Data specific to Daffodils (Edit)
Division: Division 8 - Tazetta
Color: Perianth (Petals): White
Color: Corona (Cups): Yellow
Description: RHS 'Fls about 10 per stem, 33 mm wide; perianth segments broadly ovate, blunt, mucronate, reflexed, concave, ribbed, overlapping half; the inner segments truncate; corona bowl-shaped, brilliant greenish yellow 6C, smooth, mouth straight or constrict.'
Bloom season: EM - Early to Mid Spring
Height classification: Standard (12.8" to 26.6")
Special Classes: ADS Historics
Hybridizer: T.M. Dorrien Smith
Year of registration: 1955 (1st flowering noted pre 1906)
Country of Origin: Isles of Scilly
Origin of name: Seventeen Sisters, one of it's aka names because of it's many flowers per stem.
Awards: Award of Garden Merit
Award of Merit
Links: DaffSeek - Daffodil Database
RHS - Daffodil Register

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 8b
Plant Height: 16-18 inches
Leaves: Spring ephemeral
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Other: Sweetly scented
Flower Color: Green
White
Yellow
Other: creamy white petals, greenish gold cup
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Late winter or early spring
Spring
Other: very Forcible in soil or on pebbles in water
Underground structures: Bulb
Uses: Provides winter interest
Erosion control
Groundcover
Cut Flower
Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Gophers/Voles
Rabbit Resistant
Squirrels
Toxicity: Leaves are poisonous
Roots are poisonous
Propagation: Seeds: Will not come true from seed
Propagation: Other methods: Offsets
Bulbs
Pollinators: Moths and Butterflies
Flies
Bees
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Goes Dormant
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM
Other: AGM 1995, Award of Merit 1991
Parentage: Selection of: Grand Monarque
Child plants: 5 child plants

Image
Common names
  • Tazetta Narcissus
  • Paperwhite Daffodil
  • Daffodil
  • Presbyterian Sisters
  • The Seventeen Sisters
  • Seventeen Sisters in the South

Photo Gallery
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2021-03-11
Location: Garland, TX
Date: 2020-03-09
Location: my Zone 7b garden in North Georgia Mountains
Date: 2023-03-03
Location: my Zone 8a garden in North Georgia Mountains
Date: 2024-03-12
Location: Garland, TX
Date: 2020-03-09
Location: Garland, TX
Date: 2023-03-04
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-03-10
Tazetta Narcissus - Narcissus Avalanche 003
Location: Harrogate Flower Show
Date: 2019-04-27
Location: Cornwall, England
Date: 03/06/2019
public domain photo by John Jearrard via his web site: http://www
Location: My Garden, Utah
Date: 2014-04-19
Location: Zone 6b/7a. 
Date: 2024-04-15

photo credit: LaggedOnUser/wikicommons

Date: 2022-04-21
love the fragrance
Location: Zone 6b/7a. 
Date: 2024-04-17
Location: Statesboro, Georgia
Date: 2024-02-17
first year in my garden
Location: Garland (Dallas), TX
Date: 2016-03-05
Part of the 2014 Old House Gardens Not-a-Raffle prize.  Good grow
Location: Lowndesboro AL
Date: 2015-03-21
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-03-10
Tazetta Daffodil - Narcissus Avalanche 001

Photo courtesy of Longfield Gardens
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo courtesy of Old House Gardens
Location: Garland, TX
Date: 2018-03-28
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-10-12
Location: Wallington Hall, Northumberland, UK
Date: 2015-03-20
In the glasshouse
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-03-10
Tazetta Daffodil - Narcissus Avalanche 003
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-12-12
Location: St L Daffodil Show
Date: 2016-04-09
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-11-13
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-02-19
Location: St L Daffodil Show
Date: 2016-04-09
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-10-18
After 2 weeks in the dark and temp below 50° will be ready to fo
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2014-11-07
Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2021-10-14
Tazetta Narcissus (Narcissus 'Avalanche')
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Feb 25, 2016 9:30 AM concerning plant:
    From Old House Gardens - 'If daffodils were athletes, 'Avalanche' would be wearing an Olympic metal. Extra vigorous, with 15 to 20 fragrant blooms per stem. It was discovered thriving happily half-way down a rocky sea cliff in the Scilly Isles where tazettas had once been grown by the thousands in the fields above. Superb in zones 6b - 9b. It's also easy to force indoors for a refreshing bit of spring in winter. 8 W-Y. Holland grown'.

    OHG web site details method of forcing in water with minimal cold period. Basically it's done by setting bulbs on pebbles, rocks, or marbles with water up to base of bulbs, enclose in paper bag, subject to a 3 week cold period, then set out to bloom. This method works. I've done it myself.

    An interesting side note related to daffodil growers in the Scilly Isles off the coast of England: Growers must pay a tithe (tax) yearly to the King of England of 1 pound. One pound covers all the daffodil growers; there are a lot of daffodils still grown there.
  • Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Jun 1, 2013 9:50 AM concerning plant:
    aka The Seventeen Sisters - name based on the high number of blooms per stem. RHS says 10, other sources quote 15 to 20, or 'cascades' of'.
    Good for naturalizing. Good for US southern gardens. Sweetly scented. 1906 heirloom. Found growing precariously on a sea cliff in England's Scilly Islands
    A good selection to force over winter; can be forced in water on pebbles or marbles (similar to its non-hardy Tazetta cousins the Paperwhites). Old House Gardens recommends using a deeper bowl than those used for paperwhites to allow greater root growth. These daffs need 2-3 weeks of below 50° but over freezing temps to promote root development before top growth commences. Keep cool for best blooming show.
  • Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Mar 7, 2015 1:31 PM concerning plant:
    Brent and Becky's description - 'called 'Seventeen Sisters' in the past because of it's 15 - 20 white petaled and demitasse shaped cups, sweetly fragrant flowers, show flower and great in the garden; 1700; zone 6 - 9; 16 to 18"; early-mid spring; forces easily.'
Plant Events from our members
flaflwrgrl On March 2, 2015 Bloomed
flaflwrgrl On November 7, 2014 Miscellaneous Event
Planted bulbs.
flaflwrgrl On October 30, 2014 Obtained plant
From Van Englen. 50 bulbs.
jmorth On November 7, 2014 Miscellaneous Event
Moved out of refrig., un-sacked, under fluorescent lights now. Bulbs have activated.
jmorth On October 17, 2014 Potted up
To be forced in water w/ marbles. Put vase in sack in refrigerator for a dark 2 to 3 week cool period.
Same division as paperwhites.
(see comments from OHG)
jmorth On October 1, 2014 Obtained plant
From OHG. To force.
DeweyRooter On October 31, 2023 Transplanted
Planted bulbs from Lori near pink azalea bed
DeweyRooter On October 27, 2023 Obtained plant
Received 5 bulbs from Old House Gardens (gift from Lori)
DeweyRooter On October 16, 2023 Transplanted
Planted in front bed A by rain barrel
DeweyRooter On October 14, 2023 Obtained plant
Received 5 bulbs from Old House Gardens.
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