蜜桃恋人

How to Grow Daffodils: The Complete Daffodil Flower Guide

yellow jetfire daffodil flowers in the spring

Yellow daffodils, 鈥楯别迟蹿颈谤别鈥 Narcissus, in flower in early spring

Photo Credit
Alex Manders/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Narcissus spp.
Plant Type
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Part Sun
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Spring
Flower Color
Orange
White
Yellow
Hardiness Zone
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

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Planting, Growing, and Caring for Daffodils

Catherine Boeckmann

Nothing heralds spring like the cheerful daffodil! These sunshine-yellow flowers emerge at winter’s end to lift our spirits. Plus, daffodils are deer- and rodent-resistant bulbs (unlike tulips)! Learn more about how and when to plant daffodils鈥攁nd the delightful variety of choices, from the classic yellow variety to mini daffodils.

About Daffodils

Daffodils are hardy perennials that come back year after year, spreading and often naturalizing. They are fall-planted bulbs usually planted in October, and the flowers bloom in late winter or early spring. (They are the March birth flower, after all!) Most daffodils grow easily in most regions of North America, except in the hottest, wettest areas, such as South Florida.

There are thousands of daffodil varieties.  The traditional daffodil flower may be a showy yellow or white, with six petals and a trumpet-shaped central corona. Still, many cultivated varieties (鈥渃ultivars鈥) exist today if you fancy experimenting with a more exotic double, frilled, or bicolor narcissus.

Daffodils are suitable for planting between shrubs, on a border, or even in pots. We especially love daffodils in a woodland garden and large groves. You’ll find that many gardeners plant the bulbs not just by the dozens but by the hundreds! Daffodil flowers can also be forced inside to add cheer to the winter months, making great springtime cut flowers.

Choosing Daffodil Bulbs

Select high-quality daffodil bulbs that have not been dried out. The larger the bulb, the better.

DutchGrown鈩 bulbs are of the highest quality, ensuring optimum performance. You probably haven’t seen daffodils bigger than their top-sized daffodils bulbs. .

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Planting

Daffodils do best in full sun, though they will grow in partial shade. They’re generally not picky about soil, but good drainage is vital as they are susceptible to rot when kept too wet. Hillsides and raised beds work well. Otherwise, improve clay soil by amending it (12 inches deep) with organic material such as well-rotted compost.

When to Plant Daffodils

  • Plant daffodil bulbs in the fall鈥攁t least 2 to 4 weeks before the ground freezes. See local frost dates.

How to Plant Daffodils

  • Plant the bulb with the top (pointy end) set about 2 to 3 times as deep as the bulb is tall. For example, the top of a 2-inch bulb should be about 4 inches in the ground, while a 3-inch bulb should be planted 5 to 6 inches deep.
  • Where winters are severe, make sure there are at least 3 inches of soil covering the bulb.
  • Daffodils will tolerate crowding, but they prefer to be placed 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.
  • 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鈥攁 substance that makes them unpalatable to most rodent pests. However, if yours are being bothered, consider adding sharp pieces of shells or a pelleted rodent deterrent into and around each planting hole.

Growing

  • Apply a low-nitrogen, high-potash (potassium) fertilizer after flowering if bulbs are not performing as desired. Learn more about preparing the soil for planting and soil amendments.
  • Water late-flowering daffodils in dry spring weather (flowers may abort in dry conditions).
  • Lift and divide the clumps when flowering becomes sparse or the clumps congested.

After Daffodils Bloom

  • After the flowers fade, you can deadhead (pinch off) the faded flowers.
  • However, do NOT remove the leaves until they turn yellow. Daffodils use their leaves to store energy in the bulbs for next year’s flower. The plant continues to absorb nutrients for about 6 weeks after the flowers have faded. If you cut or mow them back too early, they will not bloom next year.
  • Keep watering the plants even if the blooms have faded.
  • Once the leaves have yellowed and died back naturally, you can snip off the dead leaves at the base (or pull lightly while twisting the leaves). You can also mow the area without worry.
  • Once daffodils (and tulips) have gone by, add bonemeal to the soil for next year’s blooms.

If the dying leaves offend your sensibility, plant other bulbs, such as daffodils, daylilies, or true lilies, in the same area so they hide the fading foliage. 

Types

According to the American Daffodil Society, there are 13 official daffodil flower types and more than 25,000 named cultivars!

Whatever variety you choose, the most important tip is: Get the best quality bulbs for the best flowers. The bigger the bulbs, the better. Look for top-size bulbs, the biggest bulbs on the market. 

  • 鈥楧utch Master鈥 is the classic daffodil鈥攂ig and yellow with a very large cup and oversize trumpets. They bloom early, naturalize easily, and are great for planting in masses.

dutch master daffodil grove

  • 鈥楤arrett Browning鈥 is the recognizable pure white daffodil with a bright orange trumpet surrounded by a golden halo. They bloom early, naturalize easily, and do well in warmer climates, too.

white daffodils with yellow centers

  • 鈥罢补丑颈迟颈鈥 is a stunner with layers of rounded, golden yellow petals interspersed with frilly, red-orange accents. They bloom mid to late season, last longer, and make an excellent cut flower.

tahiti daffodil flowers

  • 鈥楾ete a Tete鈥 is an adorable mini daffodil that blooms early and blooms for weeks as one of the most long-blooming varieties. Ideal for flower beds and containers and naturalizes with ease.

Tete a Tete mini daffodils

  • 鈥楯别迟蹿颈谤别鈥 is another mini daffodil with bright orange cups and swept-back yellow petals. It blooms in early spring, is very long-lasting, and doesn鈥檛 flop over.

Jetfire mini daffofil flowers

  • 鈥Petit Four鈥 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.
  • 鈥楥丑别别谤蹿耻濒苍别蝉蝉鈥 bears double flowers and multiple blooms per stem; this daffodil is very fragrant with a lovely gardenia-like scent. Blooms in late spring and makes an excellent cut flower.
  • 鈥楾丑补濒颈补鈥 is an all-white daffodil, making it wonderful for moon gardens. Learn about 20 pure white flowers to include in your garden.

Harvesting

  • When cutting daffodils, keeping these flowers in their own vase is best 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.
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Wit and Wisdom

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

鈥凄补蹿蹿辞诲辞飞苍诲颈濒濒测鈥
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:
鈥淲inter is dead.鈥
鈥A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty.
鈥揥illiam 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.
鈥揥illiam Wordsworth, I Wander’d Lonely as a Cloud

Of Spring 蜜桃恋人:
Chillier, but daffodillier.
鈥The 1991 Old Farmer’s 蜜桃恋人

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 mites, narcissus nematode, slugs, narcissus basal rot, and other fungal infections and viruses.
Flowers
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it鈥檚 not surprising that she and The Old Farmer鈥檚 蜜桃恋人 found each other. She leads digital content for the 蜜桃恋人 website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

K. Hutchinson (not verified)

6 years 7 months ago

I got some Daffodils around Easter and recently planted them, they are about 10 inches apart, in part/full sun, watered everyday and they are drooping. Not standing tall at all. Pick up stems and they fall. Not very sure what my problem is. Any comments?

If you had unusually cold temperatures or snow recently, that could have caused your daffodils鈥 bad posture. If not, it could be due to overwatering. Daffodils like to be kept moist, but don’t like to sit in too much water. Are yours in an area with well-drained soil? If you’re getting regular rainfall, that should be providing plenty of water to them. 

Dona Wilkerson (not verified)

6 years 8 months ago

I need to divide my daffodils. I will wait till blooming is over & leaves are dead. Do I then plant the blubs or wait till fall? How would I store them? Thanks

Elaine (not verified)

6 years 7 months ago

Greetings,
I am deeply interested in your question about dividing and replanting daffodils ! As I have the same question yet have not heard or learn the answer to the question. Someone had generously shared some wonderful bulbs with me.
Have you gleaned any information on the subject. If so do you mind sharing it with me? I would so appreciate your effort and time involved.
Sincerely,
Elaine

Once you divide the daffodils, you should replant them right away. Plant them at the same depth that they were planted at before and space them about 6 inches apart for the best results.

If you did need to store them for some reason, you would want to keep them in a cool, dark place with relatively low humidity until you can plant them again.

Jan Bettis (not verified)

6 years 8 months ago

I have a single daffodil bulb that produced a bloom on a 34鈥 stem. It grew up through an azalea and the yellow bloom opened up when it reached the top of the shrub. It seemed a rare occurrence to me. Do the stem heights generally vary depending on the location a bulb is planted?

Daffodils will stretch until they get the light they deem sufficient. This is what yours did!

Barbra Fairclo鈥 (not verified)

6 years 12 months ago

Question really. With milder fall weather, the shoots are emerging. Wonder if i am correct in thinking that they will get zapped if there are colder below freezing temps later and will that affect new growth in spring?

Pat (not verified)

7 years ago

I am planting my first daffodils -- I always heard to put 3-5 bulbs per hole, but at the nursery they said 1 bulb per hole -- which is correct? I would like to have substantial showing of daffodils.