Daffodil Identification: Decoding the Classification System

Daffodil Identification: Decoding the Classification System

A gardener planted daffodils in mid-December that bloomed in mid-March, reaching 18 inches tall with 5-inch-wide flowers. The nursery couldn't identify the variety, so the gardener sought expert help.

Understanding Daffodil Codes

The Georgia Daffodil Society explains that daffodils are classified by a code indicating flower shape, petal color, and cup color. For example, "1Y-Y" means a trumpet-shaped flower (Division 1) with yellow petals and a yellow cup. A "1W-YR" daffodil has white petals and a yellow cup with a red rim. There are 12 distinct daffodil flower shapes.

Resources like the Daffodil Photo Guide and the Georgia Daffodil Society Historic Daffodil Identification Guide can help gardeners pinpoint specific cultivars.