The Narcissus ‘Bella Estrella’ bulb is a lovely addition to your flower garden. The name means "Beautiful Star," and you can see why when you look at the open petals and center. When this large bulb (12+ cm) blooms in March/April, each stem produces 2+ blooms to make the flowers appear fuller. The white petals surround a yellow ruffled open center. This bloom looks great in a formal or informal garden.
Blooms: 'Bella Estrella' is a split-corona (butterfly) daffodil, meaning its yellow cup is split and ruffled open, lying flat against the white petals like a star. You will usually get two flowers per stem on plants about 14-16 inches tall, blooming in mid-spring. The blooms carry a sweet fragrance from their jonquil parent, and the yellow centers soften toward cream as they age.
Planting: Plant the bulb like most daffodils in 6+ hours of winter sun, well-drained soil, avoid standing water, and avoid too much competition. Plant the bulbs about 2-3 times the height of the bulb deep (so if the bulb is 1 inch tall, plant it 2-3 inches deep). If you are farther north and get very cold during the winter, you may want to plant it about 4-6 inches deep. Space the holes about 3-6 inches apart, and for a more natural looking display, consider planting 2-3 bulbs in each hole.
Landscaping Tip: Narcissus bloom at different times so as one daffodil is ending its bloom time another is just beginning. Mix 'Bella Estrella' with earlier and later daffodils, and cut a few stems for a sweet-smelling bouquet on your table.
Animals: Like other daffodil bulbs, critters, including deer and gophers, generally leave this bulb alone.