Narcissus 'Malvern City'

Common nameDaffodil

Plant type Perennials, Bulbs

Plant Uses Container Plant, Rockery, Border, Cottage Garden, Cut Flower, Attract Beneficial Insects

Best uses

A fabulous bulb for growing alongside other spring-flowering bulbs in containers or incorporated into beds, borders and on rockeries. A fantastic cut flower for spring, its scent is beautiful and if flowers are picked while in bud will give colour to your vase for over a week. Try layering bulbs in a large container with other spring-flowering bulbs to make a colourful container for the patio, deck or balcony.

Physical characteristics

A deciduous, perennial bulb growing 0.5m tall and 0.2m wide.

Flowers and foliage

A wonderful bulb producing bright yellow trumpet-shaped fragrant blooms in spring. Leaves and long, narrow and blue-grey in colour.

Preferred site

Prefers full sun to partial shade in moist but well-drained soil.

Preparation for planting

This bulb is often bought and planted as a dry bulb in late summer. Some retailers also sell them flowering in pots in spring. Dig a hole large enough to take the bulbs easily, plant the bulb at a depth of approx two or three times the height of the bulb, you could incorporate some slow-release bulb food into the planting hole too. Planting at this depth helps prevent predation by narcissus bulb fly and helps guard against birds digging up the bulbs. Mulch with a good organic mulch to help discourage slugs from eating the new buds and will help with moisture retention and weed suppression.

Maintenance tips

Apply an organic mulch annually to suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Once flowering has finished, don't be tempted to cut back the leaves, these should be left well alone until they have died down completely. The leaves provide food for the bulb for the following flowering season if they are removed prematurely then flowering may be affected the following year. Apply a bulb fertiliser at this stage, after flowering too. Narcissus be affected by narcissus bulb fly which lays its eggs in the bulb which is then eaten by its grub once it hatches. Discourage narcissus bulb fly by buying bulbs from reputable suppliers and raking the soil back over bulbs once the leaves have died down so as to fill in the holes left by the soil, this way the fly cannot get down to the bulb to lay its eggs.

Ecological and biodiversity benefits

Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators to the garden.

Pests and diseases

Beware of slugs and snails when the buds are coming up. Can be affected by narcissus bulb fly which lays its eggs in the bulb which is then eaten by its grub once it hatches.