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Jonquil Wikimedia Commons
Amaryllidaceae

Jonquil

Narcissus jonquilla

Return of happiness and desire for affection.

Family
Amaryllidaceae
Genus
Narcissus
Native to
Spain, Portugal, southern France
Bloom season
Spring
Type
bulbous perennial
Height
25–40 cm
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
well-drained, fertile
Water
medium during growth; dry in dormancy
Hardiness
5–9
Lifespan
perennial; bulbs multiply for decades

Did you know

  • True jonquils are distinguished from other daffodils by their round, rush-like leaves — the name comes from the Spanish 'junquillo' (little rush).
  • Each stem carries multiple small flowers, unlike the single large bloom of a typical trumpet daffodil.
  • Jonquils are among the most intensely fragrant of all narcissus, and their scent is used in perfumery.
  • In the American South, jonquils were planted on graves and near homesteads, and abandoned clumps still mark old homesite locations.
  • Deer and rodents avoid jonquil bulbs because they contain toxic alkaloids, making them ideal for naturalized plantings.

Color meanings

Yellow

desire and returned affection

Gold

chivalric devotion

White

sweet simplicity

Uses

  • naturalizing in lawns and meadows
  • fragrant cut flowers
  • perfumery
  • Southern heritage gardens