Pretty miniature daffodils are available in shades of white and yellow.
Dwarf Daffodils are an excellent choice for container planting, growing in a small courtyard garden, or artfully placed in a rock garden.
They also look quite fetching naturalized in a meadow.
In this article, we discuss the growth and care of miniature daffodils. Read on to learn more.
What Are Miniature Daffodils?
There is no set size definition for miniature daffodils.
But, generally speaking, any daffodil that doesn’t grow taller than 6” inches high and produces flowers no larger than an inch across can be considered a miniature.
Some daffodils are miniatures in some settings and standard-sized in others.
Specific varieties of dwarf daffodils are intended to stay between 4” and 6” inches in height.
These plants may produce flowers as large as an inch-and-a-half across.
Some top picks in dwarf daffodils include:
- Narcissus Hawera (Triandrus Daffodil) is a well-established heirloom variety from New Zealand, producing masses of pretty, dangling lemon yellow flowers. [source]
- Narcissus Baby Moon (Jonquilla Baby Moon) is a smaller version of the familiar golden daffodil classic, which produces between 3 and 5 blooms on each stem.
- Narcissus Jetfire (Cyclamineus Daffodil) has dazzling yellow blooms with bright orange (or even red) centers. The trumpets of these flowers are unusually long, and the petals reflex away from the trumpet. [source]
- Narcissus Tete Boucle (Double Daffodil) is a small, double-blooming gem with deeply fragrant flowers in deep yellow. Its strap-like foliage is an attractive shade of grayish-green.
- Narcissus White Petticoat (Narcissus bulbocodium) has bell-shaped white blooms (corona with stigma) edged with small, pointy white petals. The unusual configuration of the blooms is an adaptation known as herkogamy, which encourages pollinator interaction. [source]
- Narcissus Minnow (Tazetta) has pretty creamy yellow blooms with dazzling, bright yellow centers. The plant produces 4 or 5 blooms per stem. It is an excellent choice for warm climates.
- Narcissus Pipit (Jonquilla Daffodil) has masses of pale chartreuse yellow blooms on each stem. It has a long bloom time, and the flowers gradually fade to white as they mature. [source]
Where Should You Plant Miniature Daffodils?
Miniature daffodils make an excellent addition to a pollinator garden or a cutting garden.
Because they are deer resistant, they do well in a woodland setting or naturalized in a meadow.
For best results, choose a setting that provides full sun exposure. Daffodils will do alright with partial shade in very hot settings.
When Should You Plant Miniature Daffodils?
You can plant miniature daffodils in the fall or the springtime.
If planting in the spring, wait until all danger of frost has passed to plant your miniature daffodil bulbs.
Ambient daytime temperatures should be about 60° degrees Fahrenheit and should not fall below 40° degrees Fahrenheit at night.
How Do You Plant Miniature Daffodils?
Dig Holes For Mini Daffodils
No matter where you plant your dwarf daffodil bulbs, you’ll need to provide each bulb with a hole 3” or 4” inches deep.
Your bulbs should be placed between 4″ and 6″ inches apart.
Amending The Soil
Whether planting in a flowerbed, container, or natural setting, ensure the soil is light, airy, and well-draining.
Mix some peat moss (or other organic matter) and a kelp meal into the soil when planting to ensure your bulbs get off to a good start.
Adding Fertilizer
A bit of bulb fertilizer mixed into the soil at the bottom of the planting hole will boost your bulbs.
This will keep them well fed until after they have finished blooming.
Place Your Bulbs
Place your miniature daffodil bulbs into the prepared holes (pointy end up) and cover them with your prepared soil mixture.
Firm it down gently and add more soil as needed so that the soil in the hole is level with the surrounding soil (or a half inch from the top of your pot or container).
Water Thoroughly
Water your freshly planted bulbs immediately after planting, and cover them with a 2″ or 3″ inches thick layer of mulch.
This will help retain the moisture the bulbs need to establish themselves and survive the winter.
Care For Your Mini-Daffs
Following the tips presented here should be greeted by an abundance of cheery little daffodil blooms in the spring.
You may not need to water your miniature daffodils at this time if you get adequate rain in your area (about an inch a week). If not, water enough to keep the soil slightly moist and never soggy.
When the blooms die back, deadhead them and provide feeding of a general purpose fertilizer that is low in nitrogen and high in potassium.
After the leaves have died back completely, remove them and give your plants a feeding of bone meal to help them build energy through the winter months.
Cover your daffodil patch with a 2″ or 3″ inches layer of mulch to protect the bulbs from freezing during the winter.
When spring returns, you will see a larger and cheerier bunch of blooms.
