Narcissus pseudonarcissus obvallaris

Narcissus obvallaris is an emblematic botanical species, generally known as the wood daffodil. It is recognised by its completely golden yellow flowers, composed of a quite large tube surrounded by a wide corolla. This bulb is endemic to England and Wales. It is quite rare in horticultural trade, but universally appreciated for its generous flowering that accompanies the first beautiful days of spring. This daffodil appreciates clear undergrowth and moist soils, where it naturalises very easily.

Narcissus obvallaris was once considered a subspecies of N. pseudonarcissus (false daffodil). It is now recognised as a separate species. The appearance of its flower is quite different, even though these two species appreciate moist and semi-shaded places. These herbaceous bulbous plants belong to the Amaryllidaceae family. The wood daffodil has a large ovoid bulb that produces a bluish-green basal tuft of ribbon-like, flat and fleshy leaves in spring. Flowering usually takes place in April and May. Each bulb gives rise to a stem 25 to 30cm (10 to 12in) high bearing a solitary, bright yellow flower, 5 to 6cm (2in) wide.

Narcissus obvallaris should be planted en masse in a somewhat wild area of the garden or at the base of deciduous trees and bushes. As the famous poem by William Wordsworth says, they will show their full potential "And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils" ('The Daffodils').

The wood daffodil is low-maintenance. It grows in any well-tilled, humus-rich soil, although results are slightly poorer in excessively acidic soils.

There are so many daffodil cultivars that one can enjoy them for three months in spring without ever getting tired. They all have in common the ability to naturalise easily, to offer an infinite range of yellow and white shades, and to often emit sweet fragrances. Grow them in large clumps in lawns or at the edge of flower beds (at least 20 bulbs) for an enhanced effect. Pair them with squills, hyacinths, early-flowering botanical tulips, forget-me-nots, pansies, or liverworts.