THERE are few flowers that signal the arrival of spring more cheerfully than the daffodil, its bright yellow flowers arriving as early as February and some varieties blooming into late spring.

With St David’s Day approaching on March 1, when it is customary to wear a leek or a daffodil, it’s maybe time to think about growing some types which will tolerate most gardens and weather.

Planted in autumn, they spend several months developing roots before the flowers burst into bloom in spring. They can be planted in borders and containers.

With around 1,600 cultivars of daffodil to buy in the UK, it’s best to choose one of the many varieties which have been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), given as a measure of excellence after a trial and not requiring any specialist growing conditions.

These include N. ‘February Gold’, one of the earliest flowering varieties, standing 30cm (12in) tall and producing golden flowers, and N.

‘High Society’, a fragrant type with white petals and yellow, orange-fringed cups.