Daffodils or Jonquils?

The first signs of spring are brightly colored flowers peeking above the once frozen ground.  This prompts the age-old question—is it a daffodil or a jonquil?

Daffodils and jonquils are not the same, though they are closely related and both belong to the Narcisus genus. Jonquils are a specific type of daffodil. All jonquils are daffodils, but not all daffodils are jonquils. However, there are other differences between these two spring beauties.

Daffodil flowers are typically light scented whereas jonquils are highly perfumed. In addition, jonquils feature 1-5 golden yellow flowers per stem. Each flower’s petals are spread around a small center cup. Daffodils usually have one trumpet-shaped flower per stem and come in a variety of colors.

Jonquils thrive better in warmer southern regions. Daffodils prefer the colder winter temperatures before blooming
in spring.

The main difference between the two are in the leaves. Daffodils can be recognized by their wide, sword-shaped leaves while jonquils have slender leaves that are dark green with rounded tips.
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Both daffodils and jonquils are spring blooming perennial bulbs best planted in the fall as the soil begins to cool.
No matter what you call them--daffodils or jonquils--these stunning flowers celebrate the joy of another spring season.

Daffodils

Jonquils