How to Grow Daffodil Flower Bulbs

About Growing Daffodil Flower Bulbs for Beautiful Spring Blooms

Ah, don’t you just love Daffodils? They are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring. You’ll just love growing daffodils, as they bring a promise of warmer weather, along with a burst of color to the still grey landscape of your yard and flowerbeds. A member of the Narcissus family, Daffodils flowers originated in the woods of Europe. And, growing daffodil bulbs is easy. These Fall planted, spring-blooming flowers are certain to brighten up a drab early spring landscape with their cheery blooms.

It’s amazing how easy they are to grow. Just pop a bulb or two into your flower bed in the fall, and Voila….. They awaken brightly in the spring shortly after the snow melts! Daffodils flowers grow atop a sturdy stem. While most daffodils are single blooms, there are some attractive twin bloom varieties.

Also, they are great for forcing Daffodil bulbs to bloom indoors. As you already know, they are very popular cut and put in vases, too.

Daffodils are squirrel-proof bulbs. Squirrels, chipmunks, and other rodents do not like the taste of the bulbs in the Narcissus family. And, deer do not bother them either. The same can not be said of many other flowering bulbs.

Flower Colors: Yellow is by far the most popular. Also, there are white, along with white and yellow varieties.

Other Names: In Medieval times, Daffodils were known as Lent Lilies, as they bloom in the early spring during the Lenten season.

Daffodil Plant Specifications

Flower Colors: Yellow is by far the most popular. Also, there are white, along with white and yellow varieties.

Flowers Bloom: Early Spring.

Plant Height: Six inches to 30 inches, depending upon variety.

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial sun.

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 6.5.

Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8.

Toxicity: Mildly toxic to humans and pets.

Native To: Europe and North Africa.

Plant Type: Perennial, bulb.

Botanical Name: Narcissus

Are Daffodil Bulbs and Plants Edible?

NO!! They are mildly toxic to humans and pets.

It contains an alkaloid called Lycorine which causes diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Consuming the bulb can cause severe mouth and stomach irritation.

Keep Daffodil bulbs and plants away from young children and pets.

Medicinal Uses for Daffodil Bulbs and Plants

There is some promising research being performed on the use of galantamine extracted from daffodil bulbs. While the benefits are promising, we stress it is in the research and study phase.

Here are the three potential applications:

It may be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The University of Copenhagen is using daffodil compounds to treat depression.
A Chinese study suggests these compounds may kill some types of cancer cells.

Stay tuned to the news for hopefully future success of these research studies.

Light Requirements

Daffodils grow best in full sun. Most of their growing season is late winter or early spring, when the leaves are not yet on trees, and other plants have not yet begun to grow and compete for sunlight. Also, they grow well in partial sunlight. That’s why homeowners often plant them right under shade trees that have not yet sprouted leaves.

It important that the planting location receives sufficient sunlight after the flowers have died back and up to when the plant dies off naturally. During this period, the leaves generate energy and send it back to store in the bulbs underground for next year’s blooms.

Daffodil Flower Plant Propagation

Daffodils are grown from bulbs. Select quality bulbs that have not dried out. The larger the Daffodil bulb, the bigger the plant and flower next spring.

Before planting inspect each daffodil bulb. If it is dried up and hollow, or soft and mushy, the bulbs is not viable. Discard it. Daffodils look their best in groups. Plant anywhere from 3 to ten bulbs in groups.

The bulb you plant becomes the “mother” bulb”. Baby Bulbs will appear and grow under and to the side of the mother bulb. They can be separated and replanted in another area. Or, give some to your gardening friends!

Over a few years, the number of bulbs has multiplied to the point they are over-crowding each other. As a result, the daffodils plants and flowers will grow smaller. Dig up the bulbs. Then, separate and replant them.

How to Grow Daffodil Flowers

Daffodil bulbs are planted in the fall. Plant them about two to four weeks before the ground freezes to allow the roots time to develop underground.

Plant the bulbs 6-8 inches deep. Space plants three to six inches apart. Note: The plants tolerate some crowding.

Sprinkle a little bulb fertilizer in the hole during planting. For established beds, spread the fertilizer on top of the soil. You can work it in lightly, but you risk damaging the bulbs.

As natives to woodland areas, Daffodils will grow well in shade to full sun.

After they bloom in the spring, allow the plants to grow until they die off. They need time after blooming to store energy in the bulb for next year. To remove the dead plant, either snip them off at the base or twist the leaves while pulling lightly.

Also see: Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures.

Pruning Daffodil Plants

Daffodil plants need no pruning. If you remove a leave, a new one will not grow back this season. However, if a leave is dead or dying, it makes sense to remove it.

After the blooming period, avoid the desire to cut the plants down to the ground prematurely. The leaves are sending energy to the bulb, to store for next year’s bloom. When the leaves die off, or you just can’t stand the unsightly leaves in your garden a minute longer, Cut them back to the ground.

Now, the bulbs are energized and ready to grow daffodil flowers again next spring.

Insects and Plant Disease

Daffodils experience few insect and plant diseases.

Overwintering Daffodil Bulbs

Daffodil bulbs are winter hardy. When planted at the proper depth, your bulbs will overwinter just fine in most areas.

In the coldest of regions, you may opt to cover the planting area with a layer of mulch. But, rake off the mulch as soon are the temperature begins to moderate.