The Narcissus 'Cassata' is a split-cup daffodil that has been charming gardeners since it was introduced by the Dutch breeder Gerritsen in 1963. Instead of a traditional cup, its center splits open and lies flat against the petals like a ruffled collar. It opens a soft lemon-yellow and fades to nearly pure white, so a patch of 'Cassata' shows off a pretty mix of shades all at once.
Blooms: Large, roughly 4-inch flowers with creamy white petals and a split, ruffled corona that opens greenish-yellow and matures to almost white. The blooms sit on sturdy 16-18 inch stems in mid-spring and make long-lasting cut flowers.
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. We like to say that "there is a bulb that blooms every week of the year in warmer climates." Your garden can have consistent flowers that you can enjoy inside or outside for months and carry you all the way from February through April.
Fragrance: This Narcissus has a light, sweet fragrance. This fragrance can add an extra dimension of beauty to the flower and make it more attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Animals: Like other daffodil bulbs, critters, including deer and gophers, generally leave this bulb alone.