Peak Bloom Time: In some years early daffodils may appear by late February but mid-March is a more reliable starting time. Peak is the first three weeks of April but late-flowering cultivars extend bloom into early May. Peak bloom at Shaw Nature Reserve is early April.
The Garden displays over 700 unique daffodil varieties representing 12 of the 13 daffodil divisions. The highest concentrations are in the Samuels and Heckman bulb gardens but many can also be viewed in the Shields Hosta Walk, Heckman Rock Garden, Cherbonnier English Woodland Garden, and the Kemper Center for Home Gardening’s display gardens. Many daffodils have also been planted in the Jenkins Daylily Garden and Knolls area. An April walk around the Garden will turn up clumps of daffodils in most every Garden area.
Our collection is striking and noteworthy and in 2007 the American Daffodil Society recognized the Garden’s collection as the first-ever ADS Daffodil Display Garden. There is also a large meadow of tens of thousands of naturalized daffodils located at the Garden’s Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit. Peak bloom is in early April.
A few proven performers include ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (very early), ‘Actaea’ (good for late bloom), ‘Thalia,’ ‘Ice Follies,’ ‘Bravoure,’ and ‘Juanita.’ An exceptional double-flowered daffodil is ‘Tahiti,’ a Plant of MeritTM. Daffodils perform well in the St. Louis area coming back year after year. They are resistant to deer, squirrel, mole, and vole, and thus very care free. | 
