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.