10 Types Of White Daffodils 

White daffodils bring a special touch of grace to spring garden beds and containers. Whether you plant double-petal varieties or those with big trumpet blooms, all-white daffodils can add elegance to a sunny yard or deck. For this reason, we think our list of 10 types of white daffodils offers wonderfully elegant options for your next bulb plantings.

It’s important to note that many white daffodils also have yellow cups or center petals. But did you know that many of their yellow pigments change to pure white or cream before their blooms wilt? It’s true! And watching these types of daffodils grow is even more fun since you can watch their colors change through their bloom season.

Before you discover the lovely white daffodil varieties on our list, check out our easy tips for daffodil gardening, plus a quick note about daffodil divisions.

Easy Tips for Growing Daffodils

Daffodils are easy flowers to grow from bulbs, which means they’re ideal for gardeners of all experience levels. But knowing a few essential steps for successful daffodil gardening will make the process even easier. So, we’ve provided some easy tips to help beginner gardeners get their first daffodil plantings off to a great start.

• Most daffodils are planted as bulbs in the fall for blooming plants the following spring. We only recommend planting daffodils from seeds if you are okay with it taking 5-6 years for your plants to bloom.
• Plant daffodils in well-draining soil with organic compost for the best performance. Or you could fertilize your daffodils at planting and again in the spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
• For garden bed planting, place daffodil bulbs about 6 inches deep in the soil in individual holes or with 5-6 bulbs per large hole.
• Daffodil bulbs grow well with 3-4 inches of space between them. However, many gardeners also have great success growing bulbs side by side in containers.
• When possible, plant daffodils in groupings or drifts for a bigger impact.
• Shelter daffodils with large flowers from strong winds. You can do so by planting them in a sunny spot near a fence or deciduous trees.
• Wait to cut back the plants until the leaves turn yellow or brown. This practice will help ensure that bulbs store enough energy during the current season to bloom again next year
• Note that daffodils (bulbs and plants) contain a toxic alkaloid called lycorine, so handle these plants carefully. Lycorine could cause severe digestive issues if chewed or swallowed by humans and animals.

A Quick Note About Daffodil Divisions

It’s important to note that all daffodils are separated into 13 divisions of classification by the Royal Horticultural Society. The American Daffodil Society and most other distinguished gardening organizations also use this official plant identification system.

For this article, we have provided the division information for each type of white daffodil featured in our list. Please read each flower listing for their division information. In addition, here’s a list of the 13 daffodil division titles for quick reference.

• 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 Hybrids
• Division #11a: Split-Cupped Collar Daffodils
• Division #11b: Split-Cupped Papillion Daffodils
• Division #12: Other Daffodil Cultivars
• Division #13: Daffodils Distinguished by Botanical Name

Now on to our list of 10 types of white daffodils! Which ones are your favorites?

‘Ice Follies’ Daffodil

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’

Common Names: ‘Ice Follies’ Daffodils, Large-Cupped ‘Ice Follies’

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Bloom Seasons: Early to Mid-Spring

Type of Daffodil: Large-Cupped (Division #2)*

Fragrance: Sweetly scented

Color Note: Flower cups bloom yellow, then turn to creamy white

Elegant ‘Ice Follies’ daffodils have large petals and wide, flared cups with ruffled rims. The inside of their cup opens with a deep yellow color that eventually fades to a light cream. In addition, ‘Ice Follies’ daffodils are plants that smell good with long-lasting blooms.

‘Ice Follies’ plants grow 1-2 feet tall, with flowers extending up to 4 inches across. And, as a large-cupped daffodil, each of this plant’s stems produces one large-cupped bloom.

These stunning white daffodils are award-winning plants. ‘Ice Follies’ received the Amerian Daffodil Society’s Wister Award and the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

*Large-Cupped Daffodils (Division #2) have one flower per stem. Additionally, the size of their cups (coronas) is greater than one-third but less than equal to the size of their petals.

‘Ice King’ Daffodil

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Ice King’

Common Names: ‘Ice King’ Daffodil, Double Daffodil ‘Ice King’

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Bloom Seasons: Mid-Spring

Type of Daffodil: Double (Division #4)*

Fragrance: Sweetly scented

Color Note: Petals bloom yellow, then turn to creamy white

‘Ice King’ is a type of white daffodil with double the petals and a fluffy carnation-like shape. However, though ‘Ice King’ petals end their season in creamy white, they begin the season in sunny-yellow hues. This unique color-changing feature of ‘Ice King’ and ‘Ice Follies’ (see above) daffodils gives them added appeal for the garden.

But though both ‘Ice King’ and ‘Ice Follies’ cultivars have color-changing growth habits, they are very different types of daffodils. As a double daffodil, ‘Ice King’ flowers have fuller blooms packed with more petals. And most of this plant’s stems should produce multiple blooms.

*Double Daffodils (Division #4) produce one or more flowers per stem. And their flowers grow double the number of petals or have doubled cups or both.

‘Ice Wings’ Daffodil

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Ice Wings’

Common Names: ‘Ice Wings’ Daffodil, Triandrus Daffodil ‘Ice Wings,’ Angel’s Tears

Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Bloom Seasons: Mid-Spring

Type of Daffodil: Triandrus (Division #5)*

Fragrance: Sweetly scented

Color Note: Ivory white petals and cups

The ‘Ice Wings’ daffodil is a triandrus variety with reflexed petals on flowers that tip downward. This type of white daffodil produces 2-3 flowers per stem, with pearl-colored petals and cups.

Triandrus daffodils are often given the common name angel’s tears for their delicate, nodding blooms. Ice Wings’ daffodils with angelic white petals make these flowers an excellent choice for adding elegance to any garden.

‘Ice Wings’ daffodils grow 10-12 inches tall and bloom mid-spring.

*Triandrus Daffodils (Division #5) produce two or more nodding pendant flowers per stem. Also, triandrus flowers have reflexed petals.

‘Mount Hood’ Daffodil

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Mount Hood’

Common Names: ‘Mount Hood’ Daffodil, Poeticus Daffodil ‘Mount Hood’

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Bloom Seasons: Mid-Spring

Type of Daffodil: Trumpet (Division #1)*

Fragrance: Slightly fragrant

Color Note: White petals with a pale yellow cup that changes to cream and then white

‘Mount Hood’ is a trumpet daffodil with a large, frilly cup that begins as pale yellow, then fades to cream and then white. Perfect for cut flower gardens and vase arrangements, ‘Mount Hood’ trumpet daffodils produce one large bloom per stem.

These beautiful white daffodils grow 12-24 inches tall, with flowers that extend about 4 inches across. In addition, they’re easy to naturalize, and their blooms are long-lasting.

The ‘Mount Hood’ daffodil received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, plus the American Daffodil Society’s prestigious Wister Award.

*Trumpet Daffodils (Division #1) grow one flower per stem. In addition, their cups (coronas) are trumpet-shaped and grow either as long as or longer than their petals.

‘Passionale’ Daffodil

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Passionale’

Common Names: ‘Passionale’ Daffodil, Large-Cupped ‘Passionale’ Daffodil

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Bloom Seasons: Mid-Spring

Type of Daffodil: Large-Cupped (Division #2)*

Fragrance: Sweetly scented

Color Note: Ivory petals with a pinkish-orange cup

The ‘Passionale’ is a white-petaled daffodil with ruffled cups that are tinged a lovely pink-orange color. This large-cupped daffodil produces one standout bloom per stem. ‘Passionale’ also has long, strong stems, making it ideal for cutting.

This classic garden daffodil reaches a height of 12-24 inches and blooms in mid-spring. In addition, it’s a sweet-smelling beauty.

‘Passionale’ received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. So you know you’re getting an excellent type of white perennial flower with this variety.

*Large-Cupped Daffodils (Division #2) have one flower per stem. Additionally, the size of their cups (coronas) is greater than one-third but less than equal to the size of their petals.

‘Pueblo’ Daffodil

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Pueblo’

Common Names: ‘Pueblo’ Daffodil, Jonquil ‘Pueblo’ Daffodil

Hardiness Zones: 5-9

Bloom Seasons: Mid-Spring

Type of Daffodil: Jonquilla (Division #7)*

Fragrance: Strong, captivating scent

Color Note: White petals with a pale yellow cup that changes to white

The ‘Pueblo’ is a jonquilla (aka, jonquil) daffodil with 3-inch blooms and typically 1-3 flowers per stem. As with most jonquils, ‘Pueblo’ blooms are tipped downward. Moreover, these perennial daffodils are very fragrant!

Noted for its pure white petals and pale yellow cup, you’ll see this flower’s cup fade to white before the bloom season ends.

*Jonquilla Daffodils (Division #7) are sometimes called jonquils. First, jonquils usually produce 1-5 (but up to eight) flowers per stem. Second, their cups (coronas) are either cup-shaped, funnel-shaped or flared. Third, jonquils have either spreading or reflexed petals on flowers that grow wider than they do long. And, finally, jonquils usually have a robust and pleasing scent.

‘Silver Chimes’ Daffodil

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Silver Chimes’

Common Names: ‘Silver Chimes’ Daffodil, Tazetta Daffodil ‘Silver Chimes’

Hardiness Zones: 5-9

Bloom Seasons: Mid to Late Spring

Type of Daffodil: Tazetta (Division #8)*

Fragrance: Strong, sweet fragrance

Color Note: Silver-white petals with a yellow cup

‘Silver Chimes’ is a type of white daffodil from the tazetta division. In addition to their strong, sweet scent, tazetta daffodils put on a big show with 3-10 (sometimes more) blooms per stem! In addition, tazetta daffodils like ‘Silver Chimes’ have stout stems, small cups, and spreading petals.

As you might guess from their name, ‘Silver White’ daffodils are silvery-white, but their cups are yellow. This perennial daffodil grows 1-2 feet tall with blooms that reach 1-2 inches across.

*Tazetta Daffodils (Division #8) produce 3-10 flowers on each of their stout stems. Their petals are spreading and non-reflexed. And these daffodils are also very fragrant.

‘Snowball’ Daffodil

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Snowball’

Common Names: ‘Snowball’ Daffodil, Double ‘Snowball’ Daffodil

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Bloom Seasons: Mid to Late Spring

Type of Daffodil: Double (Division #13)*

Fragrance: Sweetly scented

Color Note: Pure white petals with a pale yellow cup

Snowy-white ‘Snowball’ daffodils have double-cupped flowers and one or more blooms per stem. They get their name from their fluffy cups that look like little snowballs in the middle of the blooms.

The ‘Snowball’ daffodil brings late spring interest to the garden, so plant it alongside your early blooming daffs (daffodils) for continuous color. This medium-sized plant grows up to 14 inches tall and has a lovely sweet scent.

*Double Daffodils (Division #4) produce one or more flowers per stem. And their flowers grow double the number of petals or have doubled cups or both.

‘Thalia’ Daffodil

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘Thalia’

Common Names: ‘Thalia’ Daffodil, Triandrus ‘Thalia’ Daffodil, Old Narcissus

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Bloom Seasons: Mid-Spring

Type of Daffodil: Triandrus (Division #5)*

Fragrance: Strongly fragrant

Color Note: White petals and white cups

The ‘Thalia’ daffodil is one of the most fragrant types of white daffodils available for home gardens. As a triandrus daffodil, ‘Thalia’ produces at least two pendant flowers per stem, all with reflexed petals. In addition, ‘Thalia’ is a vigorous plant that grows between 1-2 feet tall.

‘Thalia’ daffodils – also called Old Narcissus – have big and showy pure white blooms. These are popular plants among daffodil growers, and they won the American Daffodil Society’s distinguished Wister Award.

*Triandrus Daffodils (Division #5) produce two or more nodding pendant flowers per stem. Also, triandrus flowers have reflexed petals.

‘White Lion’ Daffodil

Botanical Name: Narcissus ‘White Lion’

Common Names: ‘White Lion’ Daffodil, Double ‘White Lion’ Daffodil

Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Bloom Seasons: Mid to Late Spring

Type of Daffodil: Double (Division #4)*

Fragrance: Sweetly scented

Color Note: White petals with yellow centers

With flowers similar to gardenias, ‘White Lion’ daffodils are double varieties. Their large and overlapped ivory petals become layered with ribbons of frilly yellow petals at the center of the blooms. This stunning type of white daffodil is very showy in garden beds, flower pots, and floral arrangements.

Double ‘White Lion’ daffodils grow 1-2 feet tall, with blooms ranging from 2-4 inches wide. In addition, these fragrant white daffodils earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s celebrated Award of Garden Merit.

*Double Daffodils (Division #4) produce one or more flowers per stem. And their flowers grow double the number of petals or have doubled cups or both.

Which Types of White Daffodils Are Right For You?

White daffodils come in all shapes, sizes, and fragrance levels. From the classic white trumpet to full and fluffy double varieties, there is a gorgeous white daffodil for every garden style!

When choosing the best plants for your garden, keep in mind their growing habit based on their division. And consider planting some early-blooming cultivars next to late-spring bloomers for continuous flowering in each garden bed.

Also, remember that while most white daffodils have bits of yellow in their flowers, many blooms become all-white before they die back. The color-shifting varieties make growing multiple types of white daffodils a special treat for the eyes!

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