Where to see daffodils in Wales

A woman and child looking at the daffodils in the garden at Powis Castle in Powys, Wales — Visitors admiring the daffodils at Powis Castle | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

As the cold, dark days of winter come to an end, our national emblem blooms across Wales brightening up landscapes and heralding the beginning of spring. Discover where to find dazzling displays of daffodils from February through to early May, in the gardens we care for across the country.

National emblem of Wales

There are many stories about how the daffodil became one of Wales’s famous emblems, but it’s believed to have all started with the humble leek. During battle, St David, patron saint of Wales, advised his warriors to wear a leek so they could be distinguished from their enemies, the Saxons. Today, both emblems are worn on St David’s Day on 1st of March, and the connection between them may lie in the Welsh language as leek is ‘cenhinen’, whilst daffodil is ‘cenhinen Pedr’ or ‘cennin Pedr’.

Top gardens for daffodil displays in North Wales

View of daffodils in the meadow with house in the background at Bodnant Garden in Conwy, North Wales — Daffodil meadow at Bodnant Garden, North Wales | © National Trust Images/Derek Hatton

Bodnant Garden, Conwy: Generations of gardeners have been planting daffodils at Bodnant since 1920 and we’re still adding to the display today. As early as January, Narcissus ‘Cedric Morris’ and the dwarf Narcissus cyclamineus can be spotted in the Winter Garden. Then in March and April, the Old Park meadow and Glades are transformed into a carpet of buttercup-bright, common Narsicuss pseudonarcissus, and many other varieties.Visit Bodnant Garden
Chirk Castle, Wrexham: Spring brings a vibrant display of daffodils to Chirk Castle’s gardens. Varieties like Narcissus cyclamineus and Narcissus ‘King Alfred’ flourish in the meadow known as ‘The Daffodil Lawn’ and along Lime Tree Avenue near the Hercules statue, where they frame stunning castle views. This year, newly planted British native daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) at the visitor centre entrance and in the Kitchen Garden add an extra splash of seasonal colour.Visit Chirk Castle
Penrhyn Castle and Garden, Gwynedd: The first daffodil blooms at Penrhyn Castle often appear in late-February, just in time for St David’s Day. Then they continue from strength to strength until they reach their vibrant peak from around mid-March until late April. The dazzling carpet of yellow, as dramatic as the Welsh castle itself, can be seen throughout the wooded areas to the front and side of the castle, as well as in front of the Keep.Visit Penrhyn Castle and Garden
Plas Newydd House and Garden: Hot on the heels of the snowdrops, the daffodils are expected to put on a dazzling display in the enchanting garden, arboretum, and parkland at Plas Newydd. Overlooking the Menai Strait, you’ll find clusters of yellow daffodils dancing in the spring sunshine and dotted throughout the garden, giving the formal lawn and herbaceous borders a burst of colour. This vibrant display, the result of the garden team’s care and skill in planting 5,000 bulbs last winter, is a joy to behold and is expected to be at its best by around mid-March.Visit Plas Newydd House and Garden

Top gardens for daffodil displays in Mid Wales

View of daffodils in the garden with Powis Castle on the hill in the background in Powys, Mid Wales. — Daffodils in bloom at Powis Castle, Mid Wales | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion: Llanerchaeron has a long tradition with daffodils, once celebrated with an annual open weekend in honour of the Lewis family’s favourite flower. From early February to mid-March, daffodils brighten the estate, from the woodland by the river to the Croquet Lawn, Walled Garden, and orchard. This winter, 11,000 new bulbs were planted, including early bloomers like February Gold and Rijnveld’s Early Sensation, alongside favourites like St Keverne and Stainless. Look out for the Cutflower Beds in the East Walled Garden, where daffodils mix with fritillaries, alliums, camassia, and tulips for a spectacular spring display.Visit Llanerchaeron
Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool: Powis Castle’s Baroque terraced garden, with its dramatic views across the Severn Valley, comes alive in spring. From mid-March to late April, thousands of Welsh daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) carpet the Daffodil Paddock in yellow. Magnolias, violets, tulips, and grape hyacinths bloom across the garden, while the magnolia’s pink and white flowers create a stunning show. As you wander the grounds, enjoy the wisteria along the Aviary and the pink and white blossoms of apple trees in the Edwardian Formal Garden.Visit Powis Castle and Garden

Top gardens for daffodil displays in South Wales

View of the house through daffodils at Dyffryn Gardens near Cardiff in South Wales — Daffodils at Dyffryn Gardens, South Wales | © National Trust Images/Rachael Warren

Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire: Look out for large drifts of daffodils throughout the meadow and meadow bank at Colby Woodland Garden. In 2011 and 2015, 6,000 daffodil bulbs were planted, promising a jaw-dropping display from late February onwards—though recent cold weather means the exact timing of their bloom is uncertain. Spring also brings carpets of bluebells and crocuses, followed by swathes of camellias, azaleas, and rhododendrons.Visit Colby Woodland Garden
Dyffryn Gardens, Cardiff: There are more than 50 varieties of daffodils lighting up the lawns and garden rooms at Dyffryn Gardens. From the tiny Narcissus bulbocodium on the Rockery, to great big show varieties in every shade of yellow, white, and cream there’s nowhere better to celebrate the arrival of spring. Don’t miss their very own daffodil breed: Narcissus ‘Dyffryn’, which won international status as a new breed in 2014.Visit Dyffryn Gardens
Tredegar House, Newport: Head through the gates into the Cedar and Orchard Gardens to see swathes of sunny daffodils under the blossom trees. Beautiful yellow, cream, and orange daffodils, including Sir Winston Churchill, Silver Chimes, Sail Boat, and the charming Julia Jane, will soon transform the garden. These are interspersed with delicate Forget Me Nots (Myosotis) for added vibrancy. From early March, golden daffodils line Oak Avenue and surround the 250-year-old Sweet Chestnut tree in the parkland. Our winter planting of Crocus bulbs faced some playful challenges from resident squirrels, so we're excited to see how many have survived their antics this year.Visit Tredegar House