Small-cupped daffodil (Narcissus 'After All')

Overview

The Small-cupped daffodil, specifically the striking Narcissus ‘After All’, provides reliable, late-season color essential for extending the spring bloom sequence. This cultivar is highly valued for its unique flower presentation: pure white petals gracefully contrasting against a distinctive yellow cup edged with a bright red rim. As a low-maintenance bulb, Narcissus ‘After All’ thrives in average garden soils, provided excellent drainage is maintained, offering a beautiful reward for minimal perennial care.

These robust perennials are staples in gardens across varied climates, capable of naturalizing beautifully over time if left undisturbed. Plant them in groupings to maximize their dramatic visual impact as they emerge in mid to late spring. Their pest resistance, particularly against common garden nibblers, makes the Small-cupped daffodil a practical, long-lived choice for borders and woodland edges.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Amaryllidaceae
• Plant Type: Bulb
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1.5-2 ft
  • Spread: 0.5-0.75 ft
• Bloom Time: April
• Bloom Description: White petals with red-rimmed yellow cup
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Planting bulbs is best achieved in early to mid-fall before the ground freezes hard. Choose a location that receives full sun to light afternoon shade, ideally one where taller shrubs are situated behind the planting, allowing the flowers to face the stronger morning sun. Excellent soil drainage is paramount to prevent bulb rot; organically rich loams are ideal for the root system of Narcissus ‘After All’.

Plant bulbs roughly 2 to 3 times as deep as the height of the bulb itself, ensuring at least three inches of soil rests above the tip. Space individual bulbs between 4 to 10 inches apart, depending on your desired spread rate—wider spacing means slower naturalization. Keep the soil uniformly moist during active growth in spring, though the plant tolerates dry conditions once the foliage has withered post-bloom.

Post-flowering care is simple, requiring gardeners to carefully remove spent flower heads (deadheading) to prevent seed set, which diverts energy from the bulb. Crucially, the foliage must be allowed to yellow completely, usually several weeks after blooming stops, before it is cut back. This process allows the leaves to recharge the bulb reserves needed for next year’s display of the Small-cupped daffodil.

Landscape Uses

Daffodils offer unmatched reliability compared to many other spring ephemerals, making them excellent candidates for naturalizing in lawns or mass planting in beds. Unlike tulips that often require annual replacement, Narcissus ‘After All’ returns dependably year after year. They look best when planted in significant drifts, combining at least six bulbs per group to create a visual sweep of color in early spring.

Consider placing these bulbs in drifts beneath deciduous trees or along wooded borders where they receive sun before the canopy leafs out fully. They mix beautifully with other early bloomers like Grape Hyacinths or early Tulips, providing contrasting textures and forms. Their hardiness and deer resistance, common among daffodils, allow them to be safely placed near transitional areas in the landscape.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

This specific cultivar, ‘After All’, belongs to Division II, the large-cupped daffodils section, although the common name used here is Small-cupped daffodil. Each flower features pure white petals and a yellow cup with a striking red rim, borne singly atop the stem, typically appearing in late season during mid to late April. The genus name Narcissus honors a youth fatally enamored with his reflection, symbolizing the flower’s captivating beauty.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer
• Drought

Potential Problems

Daffodils are generally low maintenance and notably free from serious pest or disease issues when sited correctly. The primary cultural issue faced by Narcissus ‘After All’ is bulb rot, which occurs almost exclusively when planted in heavy, poorly draining soils. Ensure your site offers excellent percolation before planting in the fall.

Infrequently, pests such as slugs, snails, or the narcissus bulb fly can pose minor threats. If you notice yellow striping on the foliage, it may indicate the Narcissus yellow stripe virus, for which cure is not available; affected plants should be dug up and destroyed to prevent spread. If bloom quality declines after several seasons, division should occur immediately after the foliage dies back.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Small-cupped daffodil suitable for?

Narcissus ‘After All’ is well-suited for a wide range, thriving reliably in USDA Zones 3 through 8.

How large does Narcissus ‘After All’ grow?

This Small-cupped daffodil typically achieves a manageable height between 1.5 and 2 feet tall, with a slender spread of 0.5 to 0.75 feet.

When does Small-cupped daffodil bloom?

This late-season bloomer emerges in April, showcasing its unique white petals with a red-rimmed yellow cup.

What sun exposure does Narcissus ‘After All’ need?

For the best flowering density, plant Narcissus ‘After All’ where it will receive full sun to light part shade throughout the day.

Conclusion

Narcissus ‘After All’ stands out in the spring landscape due to its striking bicolor cup and excellent longevity, qualifying it as a truly low-effort perennial addition. This Small-cupped daffodil naturalizes beautifully and demonstrates notable resistance to common garden pests. Before mid-fall arrives, secure your supply of these bulbs and prepare a location with sun and impeccable drainage to enjoy the signature blooms of Narcissus ‘After All’ next spring.

Design Ideas

When planning spring bulb displays, consider using Narcissus ‘After All’ as a mid-ground element. Its height (up to 2 ft) places it perfectly in front of evergreens or emerging spring shrubs that provide a dark backdrop, maximizing the visual impact of the white and red combination. Because it blooms slightly later than many common yellow daffodils, it helps bridge the gap between early and mid-spring favorites.

To achieve that naturalized, sweeping look mentioned in cultivation, plant these bulbs in odd-numbered groupings, spacing them randomly within the area rather than in rigid rows. Pair the foliage of this Small-cupped daffodil with the emerging leaves of late-blooming perennials such as Peonies or Siberian Iris. The daffodil foliage dies back just as these new perennials begin their main growth phase, ensuring the bed remains lush throughout the summer.

Companion Planting

Due to its medium water needs and preference for full sun as foliage emerges, Narcissus ‘After All’ pairs well culturally with other spring-flowering bulbs that share similar requirements. Consider planting Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) nearby; they offer a different flower structure and texture which complements the cup-and-perianth shape of the daffodil.

For vibrant color contrast, interplant the bright white and red-rimmed cup with deep purple or deep blue flowers. Muscari (Grape Hyacinths) provide low-growing mounds of blue at the base, while Alliums planted for summer height will emerge later, providing seasonal continuity after the daffodils have faded.