What's the Difference Between a Daffodil & a Narcissus?

The terms "daffodil" and "narcissus" are generally interchangeable and refer to the same class of springtime flowers, which are recognizable by their cup-and-saucer yellow flowers atop a tall stem. Narcissus is the genus name for all daffodils. Jonquils are a distinct class of Narcissus, as defined by the American Daffodil Society, and are set apart by characteristics not shared by other types of daffodils.

Narcissus is the Latin, or botanical, name for this group of flowering plants. Interbreeding and hybridization have created thousands of distinct strains of Narcissus, thought to total around 25,000 registered cultivars, or named hybrids. Because of the difficulty in separating out genetic distinctions, there is debate as to the overall quantity of Narcissus species, ranging between 40 and 200, depending on the opinion of the daffodil expert in question.

The American Daffodil Society, an organization founded to promote and research daffodil breeding and growing, has designated 13 distinct classes of daffodils. Species and cultivars are grouped according to certain distinguishing features, such as cup shape, petal count, petal color, number of flowers on a stem and fragrance. Daffodil classification groups include trumpet daffodils, where the cup of the single flower is as long or longer than the petals; large- and small-cupped daffodils; double-flowered forms; triandrus, or bell-flowered daffodils; cyclamen-like flowers; jonquils; tazetta daffodils, or plants with multiple flowers on a single stem; poeticus, or extremely white-petaled flowers; bulbocodium, or hoop-skirt flowers; split-cupped daffodils; a miscellaneous category for interdivision hybrids; and a wild species category.

Some people incorrectly refer to all daffodils as "jonquils." While jonquils are a type of daffodil, not all daffodils are jonquils: This type of daffodil is identified by its strong, sweet scent; multiple flowers on a single stem; and thin, hollow, rushlike leaves. Otherwise, care and culture are the same as for any other daffodil.

As a bulb, daffodils are extremely tolerant of cold temperatures and can be found growing as far north as the Canadian border. Plants prefer sunny locations, but because they emerge and flower before most trees have leafed out, they can be planted beneath trees that would otherwise create too much shade for other kinds of flowering plants. No fertilization is required. During the bloom period, plants require plenty of water; however, if bulbs are planted in clay or other poorly draining soils, bulbs tend to rot from overwatering. After blooming, resist the common practice of cutting or tying the foliage, as the plant stores energy harvested from these leaves to form the bulb for the following year's flowers. Bulbs require digging and division every four to five years for optimum flowering.