Fantastically fragrant and producing between two and four creamy white flowers on each 35-40cm tall stem, this elegant Triandrus daffodil comes highly recommended. Typically appearing from March to April, the star-shaped flowers of ‘Thalia’ are rich in pollen and nectar, and can last a week or so in the vase once cut. A boon for borders and pots, its relaxed habit enables it to settle seamlessly into naturalised planting schemes, while also being a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly, sensory or cutting gardens.

Introduced over 100 years ago, Narcissus ‘Thalia’ offers an abundance of old world charm, but don’t be fooled by its delicate appearance, as this daffodil is super-easy to grow. Once planted, it will come back year after year in ever-increasing numbers, forming naturalised swathes in borders or lawns.

Triandrus daffodils and when to plant them

Daffodils form a big and diverse group, so for ease of identification, they’re sorted into 13 different divisions. ‘Thalia’ belongs to Division 5 - the Triandrus daffodils, which typically produce two or more relatively small (up to 5cm in diameter) nodding flowers per stem. Commonly referred to as Angel's-tears daffodils, or sometimes Orchid daffodils, the narcissi that fall into this group often have a sweet perfume, while their slightly reflexed perianth segments (the petal-like sections) that surround the corolla (or central cup) give the flowers a windswept appearance.

Ideally Triandrus daffodil bulbs should be given plenty of time to put on strong root growth before the soil temperatures start to dip, so September planting is advised. They can however go in the ground as early as mid to late August (provided they are kept well watered), or as late as October or November.

Goes well with pairings

‘Thalia’ looks fabulous in most planting schemes, and as it tolerates partial shade and excess moisture better than most daffodils, it’s also easier to place in the garden.

Plant en-masse in generous swathes through a sun-drenched lawn or border to create breathtaking displays, or use it to underplant deciduous trees and shrubs. If you want to mix it in the border, try planting it with early-flowering perennials such as , Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve', Aubretia 'Purple Cascade' and Primula elatior.

Alternatively, using just a selection of bulbs, you can create a succession of jewel-like colours that will last from January to July by combining it with , Scilla forbesii 'Violet Beauty', Muscari armeniacum, Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue', Fritillaria meleagris,Tulipa 'Ronaldo, Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' and Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus. Or, for a pristine, all-white display of spring-flowering bulbs, blend ‘Thalia with Anemone blanda 'White Splendour', Fritillaria persica 'Ivory bells', Tulipa 'White Prince' and Fritillaria meleagris var. unicolor subvar. alba.

Collections included in

We love the sweet perfume and sheer exuberance that ‘Thalia’ brings to the spring garden, so we’ve woven into several of our pre-designed bulb collections. To create a fresh, bicolored display that’s perfect for pots or border edges, we’ve paired it with Narcissus 'Jack Snipe' and Narcissus 'Sweetness' in our dainty daffodil collection. Also, for a soft and subtle colourway, our Rose water daffodil collection matches ‘Thalia’ with the pure white Narcissus 'Starlight Sensation' and the pink and lemon-flushed Narcissus 'Bell Song'. Our Narcussus 'Snow Fusion' collection offers some of our favourite white-flowering daffodils, including Narcissus 'Ice King', Narcissus 'Misty Glen', Narcissus 'Lieke' - and of course ‘Thalia’. Here the focus is on diversity of shape and form, with subtle hints of green and yellow to add a touch of variation to the colour palette. Finally, our Spring posie bulb collection has a wilder feel about it. Perfect for less structured planting schemes (like cottage gardens or meadows), it contains Fritillaria meleagris (snakes head fritillary) and Muscari latifolium (grape hyacinth) as well as Narcissus ‘Thalia’. This collection is a great choice for the home florist, because if plant it in abundance, you'll have sufficient for your own vases, as well as plenty more to give bouquets for friends and family.