Daffodil Meaning: Spring, Wales and the Flower of New Beginnings

The daffodil is one of the first flowers of spring, and in Britain it is the flower of new beginnings. It is also the national flower of Wales, worn on St David's Day, 1 March, and a symbol recognised far beyond gardens, from Wordsworth's poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" to the charity appeals that use it today.

The flower of Wales

In Welsh the daffodil is cennin Pedr, "Peter's leek", which neatly links it with the leek, the older Welsh emblem. National Museum Wales notes that the daffodil's rise as a national symbol is comparatively recent; today it is worn with pride on St David's Day alongside, or instead of, the leek.

A herald of spring

Blooming from late winter into spring, daffodils have long stood for renewal and hope. That is why they appear at Easter, why the charity Marie Curie uses the daffodil for its Great Daffodil Appeal, and why they are a natural gift for a new beginning.

Narcissus

The daffodil's botanical name, Narcissus, recalls the Greek youth who fell in love with his own reflection and was turned into a flower. The myth gives the genus its name, although the daffodil's meanings in British culture owe far more to spring and to Wales than to the Greek story.

The daffodil in jewellery

A daffodil design can celebrate Wales, spring, a March birthday or a fresh start. Take a look at the AURYN Daffodil charm, or read our guide to flower symbolism.