Narcissus 'Bell Song' (7)

RHS Plant Profile
daffodil 'Bell Song'
daffodil 'Bell Song' RHS
Bulbs

A jonquil daffodil, up to 30cm high, with grey-green leaves and two or three flower stems each carrying one or two nodding, fragrant flowers. Flowers, to 4cm across, have outer petals that open pale buff yellow, then becoming ivory-white, and pale yellowish-pink cups, from mid-spring to late spring

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Amaryllidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Potentially harmful
Harmful if eatenskin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats, tortoises): Harmful if eatenskin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus
Narcissus are bulbous herbaceous perennials with linear leaves and leafless stems bearing flowers, which may be solitary or in umbels, with 6 spreading perianth segments and a cup or trumpet-shaped corona
Name Status
Accepted
Horticultural Group
Jonquilla and Apodanthus daffodils have very narrow cylindrical leaves and stems with up to 5, usually fragrant, flowers per stem, with spreading perianth segments and a small cup

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plant bulbs at one-and-a-half times their own depth in autumn, slightly deeper in light soils and in grass, in well-drained, preferably slightly alkaline, soil that is reasonably moist in the growing season in spring, in full sun or light dappled shade, though they will flower best in full sun. See also daffodil cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division: separate and replant offsets as the leaves fade in early summer, or in early autumn before new roots are produced

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Low Maintenance
  • Banks and slopes
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Deadhead as the flowers fade but allow the leaves to die down naturally

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, narcissus bulb fly, narcissus eelworm, and bulb scale mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to narcissus basal rot, narcissus leaf scorch or daffodil viruses