A jonquil is a specific type of daffodil, but not all daffodils are jonquils. All of these spring-blooming bulbs belong to the single botanical genus, Narcissus. The casual use of “daffodil,” “jonquil,” and “narcissus” often creates confusion. Understanding the scientific classification system helps clarify that the common name “daffodil” applies broadly to the entire group, while “jonquil” refers only to a small, distinct subset of these flowers.
Defining the Daffodil Family
The genus Narcissus encompasses over 13,000 hybrids and more than 40 species, all sharing a fundamental structure. Every flower in this genus features a distinct, two-part composition that emerges from a bulb. The outer part consists of six petal-like segments, known botanically as tepals or perianth segments, which form the background of the bloom.
In the center of the tepals sits a cup-shaped or trumpet-shaped structure called the corona, which is the most defining feature for classification. The term “daffodil” is the accepted common name for virtually all members of the Narcissus genus in English-speaking regions, though it is often colloquially used to describe only the larger, trumpet-flowered varieties.
Unique Characteristics of Jonquils
A true jonquil is derived from the species Narcissus jonquilla and its immediate hybrids, which are specifically categorized as Division 7 within the horticultural classification system. These plants are easily distinguished from many other daffodils by their foliage. Unlike the flat, strappy leaves typical of most daffodils, jonquils possess narrow, dark green leaves that are round or rush-like in cross-section. The name “jonquil” comes from the Spanish word junquillo, meaning “little rush,” a reference to these distinctive, reed-like leaves.
Jonquils are known for producing multiple small, often golden-yellow blooms per stem, typically in clusters of two to five flowers. Their most celebrated trait is their intense, sweet fragrance, making them one of the most highly perfumed types of Narcissus. The central cup, or corona, is usually small relative to the surrounding tepals, often appearing short and cup-shaped. Due to their native origins in Spain and Portugal, jonquils are also generally hardier and more predominant in warmer southern regions.
Other Major Daffodil Divisions
The larger Narcissus family is formally organized into 13 divisions by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to help standardize classifications. The vast majority of daffodils that are not jonquils fall into a few major divisions, primarily based on the size of the central cup relative to the outer tepals.
Division 1, the Trumpet Daffodils, includes varieties where the corona is as long as or longer than the tepals, creating the classic trumpet profile. These flowers typically produce only a single bloom per stem and often have the broader, flatter foliage not seen in jonquils.
Large-Cupped Daffodils, assigned to Division 2, have a corona that is more than one-third the length of the tepals but shorter than the tepals themselves. In contrast, Division 3, the Small-Cupped Daffodils, features a corona that is less than one-third the length of the perianth segments. These three divisions represent the most common garden varieties.
These common varieties generally differ from jonquils by having a single flower per stem and the traditional flat, strappy leaves. The classification system ensures that while a jonquil is a daffodil, it is a specialized member of the family with very specific identifying characteristics.