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

Hi, Jeanne: The best thing to do is give them some time. You don’t say whether you have any leaves at all. Daffs need to keep their leaves as long as possible in order to collect energy for the following year’s growth, so without that happening last year, the bulbs may just be too tuckered out right now. You might sprinkle a teaspoon of bonemeal and the same amount of bulb fertilizer in the vicinity of each bulb just to give a little added nourishment. Do this again in the early fall after summer rainfall has washed the nutrients down into the soil, then keep your fingers crossed that they will be bringing you flowers next year. Thanks for asking!

SIMON HAMBIDGE (not verified)

7 years 8 months ago

hi we have noticed this year that the bulbs that have been planted for many years have different heads on them this year

Sue Crissman (not verified)

7 years 8 months ago

I know nothing about gardening. We just moved into a home that has a few patches of lovely daffodils. They have mostly bloomed (we live in NC). Now, the tips of the stems have a small bulb like growth. What does that mean? Will they bloom again? Should I cut those stems back?

I had a good bloom this year but I am now dead heading them and I am finding quick a few buds that didn't bloom. Any info on this ?

These are seedpods. These pods need to turn brown and dry up. When the pod is totally dry you can brake it open. You will find small black seeds in the pod. These can be planted in pots indoors, if you like. It may take weeks for the seeds to germinate. When the seedlings get bigger move them to bigger containers. It may take 3 to 5 years before these daffodils will bloom. For your daffs in the ground, wait until the leaves have turned brown/yellow and then cut to the ground.

David U. Harmon (not verified)

7 years 8 months ago

Our church, Wye Mountain United Methodist Church, has 7 acres of Daffodils that need transplanting. Most have been in the ground since 1948. Can you suggest an easy way for our older congregation to transplant. We are on Facebook @ Daffodils on Wye Mountain. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, David, We caught a glimpse of your church and daff fields on Google. That’s a lot of flowers! The method for lifting is the same for all ages; sorry, there is not easy way that we know of.

We would recommend contacting your local newspaper and radio stations and using them as channels to communicate with folks in your area about enlisting some volunteers outside of your congregation but in your community鈥攇et the local media to write it up and/or talk about it on air. Perhaps you could offer to let people take home a few fistfuls of bulbs for helping out? Who wouldn’t appreciate that! Remember that any that get replanted will, in a few years, reproduce even more bulbs anyway. Keep in mind that the best time to lift (dig up) the daffs is after the flower has wilted/gone and the foliage has began to die back (wilt). Also consider that daffs that have been in the ground will come up in clumps that should be set aside to dry and then separated for replanting. (Oh, replanting: that’s a project about as big as lifting this many bulbs!) We’d help if we were closer!

Jdiddla (not verified)

7 years 8 months ago

My girlfriend and I just bought a house near Indianapolis. A few weeks ago daffodils popped up and started flowering. We have had frost since then and we are about a month away from the last frost. Are they going to be alright? There are thick patches and the bulbs need to be separated and evened out. Can I do this now, or when is the best time to do it? Lastly, I would like to fill in the empty spots with more flowers. What flowers grow well with daffodils in my area?

Hi, Jdiddla: Daffodils are one of the most robust plants out there, so they will be fine. You could divide your daffs now, but usually it’s best to wait until after they are spent. To fill in, there are any number of flowers that would work well in your Zone 5b/6a, but look for ones whose blooms will arrive just as the daffs are fading … for example, daylilies and poppies. Thanks for asking and good luck!

pacmom (not verified)

7 years 8 months ago

My daffodils came back pale. How can I restore their original gorgeous yellow color