Springtime is almost here, thankfully. So it is only fitting that one of Spring's most recognizable flowers, the narcissus, is March's Flower of the Month. Narcissus, also known as daffodils, are perennial plants that are known for their bright yellow and white flowers although hybrid forms come in other colors such as pink and orange. They are the first flowers to bloom after winter's frost, so their blossoms signal the end of winter and the subsequent arrival of Spring.
Narcissus are bright and cheerful blooms that provide enough texture and visual interest to be the sole flower type in an arrangement. They look just at home in a contemporary glass vase as they do in a rustic mason jar. In fact, arranging narcissus in simple vases is an inexpensive and easy way to decorate a Spring table. When the right care is taken (more on that later), narcissus combined with other early blooming flowers, such as tulips, hyacinth, iris and ranunculus make for a stunning combination. The various textures as well as the vibrant color combination makes for an eye-catching arrangement that basically screams the never ending grays of winter are over. And who isn't absolutely ready for the vibrancy of Spring once March rolls around?
Narcissus as a cut flower have a vase life of 5 to 7 days with proper care. However, their care is as unique as they are. Proper conditioning of a narcissus is an absolute must in order to be able to utilize them as a cut flower. The sap emitted from a cut narcissus is toxic and can affect other flowers in an arrangement. Therefore, after any fresh cut, these flowers need to stand in cold water on their own for at least one hour before being re-introduced into a floral arrangement. Another thing that makes the care of narcissus different is that it is one of the few flowers for which flower food is NOT recommended. The inclusion of flower food will encourage the toxic sap to run and thus reduce their vase life and the contamination of other blooms. It is important to note that the sap of the narcissus is not only toxic to other flowers but to humans and pets as well; therefore, these blooms need to be kept away from curious children and critters.
nNarcissus represent new beginnings and prosperity. For this reason, narcissus are often popular around both Easter and the Chinese New Year. Another meaning is that of unequaled love, so receiving a posy of narcissus is quite a statement. Spring is almost here, so let's embrace it with arrangements including the ultimate seasonal statement...the narcissus.