To successfully plan for succession with daffodils (Narcissus), one must first understand their distinct growth habit. Daffodils are true spring ephemerals. They emerge in late winter or early spring, rapidly producing foliage and flowers to take advantage of the sunlight available before deciduous trees leaf out. After blooming, the flowers fade, but the foliage remains for a critical period of several weeks. During this time, the leaves are photosynthesizing and sending energy down to the bulb to fuel next year's bloom. This creates a specific challenge and opportunity: the companion plants must be able to coexist with or even benefit from the daffodil's declining foliage without suppressing this vital energy-gathering process.
While succession focuses on plants that bloom after, starting the display with a harmonious blend of early bloomers creates a richer tapestry. Planting smaller bulbs that flower concurrently with daffodils can provide a beautiful underplanting. Species like Scilla siberica (Siberian Squill) with its intense blue flowers, Chionodoxa (Glory-of-the-snow) in shades of blue and pink, or Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) create a stunning contrast at the feet of taller daffodils. These minor bulbs naturalize easily, have similar sun and soil requirements, and their foliage will senesce (die back) at roughly the same time as the daffodils, making for a tidy and coordinated early spring display.
This is the core of successional planting. The ideal companions are plants that emerge slightly later than the daffodils, so their new growth is not smothered by the daffodil's dense foliage. As the daffodil flowers fade, these companions begin their ascent and flowering, effectively hiding the yellowing daffodil leaves. Excellent choices include:
Perennials: Brunnera macrophylla (False Forget-Me-Not) is a superstar companion. Its heart-shaped leaves emerge as daffodils bloom, and its sprays of tiny blue flowers appear just as the daffodils finish. The large leaves then expand to cover the dying daffodil foliage beautifully. Pulmonaria (Lungwort) operates on a similar principle, with spotted foliage and pink-to-blue flowers. Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) is another classic partner, with its fern-like foliage and arching stems of heart-shaped flowers providing a soft, textural contrast.
Late Spring Bulbs: Camassia (Wild Hyacinth) is a tall, native bulb that blooms in late spring with spires of blue or white stars. It thrives in the same conditions as daffodils and its sturdy foliage can push up through the daffodil clumps.
For a garden that remains vibrant into early summer, select plants that form a basal rosette of leaves in spring but do not send up their flower stalks until the daffodil foliage has completely disappeared. This strategy ensures no competition for light during the daffodil's crucial post-bloom period.
Tall Perennials: Digitalis (Foxglove) is an excellent choice. Its low rosette of leaves sits unobtrusively at ground level while daffodils are active. Once the daffodil foliage has withered, the foxglove sends up its spectacular flower spikes. Alchemilla mollis (Lady's Mantle) forms a mound of pleated leaves that can help mask fading bulb foliage, followed by chartreuse flower clusters in early summer. Peonies are another superb partner; their red shoots emerge alongside daffodils, but they flower much later, and their large, shrub-like form occupies the space vacated by the dormant daffodil bulbs.
Successional blooming isn't solely about flowers. Incorporating plants with attractive foliage ensures the planting area remains visually appealing long after the last petal has fallen. Hostas are the quintessential choice for shaded or partially shaded areas where daffodils are planted. Their late-emerging foliage (often referred to as "hosta eyes") avoids the daffodil foliage entirely. As the hosta leaves unfurl, they completely obscure the space where the now-dormant daffodil bulbs lie underground. Ferns, such as the Athyrium (Lady Fern) or Dryopteris (Wood Fern), serve a similar purpose, unfurling their elegant fronds in mid to late spring to create a lush, textural groundcover.
