Hoop Petticoats are loved by all for their beautiful form, but few realize the success this little daffodil will offer. The bloom looks just like an antebellum hoop petticoat. The Hoop Petticoat (Narcissus bulbocodium) is a native of the Mediterranean, where it was found growing in gritty soils, and it is a favorite bulb amongst rock garden societies because of its delicate form, beautiful flowers, and ability to grow in rocky soils. We grow some in the field, but they are small and hard to find in the rows. We have greatly enjoyed the ones grown in the crates closer to our barn. The crates almost become bricks in the summertime, but they are almost golden bricks that are alive and well when the bulbs bloom in mid-March.
Blooms: The cup is large and bell shaped and often faces down, with the top of the bloom narrowing into what would be compared to the waist of an antebellum dress. The petals are narrow and pointed, radiating from the base of the bloom. The flowers are bright yellow and stand only about 4-8" tall over fine, grassy foliage, and each bulb can send up several blooms. Look for them in early spring (mid-March for us).
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: Hoop Petticoats like gritty, sharply drained soil, just like the rocky Mediterranean hillsides they come from. A rock garden, a gravelly slope, a raised bed, or the front edge of a sunny border is perfect. Because they are so small, plant them where you can see them up close, along a path or near the porch steps.
Pots: Hoop Petticoats do very well in containers, as our crates by the barn prove. Use a gritty, fast-draining mix and do not let the pot sit in water.
Animals: Like other daffodils, Hoop Petticoats are deer and rabbit resistant.