Fall Planted Bulbs

10 Sensational Daffodil Combinations

By | November 5, 2020

One of the top flower bulbs for fall planting are daffodils. People love planting daffodils because they are easy to grow, deer resistant, and return to their garden for several years. Daffodils are some of the earliest flowers to bloom in spring. While daffodils can certainly be planted alone or in mass, they really shine when planted with other spring-blooming bulbs. If you are wondering what to plant with daffodils we hope to inspire you with 10 sensational daffodil combinations.

10 Sensational Daffodil Combinations | What to Plant with Daffodils?

1.) Yellow Daffodils & Grecian Windflowers

Yellow Daffodils & Grecian Windflowers

Yellow Daffodils & Grecian Windflowers

Plant Dutch Master Daffodils with Grecian Windflower for a lively combination. Dutch Master Daffodils are a classic yellow daffodil similar to the popular King Alfred Daffodil. They grow 12-18″ tall and bloom in early-to-mid-spring.

Grecian Windflower is a low-growing ground cover bulb. They bloom in mid-spring with daisy-like blooms. Grecian Windflower grows 6-8″ tall and forms a dense carpet of foliage with blue, white and pink flowers.

To create this look in your garden plant 5 Dutch Master Daffodils per square foot. In that same planting area plant 12 Grecian Windflower bulbs per square foot. The Grecian Windflower will surround the daffodils and form a carpet of blue and white blooms below the glowing yellow daffodils.

2.) Hungarian Rhapsody Daffodils & Violet Beauty Single Late Tulips

Hungarian Rhapsody Daffodils & Violet Beauty Single Late Tulips

Hungarian Rhapsody Daffodils & Violet Beauty Single Late Tulips

This delicate combination of pink daffodils with soft purple tulips is soft but vibrant at the same time. Hungarian Rhapsody Daffodils have lovely salmon pink cups against white petals. Violet Beauty Single Late Tulips are a light purple color with blue hues in the petals.

The pink daffodils in this combination grow 12-18″ tall and bloom in mid-spring. Violet Beauty Single Late Tulips grow 18-24″ tall and bloom in mid-to-late spring. Since the tulips in this combination grow taller than the daffodils they should be planted behind the daffodils. Another planting option would be for the tulips to be surrounded by the daffodils. Spacing for tulips and daffodils is 4-6″. Therefore, an equal amount of each type of bulb can be planted in the planting area.

3.) Yellow Cheerfulness Daffodils and Exotic Emperor Tulips

Yellow Cheerfulness Daffodils and Exotic Emperor Tulips

Yellow Cheerfulness Daffodils and Exotic Emperor Tulips

Late-blooming Yellow Cheerfulness Double Daffodils pair well with the full blooms of Exotic Emperor Tulips. Yellow Cheerfulness Daffodils are one of the later blooming daffodils, often blooming with the mid-to-late season tulips. The soft yellow blooms have double the petals but are smaller in size compared to traditional double daffodils. The smaller diameter of the Yellow Cheerfulness blooms prevents the daffodils from tipping over.

Double blooming tulips have large peony like flowers. Exotic Emperor Tulips glisten in the sun with creamy white blooms and green accents. Plant an equal amount of Exotic Emperor Tulips with Yellow Cheerfulness Daffodils. Both are wonderful cut flowers and can be enjoyed in a vase, as well as in the garden.

4.) Golden Echo Daffodils with Grand Maitre Giant Crocus

Golden Echo Daffodils with Grand Maitre Giant Crocus

Golden Echo Daffodils with Grand Maitre Giant Crocus

This combination is an early spring celebration of blooms! Golden Echo Miniature Daffodils bloom in early spring when the earth is just waking up. They have a short stature, growing approximately 12″ tall. Golden Echo Daffodils are best planted near the front of the planting bed so they can be enjoyed close up.

Don’t let the Golden Echo Daffodils get lonely! Plant early blooming crocus near them to highlight their bright yellow and white blooms. Grand Maitre Giant Crocus has gentle purple blooms in early spring. This delightful combination of early blooms will be a welcome sight after a long winter.

5.) Thalia Daffodils with Toronto Bunch Flowering Tulips

Thalia Daffodils with Toronto Bunch Flowering Tulips

Thalia Daffodils with Toronto Bunch Flowering Tulips

A hot combination of bright pink blooms and dainty white flowers will leave a lasting impression. Thalia Daffodils have small white blooms in mid-spring. They are fragrant which is an added bonus. When planted with the bright pink blooms of Toronto Bunch Flowering Tulips it creates a dynamic display of color in the garden as well as in vases.

Thalia Daffodils and Toronto Bunch Flowering Tulips will be similar heights. Both types of bulbs grow about 12-16″. Therefore, they can be mixed together in the planting area. Space the bulbs 4-6″ from each other for the longest-lasting effect.

6.) Ice Follies Daffodils with Aiolos Hyacinths

Ice Follies Daffodils with Aiolos Hyacinths

Ice Follies Daffodils with Aiolos Hyacinths

Monochromatic gardens like moon gardens create a dramatic display. This spring combination of Ice Follies Daffodils with Aiolos Hyacinths would be a lovely combination for a moon garden. It also works well to create a border or separation of a more busy and colorful part of the garden. Using white flowers in the garden helps to break up areas, and create drama in the color focused areas of the garden.

Ice Follies Daffodils will start to bloom with yellow centers surrounded by white petals. Eventually, as the Ice Follies Daffodils will fade to a creamy white color in both the cup of the bloom and the petals. The daffodils should be planted behind the hyacinths as they grow a tad bit taller, generally 12-18″.  Aiolos Hyacinths have fragrant clusters of white flowers. They have a tidy and compact appearance, making them lovely for a border plant. Plant the hyacinths in front of the daffodils for best visibility.

7.) Martinette Daffodils with Bumblebee Tulip Duo

Martinette Daffodils with Bumblebee Tulip Duo

Martinette Daffodils with Bumblebee Tulip Duo

Early to mid-spring, this combination of daffodils and tulips will have you buzzing with excitement. The bold and warm colors in this combination help liven up the spring landscape. Martinette Daffodils are some of the best daffodils with yellow petals and orange cups. They bloom with multiple flowers per stem in early to mid-spring and are fragrant.

Bumblebee Tulip Duo combines deep maroon tulip blooms with golden yellow tulip blooms. This mix of tulips is made from mid-spring blooming triumph tulips. The combination of colors creates a rich and vibrant look. Mix the Martinette Daffodils with the Bumblebee Tulip Duo in equal amounts in the planting area.

8.) Yellow Daffodils with Grape Hyacinths and Red Impression Tulips

Yellow Daffodils with Grape Hyacinths and Red Impression Tulips

Yellow Daffodils with Grape Hyacinths and Red Impression Tulips

This is a true classic spring combination. Classic yellow daffodils pair well with classic red tulips, surrounded by a sea of blue grape hyacinths. If you have a traditional garden or home design this combination will look incredible.

Grape Hyacinths are a popular ground cover bulb. Since they are low to the ground and require close spacing plant them in large groups. Plant 14-18 muscari per square foot.

Yellow daffodils of any variety will work to create this look. However, Dutch Master Daffodil and Carlton Daffodil are the two best yellow daffodils for a classic appearance. Both varieties grow 12-18″ tall with solid yellow blooms. Dutch Master Daffodil has a longer and more narrow cup. Carlton Daffodils have a more open cup compared to Dutch Master Daffodils. Plant 4-5 daffodils per square foot.

Red Impression Tulips have large red blooms in mid-spring. They are the classic tulips most people think of when it comes to tulips in their garden. The tulips in this combination are the tallest flower. They grow 18-24″ and should be planted at the back of the planting area. For a circular garden plant the tulips in the center. The daffodils and grape hyacinths can surround the tulips since they are shorter.

9.) Fortune Daffodils with Purple Prince Tulips and Stunning Apricot Tulips

Fortune Daffodils with Purple Prince Tulips and Stunning Apricot Tulips

Fortune Daffodils with Purple Prince Tulips and Stunning Apricot Tulips

A combination of early spring blooms in pastel spring colors. Fortune Daffodils have yellow petals that start with orange cups and eventually fade to all yellow. When they are surrounded by the short early blooming tulips it creates a beautiful representation of spring.

Purple Prince Single Early Tulips are some of the first to bloom. They grow 14″ tall and are perfect for the front edge of a planting area. Stunning Apricot Single Early tulip is another early spring blooming variety. The pink and apricot blooms complement the purple tulips. Plant 5 bulbs per square foot for both daffodils and tulips. An equal amount of each type of bulb can be planted in the planting area. However, the daffodils will grow taller than the tulips, so be sure to account for the height difference.

10.) Stainless Daffodil with Spring Green Viridiflora Tulips

Stainless Daffodil with Spring Green Viridiflora Tulips

Stainless Daffodil with Spring Green Viridiflora Tulips

The white and green of this combination create a serene effect in the garden. Stainless Daffodils have pure white blooms that stand out in low light settings. Spring Green Viridiflora Tulips have mainly white petals with green accents. This calming combination would look lovely in a shade garden. Plant 5 bulbs per square foot of both the daffodils and tulips. Mix the daffodils and tulips together for a natural look.

Daffodil Companion Plantings

Fall planted bulbs like tulips, hyacinths, crocus, and grape hyacinths make the best companions for daffodils. However, spring-blooming perennials should also be considered as companion plants for daffodils. Bleeding Hearts, Poppies, and Columbine all bloom near the same time as daffodils.

Planting multiple types of daffodils that have different flower colors or shapes is another option too for what to plant with daffodils. Since daffodils are so versatile choosing what bulbs and perennials to plant with them is easy!

Need Gardening Help?

If you need any help with gardening or if you have plant-related questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to Jenny San Filippo. She can provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed with your next project!

Contact Jenny

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