'Ice Follies' is the daffodil growers recommend when someone asks for one that never fails. The petals are white, the wide frilled cup opens lemon and softens to cream as it ages, and the whole flower faces outward rather than down so it carries from a distance. It grows 16 to 18 inches tall and increases year on year in almost any soil that drains.
It flowers in the main season alongside the yellow trumpets and makes a calmer companion to them. It is also a good cut flower; condition stems alone for twelve hours before mixing them with anything else.
Botrytis (grey mould)
Grey fuzzy mould on petals and stems, worst in cool wet conditions.
Remove affected parts immediately. Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Apply copper fungicide if severe.
Narcissus Basal Rot
Brown rot starting at the base of the bulb, spreading upward; soft, decaying tissue and stunted or failed growth in spring. Fungal growth may appear pink or white.
Discard infected bulbs. Plant only firm, healthy bulbs in well-draining soil. Avoid hot, wet conditions during summer dormancy and rotate planting sites.
Narcissus Yellow Stripe Virus
Yellow or pale streaks running lengthwise along leaves; distorted foliage and reduced flower size or vigor over successive years.
No cure. Remove and destroy infected plants. Control aphids, which spread the virus, and buy certified virus-free bulbs.