Double-flowered Narcissus: 9 varieties for a dazzling spring

Narcissus ‘Obdam’

‘Obdam’ is a pretty Narcissus variety with double-flowered blooms, which blooms in mid‑spring, between April and May. It produces large solitary blooms measuring 10–12 cm in diameter, a striking size for a narcissus. In colour, they are yellow-green at first when in bud. Then, they display a pure white, very elegant, subtly ivory-tinged at their heart. This immaculate colouring, paired with its numerous petals, recalls the flowering of refined gardenias. It is complemented by glaucous green foliage with bluish reflections.

These narcissi also exhale a delicate floral fragrance, making them perfect candidates for creating bouquets to brighten and perfume your interiors.

‘Obdam’ is among the tallest varieties, reaching 40 cm in height. Low maintenance and very hardy, it naturalises easily in the garden. You will thus enjoy its return faithfully year after year.

Plant this double Narcissus in a mass planting in full sun or partial shade, in well-drained soil (where water does not stagnate), rather cool (which never fully dries out). It will be wonderful in a pot or a border. Grow it alongside other spring bulbs, such as the Muscari and colourful tulips.

Narcissus 'Rip Van Winkle'

This sun-loving variety will inevitably bring light and sparkle to the garden, and also to pots. ‘Rip Van Winkle’ flowers early, in March or April. This narcissus delights us with small double flowers with slender petals. Tousled in appearance, it unquestionably benefits from a cottage-garden charm, with its little, dandelion-like heads. This flowering is a bright, intense yellow, slightly tinged with green.

Don’t be fooled by the small size of this narcissus, which grows to no more than 15 cm tall: its flowering, like a host of tiny suns, will easily catch the eye and brighten the space! It is also slightly scented.

This variety enjoys sun, well-drained soils and tolerates occasional drought. This makes it an ideal candidate for dressing a rock garden or for forming a planting that requires little watering. Pair ‘Rip Van Winkle’ with robust houseleeks and with creeping sedums ground-covering.

Narcissus 'Tahiti'

This double-flowered narcissus offers a beautiful flowering in warm tones. In ‘Tahiti’, several rows of golden-yellow petals surround a crown in orange and red tones, giving the flowering an exotic charm. These flowers appear in mid-spring, between April and May. They are fragrant.

The stems of this double narcissus rise to nearly 40 cm. Plant ‘Tahiti’ in borders or beds, where it will naturalise and bring a touch of warmth year after year. Of course, this spring bulb will also be perfect for brightening a terrace, balcony or windowsills.

Grow it in full sun or partial shade, in well-drained, cool soil. Hardy and tolerant, it will acclimatise easily. To keep in this same warm colour palette, pair ‘Tahiti’ with imperial fritillaries, such as ‘Prolifera’, ‘Orange Beauty’, ‘Striped Beauty’ or ‘Rubra’.

Narcissus 'Rose of May'

Narcissus ‘Rose of May’ is a very elegant and original variety. It flowers late in spring, around May. It then reveals very double flowers, composed of several rows of petals, surrounding a turbinate centre. They give an impression of roundness that, again here, recalls gardenias. Its ivory-white colour adds a touch of delicacy.

But the beauty of this flowering is not Narcissus’s only asset. Its flowers are also very fragrant, releasing soft, sweet notes that will be even more exquisite in warm weather.

This old variety produces stems reaching 40 cm in height. Hardy, robust and easy to grow, ‘Rose of May’ will naturalise with ease. Provide it with a position in sun or in partial shade, in soil that must be well drained. In a white garden, plant this double Narcissus at the foot of a rose bush, with hyacinths ‘Carnegie’, ‘Madame Sophie’ or ‘Top White’.

Narcissus ‘Modern Art’

Modern Art is a perfect double daffodil for brightening up the garden. It produces solitary flowers of nearly 8 cm in diameter, large for the genus. They consist of a single row of canary-yellow petals, surrounding a triple frilly crown, bearing a vibrant orange. It is therefore a daffodil with warm and sunny colouring, but also slightly scented.

Fairly early to bloom, it delivers a show from March, as the garden wakes up gently.

‘Modern Art’ will, of course, help to form beautiful spring cut flower arrangements, thanks to its flowers borne on tall stems reaching 40 cm.

Easy to grow, sturdy and hardy, this narcissus will bring colour to a lawn that is a little too tame.

Narcissus 'Rosy Cloud'

‘Rosy Cloud’ is a Narcissus with an unusual colour, which differs from the usual yellow and white flowers that are commonly seen. It produces ruffled flowers in a pretty light salmon pink, complemented by white petals forming triangles and making up the base crown. This gives them a slightly tousled look, paired with the elegance of this very soft pastel colour.

Flowering occurs at the top of sturdy stems reaching nearly 40 cm. It takes place early in spring, between March and April. The flowers are lightly scented.

Like other Narcissus, it is an easy-to-grow variety, which will thrive in sun or partial shade in well-drained soil that remains moist. ‘Rosy Cloud’ will brighten your cut flower arrangements, as well as borders, flower beds and edging, and container plantings on terraces or balconies.

Play with colour contrasts by pairing this double Narcissus with bulbs flowering in blue or mauve, such as the scillas and Allium.

Narcissus tazetta 'Erlicheer'

‘Erlicheer’ is a dwarf narcissus prized for its many qualities, which has received the prestigious Award of Garden Merit awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in England. Its compact form reaches only 35 cm in height, but this does not prevent it from proving particularly floriferous.

It flowers early in spring, in March. Generous, it produces up to 8 small flowers on each stem, forming lovely natural bouquets. These well-double flowers consist of several rows of white petals surrounding a central cup-shaped paracorolla in a warm orange-yellow. But the aesthetics of these flowers is not the only asset of this narcissus: it diffuses a powerful, suave and sweet fragrance, which would be almost intoxicating in its strength.

Grow it in well-drained soil, which can even be clayey or dry in summer. It is, in fact, a particularly forgiving variety, hard to go wrong with! It will then reward you by coming back year after year.

Place this dwarf Narcissus near walkways, to enjoy the fragrance of its flowering to best effect. In a pot, pair it with Spring crocus and low-growing evergreen grasses.

Narcissus 'Acropolis'

‘Acropolis’ is a double narcissus that stands out first and foremost for its size. Its large flowers actually reach nearly 11 cm in diameter. They display a white colour, warmed by an orange heart. Being fully double, they consist of several ranks of petals. The flowering appears at the tip of sturdy stems, which reach over 50 cm in height. It blooms late in spring, in May.

But it is also by its fragrance that it differentiates itself from other double narcissi. ‘Acropolis’ exudes, indeed, a spicy, very pleasant fragrance.

This variety has, too, been prize-winner in England, recognising its many qualities.

In terms of cultivation, it will enjoy, like its congeners, sun or partial shade, in well-drained soil that remains cool. In spring borders, pair it with hyacinths colourful and with anemones.

Narcissus ‘Bridal Crown’

If you’re looking for a highly fragrant double narcissus, look no further than Bridal Crown! It features early flowering at the start of spring, with well-formed, double, bi-coloured flowers. Cream-white petals surround an orange-yellow crown. Each stem bears 3 to 5 small flowers, which emit a powerful fragrance.

This compact narcissus, reaching 35 cm tall, will sit well in both cottage-style borders and romantic borders. Robust and tolerant, it will tolerate slightly damp soils, but also drier substrates. For a natural look, pair it with daisies and camomiles.

More double-flowered daffodils to discover.

This list is not exhaustive, as there are other double-flowered narcissi that are just as interesting. For example, ‘Dick Wilden’, a classic with its yellow flowering that is typical of jonquils. ‘Replete’ is a variety with a white and pink colouring that is less common. For its part, ‘Petit Four’ produces flowers with a sophisticated centre, in pink- and apricot-coloured frills.