Top 10 Miniature Daffodils

Nothing wakes me up from winter like the sight of bulbs beginning to emerge. Bulbs should be planted in the fall to ensure they bring you the best spring flowers possible. Daffodils are an exceptional bulb to plant. They are super easy to grow, come back year after year, and most importantly, are deer resistant! How great is that??? We all know the deer and bunnies munch on the plants we love most, so daffodils are a great bulb option if your garden has high deer traffic.

Even better (and cuter!) than daffodils, are miniature daffs. Miniature daffodils are a great choice if you want to squeeze some color underneath shrubs or just fill those blank spaces you never know what to do with. Let’s go over my top 10 mini daffodils for the best spring garden.

1. Minnow - Tazetta narcissus

The Minnow daffodil is a white and yellow beauty. Guaranteed at least two blooms, but often with more, they reach around eight to ten inches in height and are an early - mid blooming bulb. Minnow pairs well with pink tulips or a nice purple hyacinth.

2. Tête-à-tête - Cyclamineus narcissus

The Tête-à-tête daffodil is a deep yellow and produces one or two flowers per bulb. Only reaching seven to nine inches tall, they are good for planting large areas and are one of the earliest blooming bulbs. They will be one of your earliest signs that spring is on its way!

3. Mary Poppins - Bulbocodium narcissus

The Mary Poppins daffodil is a bulbocodium daffodil meaning their petals form large cups. This flower is a creamy yellow color and grows between nine and eleven inches tall. They are also an early blooming bulb. These daffodils would do well in a garden with other interesting flower shapes!

4. Baby Boomer - Jonquil narcissus

The Baby Boomer daffodil is a bright yellow color producing up to nine fragrant blooms at a time. These daffs grow seven to nine inches tall and are a mid-season bloomer. These daffodils can be paired with allium for lots of bright color. Don’t get it twisted - every generation should have these planted.

5. Sundisc - Sun Disc narcissus

The Sundisc daffodil is a soft yellow gold color growing 10-12 inches tall. These daffs are also very fragrant and produce a flat, cup-shaped bloom. They are an unusual late blooming daffodil and can be paired with irises and Jacob’s Ladder

6. Yellow Sailboat - Jonquilla narcissus

The Yellow Sailboat daffodil is a soft yellow bloom and can produce 10 times as many blooms as bulbs planted. This daff grows ten to twelve inches tall and is another early - mid blooming flower.

7. Jetfire - Jetfire narcissus

Jetfire is a deep yellow and orange flower growing ten to twelve inches tall. This is one of the best mini varieties as they grow well even in unideal situations. They are an early blooming bulb and look great on any border or in any bed. The bright color makes this one very eye-catching from afar.

8. Oxford Gold - Bulbocodium narcissus

The Oxford Gold daffodil, like Mary Poppins, also produces a cone like bloom. This daffodil produces its foliage in the fall and can be damaged by harsh cold temperatures, so you’ll have more success with this one in the South. They grow eight to ten inches tall and are an early - mid blooming bulb.

9. Elka - Elka narcissus

The Elka daffodil produces a soft, creamy white, star-shaped bloom. They grow six to eight inches tall and look like little stars hovering above their green foliage. They are an early blooming bulb and pair well with tulips and hyacinths.

10. Angels Breath - Angels Breath narcissus

The Angels Breath daffodil produces small, but sweet smelling yellow blooms. Holding up to eight blooms at a time, they grow six to eight inches tall. They are early - mid blooming bulbs and pair well with snowdrops.

If you are looking to spice up a walkway or sidewalk, the border of your garden, or have finally decided to plant those empty spaces in your garden, consider planting mini daffodil bulbs this fall. I promise you won't regret it!

-Elin Willard