I have a friend who is fond of saying, “the devil is in the details,” and she is right. Ambitious plans have come to a screeching halt because someone forgot the AAA batteries. Failure to tighten a strategically placed button can cause an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. Most of us could make up our own lists of minor detail omissions that caused major problems.
Miniature daffodils are often relegated to “detail” status in the spring garden. This is a mistake, because while little, they add a lot of emphasis. But if they are indeed details, I think the angels are on their side.
All daffodils are members of the Narcissus genus, which experts and aficionados generally break down into a number of subgroups—usually up to thirteen–according to traits of various species and varieties. The American Daffodil Society has long recognized a group of “ADS Miniature Daffodils”, but it is a selection of varieties drawn from many of the recognized subgroups. Just about the only thing miniature daffodils have in common is small stature.
So how big is a miniature daffodil? This is also a subject of discussion among narcissus lovers. The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the nation’s hotbeds of horticultural knowledge, invokes the standards used by the ADS and the best narcissus retailers, characterizing minis as plants that grow about six inches tall, with one-inch flowers. The real key to miniature status, they say, is that the plant has all the traits of the larger members of its particular class, but is proportionally smaller. A true mini, for example, would not combine six-inch stature with three inch-wide flowers.
At this time of the year, minis are the stars or grocery store flower departments and garden center shelves, ready for their moment in the spotlight as household or table decorations. These potted specimens are generally not identified by a specific varietal name, but resemble miniature versions of classic large-cup daffodils like ‘King Alfred’ or ‘Carlton’. Most can be planted outside in the garden after they have flowered.
And outside is where they should be—in large numbers. I love to plant them under deciduous trees, because it is easy to fit the bulbs in soil pockets between tree roots. Minis also work well in containers, naturalized in grass, or adorning the edges of borders and beds. They can be sprinkled throughout rock gardens as well. Wherever you put them, the early types look especially lovely when combined with pansies or grape hyacinths. In addition to beauty, they share another major virtue with normal-size daffodils—varmint resistance. Four-footed garden marauders will bypass minis in favor of tastier treats, like tulips or hydrangea tips.
One of the best known miniature daffodils is little ‘Minnow’, a variety so garden-worthy that it has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. ‘Minnow’ is a tazetta-type daffodil, with multiple fragrant flowers on each stem. The cup is yellow and the perianth or surrounding petals are ivory or white. The plants top out at about six inches.
Years ago I bought a bag of ‘Hawara’ triandrus narcissus and was pleasantly surprised by their good looks and toughness. They are a little taller than the standard mini—probably about eight inches in height, with medium yellow cups and petals. The petals are slightly reflexed or back-turned, giving the flowers a windswept look. Like ‘Minnow’, ‘Hawara’ plants feature more than one flower on each stem. Another, somewhat similar mini is the classic ‘Tete a Tete’, which multiplies well over time.
‘Sun Disk’ looks just as you would expect–rounded, with a somewhat flattened golden cup, surrounded by lighter yellow petals. It is a fragrant, late-bloomer, one of the jonquilla tribe of daffodils, which are especially beloved—and successful–in the American south. If you grow it up north, install it in a place where it can get a good summer baking.
Minis have the same cultural needs as other daffodils, including well-drained soil and sunshine. Planted under deciduous trees, they can also do nicely, as they flower before the trees leaf out. After the blooms have faded, let the foliage ripen and begin to turn brown before removing it. Because of their small size, minis are somewhat less ugly in decline than larger daffodils. If you are worried about “the uglies”, plant the daffodils amid daylilies or hardy geranium, which will cover the dying foliage nicely.
Minis are generally quite inexpensive, so you can easily plant them en masse. Don’t even think about planting individual bulbs. Dig holes big enough to install odd-numbered groups of bulbs for a naturalistic effect. I like to put in at least five per planting hole.
If you want to cheat, buy a few pots of miniature daffodils now and plant them in gaps in your garden. No one will be the wiser. Otherwise, order some for fall. One good source is Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, 7900 Daffodil Lane Gloucester, VA 23061, (877) 661-2852, www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com. Free catalog.