National Trust Cymru cares for some of Wales’ finest woodlands, gardens, and parklands where you can see show-stopping displays of daffodils that start to appear in early March – just in time for Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant or ‘St David’s Day’.
The yellow daffodil is synonymous with Wales and is a proud National emblem most associated with the celebration of St David’s Day on 1 March, a special day in the Welsh calendar, honouring the patron saint, St David or Dewi Sant.
There are many stories to how the daffodil became an emblem for Wales but it all started with the humble leek when St David advised Welsh warriors during the battle against the Saxons to wear a leek so enemies and allies could be distinguished.
St David is thought to have died on 1 March around AD589 and was later made the patron saint of Wales in the 12th century. Therefore on the 1 March Wales’ celebrates St David’s Day by wearing a leek or a daffodil.
The connection between both emblems could lie in the Welsh pronunciation; leek in Welsh is ‘Cenhinen’ – while daffodil in Welsh is ‘Cenhinen Pedr’.
Not only is the daffodil a proud emblem for Wales, but it is also an emblem that springtime has arrived. The Trust say they’ve already spotted daffodils appearing at their place across Wales and predicting they’ll be at their best around mid-March.
Here are National Trust Cymru’s top spots to enjoy daffodil displays this spring;
Penrhyn Castle, Bangor
The largest display of daffodils can be seen along the wooded areas and to the front and side of the castle in front of the Keep. The show-stopper display is at its best from around mid-March until late April, and a return visit is recommended to see the different varieties flowering at various times in the season.
Bodnant Garden, Conwy
Hundreds of thousands of daffodil bulbs have been planted by generations of gardeners at Bodnant since the 1920s. The main show at Bodnant Garden can be seen in mid-March and April in the Old Park Meadow where swathes of golden daffodils fill the meadow and Glades.
Erddig, Wrexham
For a dazzling blaze of yellow, head along the banks of the canal in the garden to see nodding flowers dancing in the water’s reflections. Follow the garden path towards the formal borders to find pretty displays of daffodils or wander off the path among the apple trees and conical topiary to enjoy the unique fragrance of the late-flowering pheasant’s eye variety, ‘Narcissus poeticus’.
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
Daffodils are one of the many annual floral highlights of Chirk Castle’s award-wining garden. Glimpses of them can be seen throughout the garden now, scattered between clipped yews, herbaceous borders, shrub, and rock gardens. But the best displays are seen in late March when swathes of golden daffodils in bright yellow hues also flood the banks outside the Kitchen Garden and parkland surrounding the castle.
Powis Castle, Welshpool
What would a Welsh garden be without daffodils? Narcissus Pseudonarcissus, the famous Welsh daffodil, thrive in their thousands in the garden at Powis Castle. In March, naturalized daffodils bloom across the lawn and flood the aptly named Daffodil Paddock with vivid yellow.
Dyffryn Garden, Cardiff
Early in the season in this hidden woodland garden, expect to see eager little daffodils pop up in the meadow, then by mid-March a jaw dropping display of tens of thousands of daffodils appears in large drifts throughout the meadow and meadow bank. There are over 50 varieties of daffodils here, but there’s one in particular that deserves a special mention; ‘Narcissus Dyffryn’ or the Dyffryn daffodil – their own internationally recognised breed of daffodil.
Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion
Thousands of wild daffodils have started to peep through in the woodland along the banks of the Aeron River and will gradually grow into glorious yellow carpets. You will also be treated to bright yellow daffodil displays in the dutch garden and sheltering inside the walled garden later in the season around mid-March to April.
Tredegar House, Newport
A favourite highlight during spring are the golden daffodils that bloom along Oak Avenue and around the 250-year-old Sweet Chestnut tree in the parkland in March. Head through the gates into the Cedar and Orchard Gardens to see swathes of sunny daffodils under the blossom trees.
