Growing Daffodils

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Daffodils

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The bright yellow blooms of daffodils are a wonderful sign of spring—but do you know how and when to plant them properly? Here are tips on planting daffodil bulbs, caring for daffodils, and what to do after they flower.

Daffodils are a hardy and easy perennial that grows in most regions of North America, except in the hottest, wettest areas, such as South Florida. Daffodils are a fall-planted bulb, so plant them in autumn and they will bloom in late winter or early spring.

The traditional daffodil flower may be a showy yellow or white, with six petals and a trumpet-shape central corona, but many cultivated varieties (“cultivars”) exist today. Leafless stems bear between 1 and 20 flowers; sometimes the flowers need to be staked so that they don’t weigh down the stems.

Daffodils are suitable for planting between shrubs or in a border, or for forcing blooms indoors. They look wonderful in a woodland garden and in large groves. You’ll find that many gardeners plant the bulbs not just by the dozens but by the hundreds! Daffodil flowers also make for great springtime cut flowers.

Planting

When to Plant Daffodils

Plant daffodil bulbs in the fall—about 2 to 4 weeks before the ground freezes. See local frost dates and get more tips on planting fall bulbs.

Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site

Select a site that offers full sun or partial sun, at the least. Daffodils will bloom best when given adequate exposure to early spring sunshine!
Most daffodils tolerate a range of soils but grow best in moderately fertile, well-drained soil that is kept moist during the growing season. They are susceptible to rot when kept too wet, so make sure that you plant them in a well-draining spot.
Many of the popular species prefer neutral to acidic soils, but some prefer slightly alkaline soils, so consult the supplier of your bulbs to see which is best for your daffodil variety.
Over time, daffodils will produce new, “daughter” bulbs that are attached to the main bulb which you planted originally. This results in nice little clumps of daffodils that stay relatively contained to where you planted them.

How to Plant Daffodils

Select high-quality daffodil bulbs that have not been dried out. The larger the bulb, the better.
Plant with the top or pointy end up about 2 to 3 times as as deep as the bulb is high. For example, the top of a 2″ bulb is at least 4″ deep (measuring from the bottom of the bulb) while a 3-inch long bulb should be planted 5 inches deep.
Daffodils will tolerate some crowding, but they prefer to be spaced about 3 to 6 inches apart.
It may help to sprinkle a little bulb fertilizer in the hole during planting. Learn more about preparing soil for planting.
Where winters are severe, make sure there are at least 3 inches of soil covering the bulb.
Resist the temptation to uncover spring-flowering plants such as daffodils and tulips. You can loosen mulch, but the shoots will still benefit from protection against cold, drying winds in early spring.
Daffodils contain something called oxalic acid—a substance that makes them unpalatable to most rodent pests. However, if yours are being bothered, consider adding sharp sharp pieces of shells or a pelleted rodent deterrent into and around each planting hole.
Get more tips for growing bulbs.

Daffodils in spring

Care

How to Grow Daffodils

Apply a low-nitrogen, high-potash (potassium) fertilizer after flowering if bulbs are not performing as desired. Learn more about preparing soil for planting and soil amendments.
Water late-flowering daffodils in dry spring weather (flowers may abort in dry conditions).
Deadhead plants as flowers fade (for neater garden appearance) and allow leaves to remain for at least 6 weeks.
Lift and divide the clumps when flowering becomes sparse or the clumps congested.
After daffodils bloom in the spring, allow the plants to grow until they die off. Do NOT cut down earlier. They need time after blooming to store energy in the bulbs for next year’s bloom.
To remove the dead plants, either snip them off at the base, or twist the leaves while pulling lightly.
Once daffodils and tulips have gone by, add bonemeal to the soil for next year’s blooms.

Pests/Diseases

Daffodils are both deer-resistant and rodent-proof, as these animals do not like the taste of the bulbs in the Narcissus family.
Daffodils can also be toxic to pets, so make sure your animals don’t munch on them.
The most common problems include large narcissus bulb fly, bulb scale mite, narcissus nematode, slugs, narcissus basal rot and other fungal infections, and viruses.

Daffodils in car

Harvest/Storage

Using Daffodils as Cut Flowers

When cut, daffodils should be kept alone in a vase, as their stems secrete a fluid that promotes the wilting of other flowers. If you must combine them, soak them by themselves for as long as possible, then rinse them and add them to the arrangement last. Learn more about keeping cut flowers fresh.
Note that contact with the sap of daffodils may irritate skin or aggravate skin allergies.

Recommended Varieties

‘Golden Ducat’ is a double daffodil with pure yellow petals. It blooms in mid- to late season and grows 12 to 16 inches tall.
‘Petit Four’ is a good choice for a partially shady site. The flower has white petals with a double cup of apricot pink and grows 16 inches tall.
‘Rip van Winkle’ is a miniature double daffodil that grows 6 to 8 inches tall and looks great in a grove with many others of its kind.

Daffodils with white and orange.

Wit & Wisdom

Daffodils are a March birth flower.
Daffodils symbolize regard for someone. See more flower meanings.

Here’s some daffodil-themed prose to brighten your day:

Daffodowndilly
She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead.”
–A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty.
–William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
–William Wordsworth, I Wander’d Lonely as a Cloud

Of Spring Weather:
Chillier, but daffodillier.
–The 1991 Old Farmer’s Almanac

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Reader Comments

Here in northern CO, last

Here in northern CO, last spring produced green leaves but no flowers on daffodils and it was not just at my home.....seemed to be an epidemic. We did not have a lot of snow over the winter.
My question is should I water the plants that are now about a inch out of the ground like we water trees here in the winter? The mts are getting snow but we have not had much on the Front Range so far. Every other year since '98, my daffodils have been beautiful even through dry winters????
Thanks in advance...

You can give the daffodils

You can give the daffodils some water but be careful not to overwater. The daffodils may be crowded if you haven't transplanted them recently.

Thanks.....wondered if they

Thanks.....wondered if they needed transplanting from previous posts.

It's the end of January in

It's the end of January in the Dallas-FtWorth area. Is it too late to plant daffodil bulbs?

im over in Euless and the

im over in Euless and the yellow daffodils just bloomed in the past 4 days. it is jan 30, 2015 now

It's January in northern

It's January in northern Virginia. Is it too late to plant daffodil bulbs?

Daffodils need a period of

Daffodils need a period of chilling temperatures to bloom in the spring. If you think that you will have some more cold weather you can plant them now in the ground (if you can dig the soil) or in a container outdoors.

If I plant bulbs now to bloom

If I plant bulbs now to bloom in the spring early summer in my big pots and window boxes, do I need to pull them out before planting geraniums for the summer or can I plant the geraniums next to them and then pull the geraniums up in the fall before the ground freezes?

Hi Kristi, You can leave the

Hi Kristi,
You can leave the bulbs in the containers if there is room to plant geraniums between them. The spring bulbs' foliage will die back in late spring and you can add annuals (like geraniums) to the pots.

I live in Camp Verde, AZ

I live in Camp Verde, AZ which is in Zone 8 of the planting guide. I have successfully grown bulbs here for several years. We have had a warm fall and now my daffodils have sprouted (just leaves no blooms). We are starting to get freezing temperatures at night. What do I do now?

Sandie, Cover your daffs with

Sandie, Cover your daffs with some mulch to help to protect them from the coming cold and any that follows—but do not remove the foliage. The bulbs get their energy from the foliage. This autumn growth will die back and turn brown. In spring, when the buls come again you can cut off the brown foliage for appearances sake. You bulbs should come back, unless you're also seeing bulbs emerge now, which makes their future harder to predict.
This early growth could be the result of exceptionally warm weather, the bulbs being too shallow (and so closer to the surface where the warmth is), or they were planted too early in season. These last two reasons may not apply to you, as it doesn't sound like your situation, but I share for other readers.

My gardener was supposed to

My gardener was supposed to till up soil, add garden soil and plant 200 daffodils (northern Georgia). I had to leave, returned and checked daffodils. The 5-6 I found were laying on top of new soil with about 3" of mulch on top, most on their side (2 upside down). He and I dug through mulch/soil and replanted as many as we could reasonably find - maybe half. What is likelihood that flowers will grow if 1) laying on its side or upside down and/or 2) only covered with 3-4" of mulch? Thank you.

As you know, bulbs should be

As you know, bulbs should be planted the pointy side up. However, even if they're planted wrong, they usually do find their way to the surface.
The planting depth depends on size. Daffodils should be planted at least twice as deep as the bulb is high. In the case of smaller bulbs, a few inches should be fine. For larger bulbs, the depth is usually 5 to 6 inches.
If the planting isn't deep enough, your daffodils may grow but without flowers as shallow planting deprives them of the needed moisture. You'll have to see how they fare.
Be extra careful that your daffodils get needed moisture as well as the nutrients that come from rich soil; feed your daffodils regularly after flowering with a liquid fertilizer at intervals of 7 to 10 days. Continue this until foliage turns yellow.

I have had to lift my

I have had to lift my daffodils before their leaves are yellow.I want to keep them and plant for spring.Will they be okay ,or shall I plant somewhere until the leaves yellow.
It is coming up to summer here.

This will sound totally inane

This will sound totally inane but last year I planted daffodil bulbs in my window box upside down! Can I replant them the correct way this year or have I destroyed the bulbs?

Hi, Renee: First of all,

Hi, Renee: First of all, there's no such thing as an inane question! That's what we inane question answerers are here for! And BTW: You are only the umpteenth billion person to have done this -- not to worry! The answer to your question is: There is only one way to find out: Replant. But most bulbs will find a way to make it regardless of their planting orientation, so hopefully there isn't something else going on here, like rot or pests. But go for it!

I had planted some

I had planted some already-bloomed daffodils I bought at the store in a pot outside early spring this year (2014). It is now September and I want to bring the pot indoors and try to force bloom them for winter. There is still some lingering green foliage and I want to know the best way to force bloom them indoors. Do I cut the foliage down and refrigerate the bulbs until ready for replanting? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, James: If there is any

Hi, James: If there is any chance that the green foliage means that your plants are still alive, you should leave (sorry) them alone until they turn yellow. They are still providing energy to the bulb. Once you are confident that they have passed, then you can snip or twist off the plant from the bulb. Put the bulbs root down in shallow, loosely packed, well-draining, moist potting medium in a cool (40 to 45 degrees), dark area for at least 3 months, then bring out into the coolest area of your house and progressively move to warmer areas. Always be very careful and gentle with the bulbs/plants.

We want to plant MANY

We want to plant MANY daffodil bulbs on a hillside by our church this fall. If, after they have bloomed and gone dormant the site is sprayed for weeds will it kill the bulbs ?

For daffodils, you do not

For daffodils, you do not want to use any pre-emergent herbicides nor weed control chemicals from October through June. Herbicides usually should not be applied until after plants emerge and are established (April/May). Better to smother the weeds with an old carpet or mulch over the winter.

It depends on what your using

It depends on what your using and how much you use.....i would.recomend mulching the site and establishing a strong low lying (non-invasive ) ground cover...i like creeping phlox if its a shaded area. Weed by hand periodicaly...let them get big enough to pull but immature enough to not go to seed. Otherwise you leave roots behind that multiply.

I have a square built with

I have a square built with r/r ties around a tree and I planted King Alfreds a few years ago, covered with vinca minor. (Minor, not major) Beautiful each year and I leave the daffodil greens until they turn yellow and then just lift up the dead yellow parts to neaten the planter. Gorgeous. (Northern Sacramento Valley, California.)

I just brought home some

I just brought home some Daffodil Bulbs from my sister's garden in Missouri. She lives about an hour south of St Louis. I live in San Antonio, Tx so the climate and conditions are very different here on June 15th, than they were there. What do I do with the bulbs till Fall planting time....do I put them in breathable bag and keep in refrigerator till late Sept? Or do I plant now? Also, they have nice roots on them, do I take them off along with the dirt before store in refrigerator? thanks for any help!

I have lots of bulbs I

I have lots of bulbs I brought from my house when I moved. Can I plant or do I wait til fall?

Plant the bulbs now. Don't

Plant the bulbs now. Don't remove the roots or leaves. The bulbs will finish storing nutrients through the summer months and hopefully bloom beautifully next spring.

I live on the Georgia coast

I live on the Georgia coast with sandy soil. Have you heard of placing an oyster shell under each bulb when you plant to keep the bulb from burying itself? Also this might provide some lime.

The reason most gardeners

The reason most gardeners sprinkle ground oyster shell over the surface of the garden is to deter digging from rodents and other bests.

While visiting in England,

While visiting in England, and seeing the gorgeous daffodils planted in long rows, I inquired about what to do with them after they bloomed. I was told to take off the flower stem, and then tie each plant with a single knot so that the leaves lie rather flat to the ground. The leaves remain green and then just turn yellow. I have done this with the daffodils I have planted, and each year they have come up just fine. I have then been able to plant other annuals in front of them, as the daffodils leaves then don't overshadow the annuals. Is this a good practice?

Hi, Avis, Hard to argue with

Hi, Avis, Hard to argue with the Brits. One of our editors just returned from the Chelsea Garden Show and they grounds are AMAZING! (Take a peak: http://www.almanac.com/blog/ed...)
But back to your daffs: The leaves enable the bulb to prepare for its show (bloom) next year. Tying "up" the foliage is not recommended because it reduces the are of the leaf that is exposed to sun. Take care that your annuals don't overshadow the daff foliage. It can be removed after it turns brown; when that will be (how long it might take) depends on several variables—bulb type and weather for starters.
Hope this helps.

I have some daffodils that I

I have some daffodils that I had to dig up. Do i cut the dangling roots off or leave them on. I plan to let them dry out and put them in the freezer in July to be planted in Oct. I live in Kentucky. Is this the correct way to handle them.