March Birth Flowers: Daffodil and Jonquil — Why They Look Alike but Mean Very Different Things
If you were born in March, your birth flower wears a trumpet of gold and heralds the end of winter. The daffodil — and its close relative, the jonquil — are the birth flowers of March, two of the most recognisable and beloved flowers of spring. Both belong to the Narcissus genus, yet each carries its own distinct character, fragrance, and symbolic meaning.
Whether you’re looking for the meaning behind your birth month flower, choosing a gift for someone born in March, or simply curious about the folklore woven around these cheerful blooms, this guide covers everything: mythology, cultural history, colour symbolism, Victorian language of flowers, and gifting etiquette.
What Is the March Birth Flower?
March has two birth flowers: the daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) as the primary flower, and the jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla) as the secondary. Both are members of the Narcissus genus in the family Amaryllidaceae, which explains why the words “daffodil,” “narcissus,” and “jonquil” are often used interchangeably — though botanists and keen gardeners draw clear distinctions between them.
The name “daffodil” is the common English name for the entire Narcissus genus, particularly the large-cupped, single-flowered varieties. “Narcissus” is the genus name and is also used as a common name, especially in formal or botanical contexts. “Jonquil” refers specifically to Narcissus jonquilla and its hybrids — a distinct species within the genus, recognisable by its rush-like (rather than flat, strap-like) leaves and clusters of small, intensely fragrant blooms.
March birth flowers align perfectly with the season: daffodils are among the first bulbs to emerge from frozen ground, making them universal symbols of hope, renewal, and the courage to begin again. For a deeper dive into the full flower meaning guide, explore the complete pillar resource.
Daffodil Meaning and Symbolism
The daffodil carries a rich and sometimes contradictory set of meanings, which makes it one of the most symbolically layered flowers in the Western tradition. Its core meanings include:
- New beginnings and rebirth — The daffodil pushes through cold, hard soil at the turn of the season, making it the definitive flower of fresh starts and renewed hope. In the language of hopeful flowers, the daffodil ranks among the most powerful.
- Regard and unrequited love — In the Victorian floriography tradition, a single daffodil carried the specific meaning of “regard” — a respectful admiration that fell short of romantic declaration. Gifting a single bloom was an act of quiet, tender feeling. This nuance separated the daffodil from the more ardent rose.
- Chivalry — Medieval European tradition associated the daffodil with knightly honour and courtly love. The flower’s upright, golden form was seen as emblematic of noble character.
- Prosperity and good fortune — In Chinese tradition, particularly around the Lunar New Year, the daffodil is a symbol of good luck and abundance (see Cultural Significance below).
- Self-absorption (as a cautionary note) — Rooted in the Narcissus myth (see below), the daffodil also holds a warning against excessive vanity and self-regard.
The Narcissus Myth: Echo, Narcissus, and the Flower Born from Grief
The name of the entire genus — Narcissus — comes from one of classical mythology’s most poignant and cautionary tales, told most fully by Ovid in his Metamorphoses (8 AD).
Narcissus was a young man of extraordinary beauty, born to the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. The seer Tiresias prophesied that he would live to old age “if he never knew himself.” As Narcissus grew, he was pursued by many admirers, but he rejected them all with cold disdain.
Among those who loved him was the nymph Echo, who had been cursed by Hera to repeat only the last words spoken to her. Echo followed Narcissus through the woods, desperate to declare her love, but could only echo his own words back to him. When Narcissus cruelly rejected her, Echo wasted away until nothing remained but her voice.
The goddess Nemesis, hearing the prayers of those Narcissus had spurned, led him to a still pool where he saw his own reflection for the first time. Transfixed by the beautiful face staring back at him, Narcissus fell hopelessly in love — with himself. He could neither leave nor possess the image, and eventually pined away at the water’s edge. When the nymphs came to collect his body for burial, they found in his place a flower — nodding its head over the water, as if still gazing at its own reflection. That flower was the narcissus.
Ovid’s myth contains two simultaneous readings that still resonate today:
- The cautionary tale: Self-obsession, the inability to see or love others, leads to destruction. The myth gave us the word “narcissism” and remains psychology’s shorthand for pathological self-regard.
- The beauty interpretation: Narcissus was not malevolent — he was simply overwhelmed by beauty he could not possess. The flower nodding over water became a symbol of melancholy beauty, transience, and the bittersweet nature of longing.
Jonquil: The Fragrant Sister Flower
While daffodils get most of the attention, the jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla) is the March birth flower’s more intimate, fragrant counterpart. Native to Spain and Portugal, the jonquil has been cultivated across Europe and North America for centuries and holds its own distinct place in the language of flowers.
How to tell a jonquil from a daffodil:
| Feature | Daffodil | Jonquil |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Flat, strap-like | Rush-like, cylindrical, dark green |
| Flowers per stem | Usually 1 (sometimes 2–3) | 2–6 per stem |
| Fragrance | Mild to moderate | Intensely sweet, jasmine-like |
| Size | Large trumpet | Smaller, flatter cup |
| Zone preference | Z3–9 | Z6–10 (warmer climates) |
| Bloom time | Early–mid spring | Mid–late spring |
In the Victorian floriography system, the jonquil carried the specific meaning of “desire for returned affection” or “I desire a return of affection.” Unlike the daffodil’s more restrained “regard,” the jonquil’s message was bolder — a declaration of longing with an expectation of reciprocity. To send a jonquil in Victorian England was to say: I feel this deeply; do you feel it too?
The jonquil’s exceptional fragrance — a warm, sweet, jasmine-adjacent scent — made it prized in perfumery. The French word jonquille entered English as both the flower name and a shade of warm yellow. In the perfume world, jonquil absolute remains a luxury ingredient, used in compositions evoking warmth, nostalgia, and sensuality.
For gardeners in zones 6–10, jonquils are excellent naturalising bulbs — they multiply freely, tolerate heat better than many daffodils, and return reliably year after year with minimal care.
Cultural Significance of the Daffodil
Wordsworth and the English Romantic Tradition
No flower is more firmly embedded in English literary consciousness than the daffodil, largely because of William Wordsworth’s poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” (1804, published 1807). Written after Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy encountered a mass of wild daffodils at Ullswater in the Lake District, the poem describes a “host of golden daffodils / Beside the lake, beneath the trees, / Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.”
The poem’s closing lines — “They flash upon that inward eye / Which is the bliss of solitude” — established the daffodil as a symbol of memory, joy, and the restorative power of nature. For the Romantic movement, the daffodil became shorthand for spring’s emotional liberation after winter’s constraint.
Wales: The National Flower
The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, worn on St. David’s Day (1 March) — a tradition that aligns perfectly with the flower’s status as a March birth flower. The daffodil’s association with Wales was cemented in 1911, when David Lloyd George — then Chancellor of the Exchequer and later Prime Minister — wore a daffodil at the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle. The choice of the daffodil over the leek (Wales’s other national symbol) at formal occasions is credited largely to Lloyd George’s influence, and the tradition has held ever since.
Chinese New Year: Prosperity and Good Fortune
In Chinese culture, the narcissus — known as shuixian (水仙), meaning “water immortal” — is one of the Ten Traditional Flowers and holds deep auspicious significance. Because it blooms in late winter, it is a traditional Lunar New Year decoration, symbolising good fortune, prosperity, and the good luck that the new year brings. The scented paper-white narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) is particularly associated with New Year celebrations, forced into bloom in decorative water bowls to fill homes with fragrance and positive energy.
You might also find ranunculus meaning: charm, attraction helpful here.
The narcissus is one of the “Four Junzi” plants — the four gentlemen of the plant world in Chinese literary tradition — alongside plum blossom, orchid, and chrysanthemum, each representing Confucian virtues.
The Daffodil and Cancer Charities
In 1986, the daffodil was adopted as the symbol of the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual fundraising campaign, and the tradition spread to cancer charities worldwide, including the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days campaign. The choice was deliberate: the daffodil’s emergence at winter’s end was seen as a metaphor for hope, resilience, and survival — the qualities that define cancer patients and their families.
Today, a yellow daffodil pin or a bunch of daffodils is recognised globally as a symbol of solidarity with those affected by cancer. If you know someone born in March who has faced a health challenge, daffodils carry a particularly meaningful message of hope and strength. For a broader look at flowers symbolising hope and resilience, see our guide to flowers that mean hope.
Stop missing your zone's planting windows.
Select your US zone and month — get a complete checklist of what to plant, prune, feed, and protect right now.
→ View My Garden Calendar
Daffodil Colour Meanings
The Narcissus genus encompasses over 13,000 registered cultivars, spanning a wide palette beyond the classic yellow trumpet. Each colour variation carries its own symbolic weight:
| Colour | Meaning | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow (classic) | Joy, friendship, optimism, new beginnings | Birthdays, congratulations, welcome gifts |
| White (including paperwhites) | Purity, innocence, respect, spiritual reverence | Sympathy, new home, spiritual occasions |
| Orange cup (yellow perianth) | Desire, energy, passion, admiration | Romantic intention, bold appreciation |
| Pink cup | Gentleness, femininity, tender affection | Mother’s Day, baby gifts, spring celebrations |
| Double-flowered | Abundance, generosity, overflowing good wishes | Weddings, celebrations, prosperity wishes |
| Bicolour (white petals, coloured cup) | Balance, harmony, reconciliation | Mending relationships, peace gestures |
The overwhelming majority of daffodils sold for bouquets are classic yellow — and for good reason. Yellow is the colour most universally associated with happiness, warmth, and the sun’s return after winter. According to colour psychology, yellow has one of the strongest positive emotional associations of any colour, making daffodils one of the most mood-lifting flowers available.
Zodiac Connections: Pisces and Aries
March straddles two zodiac signs, and the daffodil carries meaning for both:
- Pisces (February 19 – March 20): The daffodil’s associations with dreams, imagination, and the subconscious (rooted in the Narcissus myth and the flower’s nodding, reflective posture) align with Pisces’ intuitive, emotionally deep nature. The flower’s emergence from hidden depths — a bulb buried underground all winter — mirrors the Piscean tendency to hold rich inner worlds beneath a calm surface.
- Aries (March 21 – April 19): The daffodil’s bold, bright presence and its reputation for courageous early blooming (sometimes pushing through snow) resonates with Aries’ fire-sign energy — pioneer spirit, leadership, and the drive to be first. The daffodil is spring’s advance guard, and Aries is the zodiac’s first sign: both herald new beginnings with confidence.
The Narcissus mythology also connects to both signs: the introspective self-examination of Pisces (“know thyself”) and the Aries cautionary note about unchecked ego driving one toward destruction.
Gifting Daffodils and Jonquils: What to Know
Daffodils are among the most joyful flowers to give and receive, but there are a few cultural nuances worth knowing:
- A bunch of 10 or more daffodils signals generosity, abundance, and wholehearted good wishes. This is the standard gifting quantity and the one most associated with positive meaning.
- A single daffodil traditionally carried the meaning of “regard” — a respectful, tender acknowledgement. However, in some folk traditions (particularly in some European cultures), gifting a single flower of any kind can be associated with misfortune. When in doubt, give three or more stems.
- Avoid giving daffodils to someone with cats: Narcissus plants are toxic to cats (and dogs), so for pet-owning friends, choose a different flower or confirm the flowers will be kept out of reach.
- Keep daffodils away from other cut flowers initially: freshly cut daffodil stems exude a sap that can shorten the vase life of other flowers. Condition them alone in water for 12–24 hours first, or use a floral preservative specifically designed for mixed bouquets.
| Occasion | What to give | Message |
|---|---|---|
| March birthday | Mixed yellow daffodil bunch, 10+ stems | Joy, generosity, celebrating you |
| Get well soon | Yellow daffodils + white narcissus mix | Hope, resilience, new beginnings |
| New home | Potted narcissus bulbs (growing) | Prosperity, fresh starts, lasting growth |
| Sympathy / cancer support | Yellow daffodils, simple and unembellished | Hope, solidarity, strength |
| Romantic interest | Jonquils (fragrant, multi-headed) | Desire for returned affection |
| Mother’s Day (March/April) | Pink-cupped daffodils or mixed narcissus | Tenderness, love, admiration |
Growing Daffodils and Jonquils
Daffodils are among the easiest bulbs to grow — reliably returning year after year, resistant to deer and rabbits, and unfazed by late frosts. Here are the essentials for US gardeners:
- When to plant: September through November, when soil temperatures drop below 60°F. Earlier planting (September–October) is ideal for zones 4–6; zones 7–8 can plant into November.
- Planting depth: 6 inches deep (measured from the base of the bulb), in well-drained soil. Poor drainage is the most common cause of bulb failure.
- Spacing: 4–6 inches apart for formal beds; 2–4 inches for naturalising in grass (scatter and plant where they land for a natural effect).
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade. Daffodils planted under deciduous trees perform well — they complete their growth cycle before the canopy closes in.
- After blooming: Allow foliage to die back naturally (6–8 weeks after flowering). The leaves photosynthesise to replenish the bulb for next year. Tying or braiding leaves is a myth that restricts this process; simply let them fade.
- Naturalising: Daffodils are excellent for naturalising in lawns and meadows. Allow grass to grow unmowed for at least 6 weeks after daffodil foliage fades before the first cut of the season.
- Jonquil specifics: Prefer zones 6–10, well-drained soil, and slightly more warmth than typical daffodils. Excellent for the Southeast US and Pacific Coast. Multiply freely over time; divide clumps every 3–5 years to maintain vigour.
Birth Flowers by Month: Complete Reference Table
Each month has its own birth flower (or pair of flowers) with unique symbolism. If you want to explore beyond March, here is the complete monthly reference. See also the full birth flowers overview guide for detailed meanings for every month.
| Month | Birth Flower(s) | Key Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| January | Carnation & Snowdrop | Love, hope, purity |
| February | Violet & Primrose | Faithfulness, young love |
| March | Daffodil & Jonquil | New beginnings, rebirth |
| April | Daisy & Sweet Pea | Innocence, delicate pleasure |
| May | Lily of the Valley & Hawthorn | Happiness, hope returned |
| June | Rose & Honeysuckle | Love, devotion, bonds |
| July | Larkspur & Water Lily | Levity, purity of heart |
| August | Gladiolus & Poppy | Strength, remembrance |
| September | Aster & Morning Glory | Wisdom, love in vain |
| October | Marigold & Cosmos | Warmth, order, love |
| November | Chrysanthemum & Peony | Loyalty, honour |
| December | Narcissus & Holly | Hope, protection |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the March birth flower?
The primary March birth flower is the daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), with the jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla) recognised as the secondary birth flower. Both belong to the Narcissus genus. Daffodils are associated with new beginnings, hope, and rebirth — meanings that perfectly capture the spirit of March as winter gives way to spring.
What do daffodils symbolise?
Daffodils symbolise new beginnings, rebirth, hope, and resilience. In the Victorian language of flowers, a single daffodil meant “regard” — a tender, respectful affection. Daffodils are also symbols of chivalry, prosperity (in Chinese tradition), and since 1986, they have been the international emblem of cancer charity and hope. Their yellow colour adds associations of joy, friendship, and optimism.
Is a jonquil the same as a daffodil?
Not exactly. All jonquils are daffodils (both are members of the Narcissus genus), but not all daffodils are jonquils. Jonquil refers specifically to Narcissus jonquilla and its hybrids — distinguished by rush-like (cylindrical) leaves, clusters of 2–6 flowers per stem, and an intensely sweet fragrance. Standard daffodils have flat, strap-like leaves and typically produce one large flower per stem. In everyday use, “daffodil,” “narcissus,” and “jonquil” are often used interchangeably, but botanically they are distinct.
Why are daffodils associated with cancer charities?
The daffodil became the emblem of cancer charities beginning in 1986, when the Canadian Cancer Society adopted it as the symbol of their Daffodil Days fundraising campaign. The choice was symbolic: the daffodil’s emergence from the cold ground at winter’s end represented hope, resilience, and the possibility of new beginnings — qualities central to the cancer journey. The tradition spread globally, and today the yellow daffodil is recognised internationally as a symbol of cancer awareness and hope. You can learn more at the American Cancer Society.
