In 2011, the American Daffodil Society (ADS) designated a new exhibition section for any daffodil registered between 1940 and 1969, inclusive named "Classics".

The ADS believed that such a section would interest a different segment of exhibitors and might encourage bulb growers to keep these post-war era cultivars available.

The ADS Historic daffodil period ended shortly after World War II started, when marketing and exporting of daffodils temporarily ceased.

When trade resumed, daffodils were different, improvements in form were most noticeable.

The ADS defines a Historic Daffodil as any cultivar formally registered with the Royal Horticultural Society or known in gardens prior to 1940.

The year 1939 at the end of this period, marked the beginning of World War II, a time during which fewer new daffodil cultivars were either created or made available, especially in Europe.

The ADS believes this class will interest a segment of exhibitors and may encourage bulb growers to keep these pre-war era cultivars available.

Because Historic daffodils tend to have less form than modern daffodils, they mmay be exhibited in special classes to compete against others iths same class.