Daffodil (Narcissus)
Daffodils (Narcissus) are one of the most cultivated bulbs for spring flowering. They are beautiful and very easy to grow.
There are over 50 species and thousands of registered cultivars so daffodils are more than just the pretty yellow flowers.
Daffodils are very long-lived perennial bulbous plants. The flowers bloom in spring and this plant can easily naturalize and live for many years in the garden.
They have semi-erect to arching basal leaves. The flowers have six petals surrounding a cup, which can be round, flat, or trumpeted.
Petals are usually yellow or white. Trumpets can be yellow, orange, green, red or pink.
Most daffodils need a period of cold, but some divisions of daffodils can be grown in warmer climates with appropriate watering.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: DaffodilScientific name: Narcissus
Plant type: Bulbs
Flower color: Orange, White, Yellow
Season of interest: Spring
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Informal Garden, Patio & Container Garden, Wildflower meadow
Planting type: Containers & Pots, Cut Flowers, Flower borders and bedding
Sunlight
Daffodils appreciate a full sun to partial shade position.
Daffodil Flowering Time
Daffodils flower during the spring, but you can extend their bloom period by planting with some weeks of gap so they will bloom in different times. You can also plant different varieties that have different blooming times.
Soil
Daffodils prefer a neutral to slightly acidic soil. Like most of the bulbs they require excellent drainage or they will rot.
As daffodils will naturalize and can survive for many years, chose a place where they will not be waterlogged.
How to plant
The bulbs should be planted pointing the end up. As a rule of thumb, bulbs should be planted twice as deep as they are wide.
You should use a well draining soil, or the bulbs can rot. This can be added to the rules of thumb for bulbs: good drainage.
You can add bulb fertilizer at planting time so they get a good start. Water well after planting and whenever the soil dries out.
Daffodils (Narcissus) naturalized under a birch
Propagation
Daffodils will live and flower for decades with no division needs. Although if you want to divide your daffodil bulbs, lift them after they have finished flowering and replant.
