If you are interested in forcing daffodils, it is important to choose a variety that forces well. Not all varieties of daffodils do. Trumpet, large or long cup, double, cyclamineus daffodils have the most varieties that do well when forced. Here is some more information about these types of daffodils along with some of the better varieties for forcing.
Trumpet Daffodils
Trumpet daffodils get their name from their exceptionally long corona, or cup, which is as long as or longer than the petals of the flower. They are renowned for the large blossoms and their long blooming season. They grow about twelve to twenty-four inches tall and will have white or yellow petals with a white, yellow, pink, orange, or red cup. Some of the best varieties for indoor forcing are
Arctic Gold: golden yellow
Dutch Master: medium yellow
Golden Harvest: golden yellow
Las Vegas: creamy white petals with a yellow cup
Little Gem: light yellow petals with a darker yellow cup
Magnet: white petals with a yellow cup
Mount Hood: ivory white
Primeur: deep golden yellow
Spellbinder: yellow with a greenish tint, cup turns white as it matures
Unsurpassable: canary yellow with a darker cup
Large or Long Cup Daffodils
Almost half of all daffodils cultivated are large or long cup daffodils. Their cup, or corona, is longer than short cups but not quite as long as Trumpet daffodils. Large cup daffodils are available in a wide range of colors and cup shapes. They grow about twelve to twenty inches tall and are very hardy. Some of the best varieties for indoor forcing are
Accent: white petals with a salmon pink cup
Carlton: canary yellow petals with a darker yellow cup
Delibes: golden yellow petals with a yellowish-orange cup trimmed in bright orange
Flower Record: white petals with a yellow cup that gets darker towards its rim
Fortissimo: golden yellow petals with an orange cup
Fortune: canary yellow with an orange cup
Gigantic Star: saffron yellow
Ice Follies: creamy white petals with a canary yellow cup
Pink Whispers: coral pink
Pinza: yellow petals with an orange cup
Salome: ivory petals with a yellow cup that turns pink as it matures
Sound: creamy white petals with an orange cup
Double Daffodils
Double daffodils have extra petals, a doubled cup, or both that can make them resemble carnations or gardenias. They grow about twelve to eighteen inches high. The flowers can be either white or yellow with a white, yellow, pink, peach, orange, or red cup/center. Some of the best varieties for indoor forcing are
Abba: white petals with an orange flecked center segments, pleasant fragrance
Bridal Crown: white petals with a saffron yellow cup, very fragrant, 3-6 florets per stem
Calgary: opens light yellow, turns bright white at maturity
Cheerfulness: white petals with a yellow cup, sweet fragrance, 2-3 florets per stem
Delnashaugh: white petals with an apricot pink cup
Ice King: white petals with a cream, white, and yellow ruffled double cup
Sir Winston Churchill: white with orange flecks, 2-5 florets per stem
Tahiti: soft yellow with orange-red segments
Yellow Cheerfulness: primrose yellow, 2-3 florets per stem
Cyclamineus Daffodils
Cyclamineus daffodils have a straight slender cup and flared-back (reflexed) petals almost as if it is standing in the wind. They are the first daffodils to flower in the spring. They are also more tolerant to the shade than other varieties of daffodils. Average height ranges between eight to sixteen inches tall. The flowers can be either white or yellow with a white, yellow, pink, orange, or red cup. Some of the best varieties for indoor forcing are
February Gold: golden yellow with a frilled cup
Jack Snipe: ivory petals with a yellow cup
Jetfire: yellow petals with a bright reddish-orange cup
Peeping Tom: yellow petals with a slightly darker yellow cup
Tête-à-Tête: lemon-yellow flower, very small (5 – 8″ tall)
Tazetta Daffodils
Tazetta Daffodils are commonly referred to as paperwhite daffodils. However, while all paperwhite daffodils are tazettas, not all tazettas are paperwhites. Tazetta daffodils are very common for forcing because they do not need the long cooling period that other varities require. All varieties of tazetta daffodils produce multiple blooms per bulb and most have a strong fragrance. Average height ranges between twelve to twenty inches high. The flowers can be white, yellow, orange and even have tinges of green. Some of the best varieties of tazetta daffodils for indoor forcing are
Bethlehem: white with a yellow cup
Chinese Sacred Lily: white with a small yellow cup
Constantinople: double form of the Chinese Sacred Lily
Cragford: white with an orangish-red cup
Erlicheer: white with a double ivory cup
Galilee: white flower
Geranium: white with an orange cup
Grand Soleil d’Or: yellow petals with an orange cup
Minnow: white with a yellow cup; dwarf
Nazareth: greenish white with a greenish yellow cup
Omri: white with a yellow cup
Orientalis: yellow with a darker yellow cup
Paperwhite Ziva: white flower
