names: ‘La Riante’ daffodil, ‘La Riante’ small-cupped daffodil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8

Flowering Seasons: early to mid-spring

Cultivar Colors: white petals with bright orange cups

The ‘La Riante’ is another bi-color variety with pale white petals and firey orange cups. This type of small-cupped daffodil also has broad and slightly rounded petals on 3-4 inch blooms.

Introduced in Holland in the late 1950s, ‘La Riante’ means laughing girl in French. Not to mention she also brings on smiles in Zones 5-8 with her heirloom beauty. However, this daffodil could be the source of frowns if it doesn’t get some afternoon shade. ‘La Riante’ can suffer sunburn if left under beating sun rays for too long.

This small-cupped daffodil grows 14-20 inches tall and has a sweet scent.

6. Narcissus ‘Loth Lorien’

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Loth Lorien’

Common Names: ‘Loth Lorien’ daffodil, ‘Loth Lorien’ small-cupped daffodil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8

Flowering Seasons: mid-spring

Cultivar Colors: white petals with yellow cups

With white petals and hints of green deep inside its golden yellow cup, the ‘Loth Lorien’ bicolor daffodil is ideal for cut flower gardening. In addition, ‘Loth Lorien’ grows impressive 4-5 inch blooms in mid to late spring.

This type of small-cupped daffodil reaches 16-20 inches tall and is best for Zones 5-8. Plus ‘Loth Lorien’ is a tough, resilient cultivar in harsh weather. It also has a lovely sweet fragrance attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Fun Fact: Lothlorien is a realm of elves in author J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings epic fantasy novels.

7. Narcissus ‘Moon Shadow’

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Moon Shadow’

Common Names: ‘Moon Shadow’ daffodil, ‘Moon Shadow’ small-cupped daffodil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Flowering Seasons: mid to late spring

Cultivar Colors: white petals and pale yellow cups

‘Moon Shadow’ is a classic small-cupped daffodil with white petals and pale yellow cups. And, if ever there was a cute-as-a-button daffodil, this one is it! In particular, ‘Moon Shadow’ features rounded petals that mature from cream to white. This daffodil also shows off its charming blooms with frilly cups in mid to late spring.

The ‘Moon Shadow’ small-cupped cultivar grows 1-2 feet high and produces flowers 4-5 inches wide.

8. Narcissus ‘Sabine Hay’

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Sabine Hay’

Common Names: ‘Sabine Hay’ daffodil, ‘Sabine Hay’ small-cupped daffodil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7

Flowering Seasons: mid to late spring

Cultivar Colors: coppery orange petals and dark orange cups

The ‘Sabine Hay’ daffodil is a standout bicolor variety with coppery orange petals and darker orange cups. So, this colorful type of small-cupped daffodil turns every head! Its petals will also fade to light yellow as the flowers mature, making this plant one to watch mid to late spring.

‘Sabine Hay’ grows 16-18 inches high and stays healthiest if given a bit of afternoon shade.

9. Narcissus ‘Segovia’

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Segovia’

Common Names: ‘Segovia’ daffodil, ‘Segovia’ small-cupped daffodil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Flowering Seasons: mid-spring

Cultivar Colors: white petals and pale yellow cups

If you like your small-cupped daffodils to have tiny blooms, grow the ‘Segovia’ cultivar in your garden. This type of daffodil has 2-inch blooms with slightly reflexed white petals and pale yellow cups. Sweet in style and fragrance, ‘Segovia’ is also an award-winning choice for miniature mid-spring blooms.

And the plants are miniature, too. ‘Segovia’ grows about 8-9 inches tall and naturalizes well in Zones 3-9.

10. Narcissus ‘Sinopel’

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Sinopel’

Common Names: ‘Sinopel’ daffodil, ‘Sinopel’ small-cupped daffodil

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Flowering Seasons: mid to late spring

Cultivar Colors: white petals with green cups that fade to yellow

We saved a special type of small-cupped daffodil for last – the ‘Sinopel’ cultivar. Why is it unique? Because it has a green cup! And this daffodil’s frilly flat cup fades to yellow as the bloom matures. Additionally, ‘Sinopel’ daffodil has slightly frilled white petals giving this flower an extra touch of elegance.

‘Sinopel’ blooms mid to late spring in Zones 3-8 and grows about 14-18 inches tall.

Small-cupped daffodils are splashy and sweet!

Big blooms, bright colors, and sweet scents are just a few ways small-cupped daffodils make a splash in spring gardens. Their cups are tiny, but their big presence is undeniable in beds and containers. And because many of the cultivars featured here are heirloom varieties, it’s clear these daffodils are hardy plants too.

Which types of small-cupped daffodils are your favorites? We hope you love growing them for big splashes of color and charm.