Daffodils and Narcissus that don't need a frost

jenny794

I believe that most Daffodils and Narcissus need a frost to kick start growth and flowering. I love these plants and I want some for my garden in southern Spain. It never goes below zero there though.  Are there varieties that I can successfully grow here that will give me some late Winter early Spring colour?

Obelixx

They don't need a frost to start growing.  Left in the ground they will start new root growth in late August in the UK.  I suggest you look for varieties that flower early and go for species which tend to be smaller and often mult-headed rather than big blousey hybrids.  Bulbicodium would probably do well there as its natural range is western Europe and north west Africa and Poeticus Recurvus has a range from France to Greece so should be OK.

Palustris

Spain is the home of most of the species of Narcissus. You should have no problem growing them.

Hostafan1

I wonder if @Nollie grows them?

Nollie

Tried growing some Thalia, miniature Rip Van Winkle and a few others @Hostafan1. All were fine the first year planted, but only the mini RVW ones partially returned this year.

However, for me, it was heavy, poorly draining clay soil and lack of water in spring and summer, I think. Normally, we have dry and frosty winters and hot summers, but with summer rains. No rain in droughty, extremely hot summer this year and I wasn’t about to clamber up grassy banks to water the daffs! 

This year I have ordered lots of minis to grow in pots.

I did think it was only tulips that needed a winter chilling...

jenny794

OK Great. I will try somewhere there is some irrigation in the summer.