Native Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)

The native daffodil, with its pale yellow trumpets dancing in the breeze inspired Wordsworth to pen “I Wander lonely as a cloud” These plants, which are synonymous with spring, flower from March through to April. 

In England and Wales wild populations of daffodil are found in moist woodlands, open meadows and grassy slopes.  Sadly in Devon, few grassland sites remain, though there is a beautiful display in Dunsford Wood (owned by the National Trust and managed by Devon Wildlife Trust)



The daffodil is not a nationally threatened species though it has suffered a population decline and this has been attributed to changes in land use and management.  The greatest rate of loss in England and Wales is recorded as occurring in the mid nineteenth century. Subsequently while it is considered rare in some parts of these two countries, in those locations where it remains, it can be quite abundant. Worldwide the native daffodil is confined to Western Europe and can be found at altitudes up to 1500m.  Its range extends from Portugal in the west, to Germany in the east and England and Wales in the north.

The daffodil is believed to have derived its scientific name from Narcissus, a character in Greek mythology, who is said to have fallen in love with his own reflection.  Certainly we have fallen in love with the daffodil as worldwide it is an important  ornamental crop. There are also a staggering 35000 cultivars and hybrids listed on the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Daffodil registration database. Britain is a major grower of these ornamental bulbs with some of the companies based in Cornwall.  There you can see huge swathes of daffodils bobbing in the fields.

Sources of information:

Botany Section of the Devonshire Association

Kew Gardens

Online atlas of British and Irish flora

Wordsworth poem