Tête-à-tête daffodil
Narcissus 'Tête-à-tête'. Family Amaryllidaceae. Bulb.
Also called Miniature daffodil, Narcissus 'Tête-à-tête'.
This compact daffodil produces golden-yellow flowers, usually one to three per stem, in late winter or early spring. Its short stems suit pots, border edges and small drifts, and established bulbs return each year where winters provide enough cold.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade; beneath deciduous trees is suitable if the leaves receive good spring light.
- Water
- Keep moderately moist during active growth, especially in pots. Once the foliage dies back, reduce watering; avoid waterlogged soil in any season.
- Soil
- Well-drained loam, sandy soil or improved clay. Tolerates a broad pH range but struggles in persistently wet ground.
- Height
- 0.5-0.75 ft (0.15-0.23 m)
- Spread
- 0.25-0.5 ft (0.08-0.15 m) per clump, gradually widening as bulbs multiply
- Flowers
- Late winter to early spring; golden-yellow petals surrounding a slightly deeper yellow trumpet.
- Foliage
- Narrow, upright to arching, green strap-shaped leaves that yellow and disappear after flowering.
- Growth
- Moderate; flowers reach full height in one spring, while clumps enlarge over several years.
- Care needed
- Low
The year at a glance
- Deer resistant
- Cold hardy
- Low allergen
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Toughness
- Very tough
Will it suit your garden?
Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.
Full sun is 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, part shade 3 to 6 hours, shade under 3.
How it grows
Planting day
0.5 ft (0.15 m)
After 1 year
0.6 ft (0.19 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.
Good to know
- Cats and dogs
- Toxic
- Growth rate
- Moderate
Care
Jobs through the year
- WaterFeb–May, every 14 days
- Water established bulbs during dry spells while foliage is green; stop once dormant.
- WaterSep–Nov, every 14 days
- Water newly planted bulbs in, then water only if autumn soil is dry.
- FeedFeb–Mar
- On poor soil, apply low-nitrogen bulb fertiliser as shoots emerge.
- DeadheadMar–Apr
- Remove faded flower heads, leaving stems and leaves intact.
- PruneMay–Jun
- Remove fully yellow foliage only after at least six weeks of growth following flowering.
- DivideJun–Jul
- If flowering declines, lift and separate crowded dormant bulbs, then replant promptly.
- MulchOct
- Apply a thin compost dressing without creating a thick, wet covering.
- ProtectFeb–Apr
- Inspect young shoots and flowers for slugs and remove pests by hand.
- Plant bulbs in autumn, with their bases about 6 in (15 cm) deep and 3-4 in (8-10 cm) apart.
- Water after planting and during dry spells while leaves are green; use containers with open drainage holes.
- On poor soil, apply a low-nitrogen bulb fertiliser as shoots emerge, following the label rate.
- Apply a thin layer of compost in autumn without creating a thick, wet covering over the bulbs.
- Divide crowded clumps after the foliage yellows if flowering declines.
Pruning. Remove faded flower heads, leaving stems and leaves intact. Let foliage yellow naturally, usually for at least six weeks after flowering, before cutting it off; do not tie or braid the leaves.
Through the year
- Autumn
- Plant bulbs in well-drained ground or deep containers; water them in.
- Late winter
- Check emerging shoots and water pots if the compost is drying out.
- Early spring
- Enjoy the flowers and feed bulbs on poor soil as growth gets underway.
- Mid-spring
- Remove spent flower heads and keep leaves growing through dry weather.
- Late spring
- Allow foliage to yellow fully before tidying or mowing over planted areas.
- Summer
- Lift and divide congested clumps once dormant; keep dormant container bulbs out of prolonged wet conditions.
In the garden
- Plant small groups along path edges where the low flowers can be seen close up.
- Combine in pots with crocuses and grape hyacinths for a compact spring display.
- Use beneath deciduous shrubs, where spring light reaches the bulbs before the canopy fills out.
- Plant among hardy geraniums or hostas whose emerging leaves help conceal the daffodils' fading foliage.
- Naturalise in short grass that can remain unmown until the bulb foliage has died back.
Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, Woodland, Traditional, Small-space and Low-maintenance.
Plant it with: Crocuses, Grape hyacinths, Snowdrops, Hardy geraniums, Hostas and Brunnera.
Wildlife: Flowers may attract early insects, but this cultivar is not a major nectar resource. Deer and rabbits usually avoid the toxic bulbs and foliage.
Problems to watch for
- Few flowers: shade, crowding or removing leaves too soon can weaken bulbs. Improve spring light, retain foliage until yellow and divide congested clumps.
- Bulb rot: bulbs become soft in poorly drained soil. Discard affected bulbs and improve drainage before replanting.
- Narcissus bulb fly: larvae hollow out bulbs, causing weak growth or failure to emerge. Lift and discard damaged bulbs and buy firm, healthy replacements.
- Slugs and snails: young shoots and flowers may be chewed. Remove pests by hand and use wildlife-conscious controls where needed.
Safety
Toxic to cats, dogs, horses and people if eaten. All parts contain poisonous alkaloids, with the highest concentrations in the bulbs; ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, and large amounts can cause serious heart or nervous-system effects. Sap can irritate skin. Keep bulbs separate from edible onions and seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.
Easily confused with
Jetfire daffodil (Narcissus 'Jetfire')
Has a conspicuous orange trumpet and more strongly swept-back yellow petals; Tête-à-tête has a yellow trumpet.
Minnow daffodil (Narcissus 'Minnow')
Carries clusters of smaller flowers with pale cream-yellow petals and short yellow cups, rather than the deeper yellow flowers and longer trumpets of Tête-à-tête.
The name
'Tête-à-tête' is French for 'head-to-head', commonly meaning a private conversation between two people.
Propagation. Separate offsets from established clumps after the foliage has yellowed, then replant promptly or store briefly in a cool, dry, ventilated place until autumn. Division preserves the cultivar; seedlings will not reliably come true.
Checked against open data
- Accepted botanical name
- Narcissus
Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.
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