Daffodils are ubiquitous blooming darlings in springtime landscapes, and while tall selections will certainly stop passersby in their steps, I have a soft spot for the tiny dancers. These are dainty cultivars less than a foot in height that bring a special charm to the spring garden.
Don’t sell such diminutive daffies, ahem, short. What they lack in size, they often make up for in numbers because many miniature daffodils are champs at producing bunches of bud stalks, meaning a higher concentration of blossoms. And with proper placement, such flower power can translate into pleasant sweeps of blooming color in spring planting beds.
‘Tete-a-Tete’ is a popular dainty daffodil.
Another plus for these petite pretties is that, since they don’t grow as tall as other daffodils, they are less likely to be beaten down into a flattened mess by hard spring rains.
Lack of height also works to the advantage of a casual gardener if miniature daffodils are interplanted with summer perennials such as astilbe, goat’s beard, daylilies, or heuchera because, in mid-spring, their short stems and foliage will yellow and droop, but this will be hidden by the up-and-coming warm-weather shoots and leaves, meaning little cleanup is needed.
This month is a good time to buy tiny dancer bulbs for planting next month, and there are bunches to pick from, so finding them either locally or online won’t be a problem. Need examples? I have enjoyed a swath of the popular ‘Jetfire’ (pictured) in my front yard for many years, and it has yet to show signs of flower fatigue. Ditto for my small island of ‘Tete-a-Tete’ — probably the poster child for miniature daffodils — which gleams with light yellow petals surrounding sunny centers. More bicolor beauty can be had with selections like ‘Sun Disc’ and ‘Minnow.’
Fancy fluffy? There are smalls that sport puffy double blooms, including the handsome yellow, spiky heirloom ‘Rip Van Winkle’ and a similar but newer pixie, ‘Tete Deluxe.’ How about a paler pleasure? Try the white-centric ‘Ice Baby’ or ‘Xit.’
Planted in a sunny, well-draining spot, dwarf daffodils will not only be yearly spring showoffs, but many also naturalize and begin to spread. Potting up these petite pretties is also an option, especially for gardeners who either have limited growing space or don’t want to crouch down on all fours to get up close and personal with these wee gems.
Bought half-dead/half-price one fall, this echinacea ‘Salsa Red’ came roaring back for me.
I’ll admit it: I can be quite the cheapskate when it comes to buying plants. So much so that, at this time of year, I prowl local garden centers for end-of-growing-season sales on remaining plants, with perennials getting my special attention. Such plants might look raggedy after being on display outside through the long summer, but I check the roots for white-ish or tan coloration, which means there is probably still some spunk left in these leftovers. I don’t admire my bargains too long, however, because autumn is a prime time to plant perennials (as well as woody ornamentals) in the garden.
To Do in the Garden
October
- Pumpkins are, of course, necessary accessories for fall decorating, so make sure yours remain in good shape through the Halloween season and beyond by setting them in an area that is not baking in strong sunlight. Also, picking pumpkins with a few inches of stem attached will help prolong their show-off life.
- Planting in the veggie patch is winding down for the year, but at the beginning of this month, there is still time to squeeze in new crops of onions (bulbs), spinach, lettuce, or Chinese cabbage.
- Still have packets of seeds left over from your buying binges this growing season? Properly store them in an airtight container or bag and place them in a cool, dry, dark location to await a second chance to get growing next spring.
- Backyard Bliss
- Back in Service
- Garden Adventurer: Tiny Dancers: The Dainty Daffodils
- Recipes from Readers: Almost Pumpkin Butternut Squash Pie
- Liquid Assets: Garden Club Margarita
- Pay It Forward: Loads of Hope
- By Design: The Second Act of Jeff Dale
- One Corner, Three Callings
- Small Business Spotlight: Preston Pumpkins
- Compounded Interest
- Things to Do: October 2026
