Daffodil 'Ice Follies'

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; beneath deciduous trees, it needs good light while its leaves are growing.

Water

Keep soil moderately moist during autumn root growth and spring growth, but never waterlogged. Established bulbs usually need little watering while dormant in summer.

Soil

Well-drained soil with moderate fertility; tolerates clay if drainage is good. Avoid ground that stays wet in summer.

Height

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Spread

0.25-0.5 ft (0.08-0.15 m) per bulb, widening into clumps over time

Flowers

Early to mid-spring; white petals surrounding a broad, frilled, pale-yellow cup that fades to cream.

Foliage

Upright, strap-shaped, blue-green leaves that die back after flowering.

Growth

Moderate; flowers reach full height each spring, while clumps enlarge over several years.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Cold hardy
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.38 m)

   full size

About 1 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant bulbs in autumn, with their bases about 6-8 in (15-20 cm) deep and bulbs 4-6 in (10-15 cm) apart.
• Water after planting and during prolonged dry spells while leaves are green.
• On poor soil, apply a balanced bulb fertiliser as shoots emerge, following the label rate; avoid excessive nitrogen.
• Leave foliage exposed to light until it yellows naturally; do not knot or braid it.
• Lift and divide crowded clumps when flowering declines, after the leaves have yellowed.

Pruning. Remove faded flower heads before seed develops, leaving the stems and leaves intact. Cut back foliage only when it has yellowed and died down, usually at least six weeks after flowering.

Autumn

Plant bulbs in well-drained ground before the soil freezes; in Australia, plant as temperatures cool.

Late winter

As shoots emerge, feed bulbs growing in poor soil and check that the ground is draining freely.

Early spring

Water during extended dry weather and enjoy the flowers.

Mid-spring

Remove faded flower heads without cutting off green foliage.

Late spring to early summer

Let leaves yellow naturally before cutting them back or mowing naturalised plantings.

Early summer

Divide congested clumps after foliage dies back and replant promptly.

• Plant in repeated groups through mixed borders for a clear white-and-cream spring display.
• Naturalise in grass beneath deciduous trees, leaving the grass unmown until the leaves die back.
• Combine with emerging hostas or hardy geraniums, whose leaves help conceal the dying daffodil foliage.
• Use in deep containers with grape hyacinths or pansies for a seasonal display; protect containers from severe freezing.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Cottage garden, Woodland, White garden, Traditional and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Grape hyacinths, Forget-me-nots, Hellebores, Hostas, Hardy geraniums and Brunnera.

Wildlife: Flowers may be visited by early insects, but this cultivar is not a major nectar source. Deer and rabbits usually avoid it because it is toxic.

• Few or no flowers: improve spring light, stop removing leaves early, avoid high-nitrogen feeding and divide congested clumps after foliage dies back.
• Basal rot: discard soft or rotting bulbs and improve drainage; do not replant into persistently wet soil.
• Narcissus bulb fly: larvae hollow out bulbs; remove affected bulbs and firm soil after foliage dies back to close gaps around bulbs.
• Slugs and snails: protect emerging shoots and flowers with hand-picking or locally approved controls.

All parts are toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses, especially the bulbs. Eating them can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; large amounts can cause serious poisoning. Sap can irritate skin. Never store bulbs with onions, and seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

• Daffodil 'Mount Hood' (Narcissus 'Mount Hood')

  'Mount Hood' has a longer trumpet, at least as long as the petals; 'Ice Follies' has a shorter, broad, flared cup.

• Daffodil 'Ice King' (Narcissus 'Ice King')

  'Ice King' has a densely doubled centre of cream and yellow segments rather than the single open cup of 'Ice Follies'.

Narcissus comes from the ancient Greek plant name narkissos.

Propagation. Separate offsets from established clumps after the foliage yellows and replant promptly. Small offsets may take several years to flower; seed-grown plants will not reliably match 'Ice Follies'.

Accepted botanical name

Narcissus

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.