Narcissus ‘Lemon Drops’ are a popular choice for spring gardens, offering delicate, pale yellow blooms that bring cheer after winter. Their ease of cultivation also contributes to their widespread appeal among gardeners.
Understanding Narcissus ‘Lemon Drops’
Narcissus ‘Lemon Drops’ is a Triandrus daffodil, typically producing multiple flowers per stem, often two to six. These flowers have a nodding or pendant habit with petals that often reflex slightly backwards. The blooms are a creamy yellow or pale lemon hue. They generally grow to a height of 9-12 inches (25-30 cm) and are fragrant.
Planting Narcissus ‘Lemon Drops’
Plant Narcissus ‘Lemon Drops’ bulbs in the fall for optimal spring blooms, ideally from mid to late autumn. This allows bulbs sufficient time to establish roots before the ground freezes. Choose a location with full sun to partial shade, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Good soil drainage is important; rich, loamy soil is preferred. If your soil is heavy clay, incorporate compost or grit to improve drainage.
When planting, ensure the pointed side of the bulb faces upwards. Plant bulbs two to three times as deep as their height, typically 3-6 inches deep, with at least 3 inches of soil covering the top. Space bulbs 4-10 inches apart, or roughly twice their diameter, to allow for natural spread and clumping. After planting, water the area to help settle the soil around the bulbs.
Caring for Narcissus ‘Lemon Drops’
Maintain consistent soil moisture during the active growing season. During dry periods, water about once a week until the top inch or two of soil is moist. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again to prevent waterlogging, which can be detrimental to the bulbs.
While Narcissus ‘Lemon Drops’ prefer good light, they can tolerate some shade, especially in warmer climates, though they still require at least 5-6 hours of sun during their bloom time. These are low-maintenance plants. Light feeding with a balanced fertilizer after flowering can support future blooms, but avoid excessive nitrogen.
Enjoying and Maintaining Your Blooms
Narcissus ‘Lemon Drops’ typically bloom in mid to late spring, from April to May. Their multi-headed, fragrant flowers are suitable for cut flower arrangements. After blooms fade, remove spent flower stems to prevent seed formation, which directs the plant’s energy towards bulb development.
Allow foliage to mature and yellow naturally before removing it. This process allows leaves to photosynthesize and replenish the bulb with nutrients for the following year’s blooms. Narcissus ‘Lemon Drops’ are fully hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 8, meaning they can withstand winter temperatures without special protection and will return year after year.