Daffodils at Cotehele

An adult and two children explore the garden surrounded by daffodils in spring at Cotehele, Cornwall — Exploring Cotehele's garden in spring | © National Trust Images / John Millar

Spring is a dazzling time to visit Cotehele, as the estate comes alive with daffodils. Cotehele is fortunate to be home to a variety of daffodils and there’s a real history behind these sunny flowers on the estate and the wider Tamar valley. Some of the daffodil varieties at Cotehele date back to the 17th century. Visit in the spring to celebrate this beautiful flower and learn more about the fascinating heritage.

Daffodil Watch

The daffodil season is now over for another year. We can't wait to see next years daffodils to start appearing from February 2024 onwards.

Daffodils flowering at Stagshaw Garden and Ambleside, Cumbria

Seagull and Sunrise - an audio companion for your journey through the Tamar Valley

Incorrect Audio Boom Id: 8034049

Where to find daffodils

Daffodils start to emerge from mid-February, signalling the imminent arrival of spring, and continue to flower through into May. Different varieties take centre stage at different times.

The sunny plants flower all over the estate, but can particularly be found across from the Barn Restaurant, in the meadow behind the house, in the old orchard and at the centurary orchard near Cotehele Quay.

A bank covered in daffodils and a few trees at Cotehele, Cornwall — A bank of daffodils at Cotehele | © National Trust Images / Chris Lacey

‘Daffodils are a welcome sight after a long winter, with the first glimpse of bright yellow reminding us that spring is on its way'

- Dave Bouch, Cotehele head gardener

Special varieties

Cotehele estate holds a variety of daffodils, ranging from tiny multi-flowered Tête-à-Têtes, which often appear early in the season, to the ruffled petals of the so-called Butter and Eggs. There’s so much diversity in the colour, petal shape and size.

Many of the seedlings are supplied by local daffodil grower Dan du Plessis, but some varieties date to the 17th century. Most are 19th-century hybrids, the surviving remnants of a major flower industry that once thrived along the Tamar valley.

History of daffodils at Cotehele

The Tamar Valley has been home to daffodil growing for centuries. The warm, wet climate and steep, south-facing banks of the river catch the early spring sunshine, meaning crops arrive earlier than the rest of the country.

In the past, smallholders grew fruit, flowers and vegetables in small plots known as market gardens. Early daffodil varieties included Golden Harvest and Fortune. Bulbs were planted by hand and the flowers were picked and packed for sale by local families and communities.

‘We are particularly proud of our collection; it pays tribute to the heritage of the Tamar Valley while showing off nature at her finest.’

- Dave Bouch, Cotehele head gardener

Big business

When the railway was extended into Cornwall in the 19th century, the market garden industry boomed, with daffodils at centre stage. Daffodils had long been packed onto barges, like the Shamrock, and sailed down the River Tamar to be sold at Devonport Market.

However, the new railway link meant the daffodils could be distributed around the country. At the industry’s peak, as many as 10,000 people were employed to pick and pack daffodils.

The Tamar Valley became famous for its rare and interesting varieties. This included the indigenous Tamar Double White, which produced beautiful, fragrant flowers late in the season. These were sent to Covent Garden individually in blue tissue-lined boxes.

Daffodils on the bowling green at Cotehele — Daffodils by the bowling green at Cotehele, Cornwall | © James Dobson

Second World War changes

Everything changed during the Second World War. Daffodil market gardens made way for food crops to help support the war effort. The daffodil bulbs were lifted and planted into the nearby hedgerows.

The daffodil industry may have declined, but the bright flowers still burst from the hedgerows and countryside each spring. It’s a vivid reminder of the valley’s heritage.