Hybridizing is creating new varieties. With Daffodils you do this by smearing the pollen of one variety on the stigma of another Daffodil flower.

The pollen will grow through the stigma into the ovary. This ovary is hidden in the little swelling that you will find at the backside of the flower. The little white balls you see in the ovary are the un-fertilized seeds of the Daffodil.

When the seeds are fertilised by the pollen they will grow. in about 6 to 8 weeks, into small black seeds. Once they are fully grown the ovary will dry and burst open. This is when they need a lot of attention, when they open you the seeds will fall out and you lost them.

The seeds need to be stored dry and at the beginning of the fall you can sow them at a depth of 1 centimetre in normal garden or potting soil.

This is how Daffodil seed germinates in the spring.

The seeds need to be grown for 5 years before you have a bulb large enough to produce a flower.

This is what my Daffodil seedlings look like after 5 years of growing, every single daffodil is different from another.

You always hope to find something you never saw before. This daffodil flowered for the first time this year and I think she is distinct. At the end of her trumpet she shows a gracefully laced rim.

The most amazing Daffodil I bred so far is “The Godfather”, an oversized ludicrous Daffodil. The diameter of the flower can reach 15 centimetres.

When you enjoyed this story, I suggest you try to do some breeding as well, the Daffodil is a rewarding plant with hybridising. When you pollinated a couple of Daffodil flowers with the pollen of another variety for sure some of them will produce some seeds.

Good luck and best regards,

Carlos van der Veek