With ruffled disks of orange-gold set against smooth, elegantly rounded petals of cream, this classic beauty is named for the fabulously wealthy King Croesus of Lydia who minted the world’s first coins. Plant it and be rich in beauty for years to come! 2 Y-YYO, 17-19 inches, zones 4-7bS/10WC, from Holland. Chart to compare.

Crowned the “Best Historic Daffodil” at the 2008 ADS National Show, this refined double pheasant’s-eye is wonderfully ruffled. It was first found amid thousands of ‘Ornatus’ forced under glass and cut for the London market. There was no way to tell which bulb it came from, so all were replanted outdoors and two years later this pearl reappeared. Fragrant, 4W-W, 21-23 inches, zones 5-7bS/10WC, from Holland. Chart to compare.

The rich color and flair of ‘Dick Wellband’ caused a sensation when it was first introduced – in a lavish display in front of yards and yards of draped black velvet – at the 1921 New York International Flower Show. Today it’s still as striking, growing strong across the country and especially well-loved in the South. 2 W-O, 16-20 inches, zones 5-8aS/10WC, from Texas. Chart to compare.

With dozens of petals neatly nested together as if in a perfect little rose – and just as fragrant – this tough little double daffodil has been grown and loved for over 400 years. 4 Y-Y, 10-12 inches, zones 6-8bS/10WC, from Holland. Chart to compare.

Looking like a platinum-blond pheasant’s eye narcissus, ‘Dreamlight’ features a wide, flat, rippled eye of champagne-white — yes, white! — that’s perfectly set off by a narrow ribbon of orange suffused with pink. Backed by round, moon-like petals, it’s ethereal and unique – and in 2009 it won the Wister Award, the American Daffodil Society’s highest honor! 3 W-GWR, 17-19 inches, late-blooming, zones 5-7S/9WC, from Holland. Chart to compare.

Nameless but thriving, ‘Early Pearl’ was rediscovered in old gardens of the Southeast’s “Spanish Moss Belt.” Early to bloom and best where summers are hot, it has starry white petals, tiny citron cups that mature to white, and a fresher scent than most tazettas. Experts believe it dates to the late 1800s. 8 W-Y, 14-16 inches, zones 8-9S/11WC, big, fat California bulbs. Chart to compare.

Our 2009 Bulb of the Year, and one of the most popular daffodils of all time, this landmark beauty helped spark the modern world’s love affair with daffodils when it was introduced alongside ‘Emperor’ just after the Civil War. With pure white petals and a slender yellow trumpet, it’s dewy fresh and eternally regal. 1 W-Y, 18-20 inches, zones 5-7bS/9WC, from Pennsylvania. Chart to compare.

Great outside where winters aren’t too cold (zone 6 and warmer), double “Early Cheer” is also our favorite daffodil for winter forcing indoors on pebbles and water. (We’ll send easy directions, or see our Forcing page.) It blooms in frothy clusters of 15-20 richly fragrant florets of creamy, old-lace white flecked with gold. 4 W-Y, 14-16 inches, zones 6-9S/11WC, fresh, fat California bulbs. Chart to compare.