The key difference between jonquils and daffodils is that jonquils have more than one flower per stem, whereas daffodils have only one flower per stem.
Sometimes people use the two names, jonquils and daffodils, synonymously; however, there are some differences between the two flowering plants. Jonquils are a variety of the narcissus family, while daffodils are the colloquial name for all narcissus plants. Both these are perennial bulbs grown in home gardens and need acidic and neutral soil.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Jonquils
3. What are Daffodils
4. Jonquils vs Daffodils in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Jonquils vs Daffodils
What are Jonquils?
Jonquils are flowering buds of the Amaryllis family that are closely related to daffodils. Jonquils are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. They are native to Meditteranean regions and cultivated in similar climates around the world. The scientific name of jonquils is Narcissus jonqilla.
Jonquils have a rich aroma. Due to this aroma, their essential oil is extracted by perfume makers to make floral scents. These are small flowers, and they appear in clusters of 2-8. They bloom on long, tubular stems. The flowers are white, yellow, creamy, red, peach, and orange colours. Some even have multiple colours. These have very long, narrow leaves that round on the top.
This flowering plant needs full sun for the flowers to bloom well. They should be planted when the soil temperature is 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit. They need water soon after the bulbs are planted.
What are Daffodils?
Daffodils are hardy perennials that are considered fall-planted bulbs. They are planted in October, and the flowers bloom in late winter or early spring. Daffodils are easily grown in most regions of North America except in areas like South Florida, where the environment is very hot or cold.
According to the American Daffodil Society, there are 13 official daffodil varieties. Some of them include Barret Browning, Dutch Master, Tahiti, Tete-a-Tete, Jetfire, Petit-Flour, and Cheerfulness.
Daffodils are yellow or white with six petals. They have a trumpet-shaped central corona. These are planted in between shrubs or in pots. They should be planted before the fall and 2-4 weeks before the ground freezes. They grow well in partial shade environments, and if the soil is too wet, they tend to get rot. Therefore, hillsides and raised flower beds work well for daffodils.
When daffodils are cut, they should be kept separately in a vase because the fluid from daffodils will wilt other flowers. Also, this fluid may irritate your skin or cause allergic reactions. This has phenanthridine alkaloids and calcium oxalate crystals, which are harmful to both humans and animals.
What is the Difference Between Jonquils and Daffodils?
The key difference between jonquils and daffodils is that jonquils have more than one flower per stem, while daffodils have only one flower per stem. Mature jonquils are usually 8-12 inches tall while daffodils are 6-30 inches tall and 6-12 inches wide. Moreover, jonquils have a rich aroma, whereas daffodils do not have a strong aroma. Therefore, jonquils are often used to produce essential oils, but daffodils are not.
The below infographic presents the differences between jonquils and daffodils in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Jonquils vs Daffodils
Jonquils are flowering buds of the Amaryllis family that are closely related to daffodils. They have more than one flower per stem and slender leaves that round at the top. Daffodils are hardy perennials and are considered fall-planted bulbs. They have only one flower per stem with slim, sword-tipped leaves. Thus, this is the key difference between jonquils and daffodils.
Reference:
1. “Narcissus Jonquilla.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “What are Daffodils?” Wise Geek.
Image Courtesy:
1. “White Jonquil Flowers (Narcissus species) – 20120725” By MomentsForZen (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Daffodil background” (CC0) via Raw Pixel