Northwest Blooms · Bulbs
Narcissus 'Ice King'
Ice King Daffodil
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Height
- 14 to 18 in
- Flower color
- Ivory-white petals with a fully double, ruffled yellow cup, often highlighted with white
- Foliage color
- Medium green to blue-green, narrow strap-shaped leaves
- Bloom time
- Mid spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low, remove spent flowers to prevent seed formation, allow foliage die back naturally before removal
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 9
- Wildlife
- Occasional visits from bees and other spring pollinators
About this plant
Narcissus 'Ice King' produces large white outer petals surrounding a softly ruffled center in pale yellow that gradually lightens as the flower matures. Broad, blue green foliage rises in sturdy, upright clumps, giving the plant a substantial presence throughout the bloom period. Each stem carries a full, rounded flower that adds texture and gentle color to early spring displays.
This double daffodil blooms in mid spring with richly petaled blossoms well suited for borders, cutting gardens, containers, and naturalized plantings. Introduced in the late twentieth century, it remains widely used for mass plantings where full flowers bring depth and continuity to seasonal garden designs.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Under Trees · Woodland Gardens · Containers
Companion plants
Creeping phlox · Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies · Crocuses · Heucheras
Design tip
Spring bloom is its headline moment, and it reads best in a group rather than as a single plant. Drift them in uneven groups for a natural look, and interplant with perennials that fill the gap after the leaves die back.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Roozengaarde.
