For a touch of Wales, plant daffodils

Wales is an unusual country by any standard. Not only are there four times as many sheep as people in Wales, but there are also more castles than in any other country on earth. The national flower of Wales is the daffodil.

So if your home is your castle, why not surround it with daffodils? Daffodils have a lot going for them. They are resistant to deer and rabbits, so you don't have to worry about them being eaten the way tulips are. Daffodils are true perennials that will come back year after year. Not only will they come back, but they will multiply or naturalize, growing into large clumps of flowers.

Daffodils come in a wide range of colors besides the traditional yellow. You can get white daffodils, orange or even pink. They come in all sizes down to miniatures only a few inches tall. One of the most unusual and beautiful varieties is the butterfly daffodil. Also called split-cup or split-corona daffodils, butterfly daffodils have many flattened petals, instead of the traditional trumpet, in the center of each bloom. Their blossoms are lush and full. It is truly a different look for your spring borders, mixed flower beds and especially in mass plantings.

Choose a wide mix of butterfly daffodils to add more dimension and lots of color to your outdoor displays. Butterfly daffodils make exciting indoor bouquets that are sure to attract attention. All daffodils make excellent cut flowers.

The butterfly daffodil Infinite Joy actually changes color from yellow to a very rare almost green-white. It has a sweet scent and blooms in mid-spring. It looks almost summery when planted in large clusters.

The butterfly daffodil Orangery has a shockingly beautiful true, deep orange cup that is flattened on top of stunning white background petals, giving it a double-layer look. Its vibrant-orange ruffles have just a hint of yellow at the edges.

Plant your butterfly daffodils in the fall before the ground freezes. Daffodils cannot tolerate soggy ground, so choose a site with rich soil that drains well. If your soil is heavy clay or too sandy, add compost. Daffodils grow best in neutral to slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. 

Bury the bulbs about three times as deep as the bulb is tall, so a 2-inch bulb would go about 6 inches deep. Plant the bulbs with the pointed end up. Butterfly daffodils look best when planted in clumps of five or more, or in mass plantings. Water the planting beds to fill in any air pockets.

Plant daffodils (Narcissus spp.) in your shrub border, perennial beds or even among groundcovers. Daffodils look great when planted in front of evergreens, which also protects them from the wind. Daffodils planted up against a foundation or rock wall with southern exposure will bloom earlier. They will readily naturalize under deciduous trees, or even in your lawn; just don't mow the grass until the daffodil foliage dies down.

So this year, plant some butterfly daffodils and enjoy your own Welsh flower show. While you may not be outnumbered by sheep, your home will truly be your castle.