It’s daffodil season, and boxes of these beauties await on shelves of garden centers and on the pages of catalogs: Which one? Or two? Or Three?

Over the years, I have settled on a few kinds of daffodils that excel in both appearance and repeat performance, in four distinct categories of daffodils:

Best classic yellow. Among the many yellow daffodils that bloom in March, Carlton is widely considered one of the best choices for the South. The bloom bright yellow petals surrounding a deeper, golden yellow central ring. They grow 12 to 24 inches tall and deserve a central spot in a spring flower bed.

Best white. Ice Follies gets its name from the white petals surrounding a frilly center ring that turns from light chartreuse to white. I like this daffodil even more for its reliability in repeating than its color, which is quite beautiful in March, sometimes late February. The blooms are on the large size for daffodils, about 4 inches in diameter atop stems about 12 to 15 inches tall.

Best little daffodil. Don’t overlook Tete-a-Tete. It grows about 6 inches tall and usually bears two blooms, both tiny versions of a yellow trumpet daffodil. This little daffodil looks charming at the front of flower beds. Apart from its beauty, Tete-a-Tete is among the most reliable of repeating daffodils. It blooms early and lasts well.

Best pink. No question, Salome is tops here. The combination of colors here is outstanding. Creamy white petals surround a cup that is a beautiful salmon pink. It tends to bloom in mid-spring and is a reliable repeater. The plants are about 12 to 16 inches.

nbrachey@charlotteobserver.com