Camelot DaffodilsCamelot daffodils photographed by Glenn Franco Simmons. The Camelot daffodil (Amaryllidaceae, Genus: Narcissus) was hybridized by Richardson and introduced in 1962. One wonders if the JFK administration's association with "Camelot" had anything to do with the naming of this beauty, which is one of my favorite daffodils.

Camelots, which are fragrant and have a bright-yellow bloom, can be naturalized in Humboldt County, where I grew up and worked almost my entire life. Last year, I bought hundreds of daffodils to mass plant for this spring, but I didn't buy any Camelots. I thought about it, but the prices at the time I looked were a bit high. I'll try again this year and get some, no matter the price.

Camelot DaffodilCamelot daffodils photographed by Glenn Franco Simmons. The foliage may bluish-green to green. They do well from full sun to partial shade. Bees and butterflies love Camelots. While they are resistant to deer, parts of the plant can be poisonous if ingested, so keep pets and children from ingesting any part of the plant.

It's Division 2, large-cupped beauty that grows up to 18 inches in height. You can space them from six to nine inches apart and expect a bloom time from late winter to early spring, depending upon winter harshness and zone. It grows in a variety of zones:

Camelot DaffodilsCamelot daffodils photographed by Glenn Franco Simmons. USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 (-40 °F)

USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 (-35 °F)

USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 (-30 °F)

USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 (-25 °F)

USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 (-20 °F)

USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 (-15 °F)

USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 (-10 °F)

USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 (-5 °F)

USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 (0 °F)

USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 (5 °F)

USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 (10 °F)

USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4  (15 °F)

USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6  (20 °F)

USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8  (25 °F)

USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 (30 °F)

USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 (35 °F)