What is a "jonquil"?

A jonquil is a garden plant, specifically a fragrant flowering daffodil known botanically as Narcissus jonquilla.

Jonquils are bulbous plants in the genus Narcissus, the same broad genus that includes many daffodils. They are recognized by narrow, rush-like leaves and clusters of small, strongly scented flowers, usually yellow. The name comes from the Spanish junquillo and ultimately the Latin juncus, meaning “rush,” referring to the plant’s slender leaves.

Narcissus jonquilla is native to Spain and Portugal but has become naturalized in several other regions, including parts of Europe and the United States. Gardeners value it for late-spring flowers and fragrance, while perfume makers have used jonquil flowers for their aromatic oil. A common mix-up is treating every daffodil as a jonquil; botanically, jonquil refers most precisely to this species and closely related horticultural hybrids.