What Is The Difference Between Daffodils And Jonquils?

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Daffodils and jonquils are very similar. In fact, jonquils are a type of daffodil, but all daffodils are not necessarily jonquils. 

Jonquils and daffodils belong to the plant genus Narcissus. Both are commonly referred to as Narcissus.

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1. How and why are Jonquils different than daffodils? 

Jonquils are hybrids belonging to division 7 of the 13 daffodil divisions used to identify, distinguish, differentiate, and sort the wide (more than 13,000) different varieties of daffodils. 

2. How can you tell Jonquils and daffodils apart? 

You can tell daffodils from jonquils by examining the foliage. Daffodils’ leaves end at a point, while jonquils’ leaves are round at the end. 


The stems of jonquils also differ from those of daffodils in that they are typically a bit shorter and they are hollow. 

The flowers’ lengths also give a clue to the type of plant. The flowers’ center is usually shorter in jonquils than in daffodils. 

Jonquils typically bear many small, deeply scented blooms on each stem. Daffodils typically bear one large scentless or very lightly scented bloom per stem. 

3. How are jonquils used? 

Jonquils are a fantastic choice as a cut flower, and they are excellent to plant around your porch or patio so that you can enjoy their heady scent. Some types of perfumers use jonquils in their manufacturing. 

4. Why would you choose daffodils instead of jonquils? 

Jonquils are typically hybrids and come only in shades of yellow, but daffodils may bloom in shades of white, cream, peach, salmon, pink, and more. 

5. Are all types of jonquil the same shade of yellow? 

Although hybrid jonquil blooms only come in shades of yellow, they come in a wide variety of shades and color combinations. 

Look for solid, sunny yellow jonquils with bright yellow petals and pure white centers, pastel yellow with creamy centers, light yellow with orange centers, etc. 

Some popular varieties to mix and match include: 

  • Pappy George stands between one and two feet high. In mid-spring, it produces fragrant yellow blooms with bright orange trumpets. This type is a good choice for Southern gardens. 
  • Baby Moon grows to a maximum height of 1′ foot. This late bloomer produces masses of golden-yellow, sweet-smelling blooms. It is an excellent choice for naturalizing in a sunny Southern meadow. 
  • Intrigue rises to a height of 18″. Late in the spring, the plant produces large (1″ -2″ inch) sweetly fragrant blooms in bright lemon yellow with frilly, creamy yellow centers. This plant looks beautiful when planted alongside red tulips. 
  • Quail grows to be about 14″ inches high. This plant typically blooms in time for Easter with classic, fragrant, bright yellow blooms. This versatile variety is equally at home in planters, flowerbeds, or naturalized. 
  • Pipit grows to be about 1′ foot high. This fragrant mid-spring bloomer produces long-lasting, large (3″ inches) lemon-yellow blooms that fade to white as they mature. It is a lovely choice for naturalizing, bordering a walk, path, drive, or planting in containers. 
  • Suzy rises to a height of nearly 3′ feet. The plant produces sweet-smelling canary yellow blooms with bright red/orange shallow centers in mid to late spring. This variety is nice for naturalizing and can be helpful for erosion control. It is also a fine choice as a specimen plant in a large container.