Daffodil, Narcissus, or Jonquil: Is There A Difference?

I tend to throw the terms daffodil,narcissus and jonquil around on this blog quite a bit. This may have led to some confusion among newbie gardeners who are unfamiliar with daffodil lingo. Is a daffodil the same as a narcissus?

This is the official answer from the American Daffodil Society website:

The two words are synonyms. Narcissus is the Latin or botanical name for all daffodils, just as ilex is for hollies. Daffodil is the common name for all members of the genus Narcissus, and its use is recommended by the ADS at all times other than in scientific writing.

So,the short answer is "yes." All daffodils are members of the narcissus genus. Narcissus is the proper name and daffodil is the common name. Especially in North America,all types of narcissus flowers are usually called daffodils except for regional differences.

As far as the common names used for members of the narcissus family in different regions, the official explanation doesn't explain the confusion. Many people until the early 20th century (and sometimes even now) only referred to yellow trumpet or large cupped narcissi as daffodils. Everything else,and particularly any white flowered types were called narcissus.

So What About Jonquils? Are They Daffodils?

The answer on this one is again "yes." All jonquils are properly called daffodils. But here's where it gets tricky. Not all daffodils are jonquils. Here's the official word from the Daffodil Society FAQ:

In some parts of the country any yellow daffodil is called a jonquil, usually incorrectly. As a rule, but not always, jonquil species and hybrids are characterized by several yellow flowers, strong scent, and rounded foliage. The hybrids are confined to Division 7 and the term "jonquil" should be applied only to daffodils in Division 7 or species in Division 13 known to belong to the jonquil group.

I grew up hearing older people in the south refer to yellow trumpet daffodils as jonquils and I still hear that every now and then. But the true jonquil has several smaller flowers per cluster and is usually fragrant. This cultivar called "New Baby" is a very good example of a true jonquil:

So,just to clarify,a narcissus and a daffodil are the same. Jonquils (narcissus jonquilla) are daffodils,too but not all daffodils are jonquils. Hope that clears it up.

Edit: Since I wrote this piece I found a great explanation of the differences between daffodils,jonquils and narcissus. Jerry Parsons, a retired Texas Extension agent, of Plant Answers.com explains narcissus nomenclature in an easy to understand way. Like many southerners he insists that only trumpet narcissus can truly be called a daffodil and he goes on to list the best narcissus for naturalizing in Texas.

Next, I'll tell you more about narcissus jonquilla,the true jonquil.