How to Grow Daffodil
Daffodil At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -34°C
Plant Family
Amaryllidaceae
Growing Season
Cool Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Plant dry bulbs in early fall, about 6 weeks before your first fall frost, so they grow roots before the ground freezes. Set each bulb pointy end up, 15 cm deep and about 12 cm apart, in sun or light shade. Water once after planting, then leave them alone: they flower the next spring and come back for years.
Daffodils are the easiest spring bulb: plant them once and they come back and multiply for years. Squirrels, deer and mice leave them alone, unlike tulips, because every part of the plant is poisonous.
When To Start
Daffodil likes cool weather. Sow it in early spring, as soon as the ground can be worked.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Daffodil?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Daffodil Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Daffodil Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant daffodil bulbs 15 cm deep, pointy end up
45 days before your first frost· every year
Enjoy your daffodils and leave the leaves for 6 weeks
Around your last frost· every year· optional
Water your new daffodil plants well while they settle in. Deep and slow is best.
About 1 days after you plant it
Hello from your daffodil bed! The bulbs are making roots now, and shoots usually wait until spring.
About 30 days after you plant it
Daffodil check! Leave the spot undisturbed so the bulbs can push up when it warms.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Daffodil's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Plant daffodils where they get full sun or light shade in spring while their leaves are growing.
- 2Give them soil that drains well, with some compost mixed in, because bulbs rot in soggy ground.
- 3Water after planting in fall and during a dry spring, then let them dry out in summer.
- 4Spread a thin layer of compost over the clumps after they flower to feed next year's blooms.
- 5Let the leaves yellow and die back on their own for at least 6 weeks after flowering, and never tie, braid or cut them while they are green.
- 6Every part of a daffodil is poisonous to people, cats and dogs, so keep bulbs away from children and pets and never mistake them for onions.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
40 cm
Mature Height
15 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
When to Pick
Blooms early-mid spring; leave the foliage at least six weeks after flowering
How to Harvest
- 1Cut daffodils for a vase when the buds have bent over and show colour but have not opened yet.
- 2Their stems ooze a sap that makes other flowers wilt, so stand them alone in water for a few hours before mixing them with other flowers.
- 3In the garden, snap off faded flowers so the plant does not waste energy on seed.
- 4Leave the leaves until they turn yellow and flop, at least 6 weeks after flowering.
- 5Every few years, dig up and divide clumps that have grown crowded and flower less.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
Still have a question?
Ask your coach about your daffodil.
This page covers what we thought to write down. Your daffodil will do something it never mentions, and that is the day a coach beats a guide. Ask Coach Lumen one question right now, free, no account.
