March Birth Flower - The Daffodil

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

William Wordsworth’s famous poem celebrates these bright and cheerful blooms, and we love them here at Oleander too! The ultimate springtime flower, daffodils are some of the first we see at this time of the year and are a great indicator that the long cold winter is nearly over! Because of this, they are seen to represent rebirth and new beginnings, and after the winter we’ve had, we could definitely do with a fresh start to spring!

Daffodil, also known as narcissus and jonquil, is the common name for the narcissus plant. You might be surprised to learn that there are a whopping 13,000 varieties of narcissi and over 50 different species!

In Greek mythology, Narcissus, who was famed for his beauty, rejected all romantic advances. Instead, he became obsessed with staring at his own reflection in a pool of water for his entire life. The story goes that after he died, a beautiful flower (the narcissus) sprouted in his place. This is where the term narcissism, a fixation with oneself, originates from. Some people also believe that the way daffodils bend their necks towards the ground symbolizes Narcissus bending over to admire his image in the water, and this is why daffodils are sometimes said to represent vanity and unrequited love.

The daffodil is believed to bring wealth in some cultures. In Wales, where the daffodil is the national symbol, it is said that those who see the first daffodil of the season invite wealth for the rest of the year, and similarly, in China, legend has it that if a daffodil blooms in your garden on New Year's Day, your house will have good fortune for the rest of the year. In the UK, there are many colloquial names for the beloved daffodil. Some of these are: Yellow Maidens, Butter and Eggs, Easter Roses and Daffodillies.

Nowadays, most cultures celebrate the narcissus as a symbol of hope and joy, the complete opposite of Medieval times when Europeans believed that if a narcissus flower drooped when you looked at it, it was an omen of death. On a more joyful note, daffodils are given to celebrate 10 years of marriage, symbolizing joy and cheerfulness. Giving a bunch of daffs to a loved one is said to ensure happiness and convey the message that they are the ‘only one’ for you. 

If you’re planting daffodil bulbs yourself, do be sure to keep pets away from them because they are poisonous to animals. Daffodil flowers like to be displayed away from direct sunlight and heat sources, and cooler spots are ideal for prolonging vase life. Changing the water in a vase of cut daffodils every few days will also prolong the life of the flowers.