Daffodils: when to plant the bulbs, why they stop flowering and how to use them in a vase

In brief: Plant daffodil bulbs as soon as possible, ideally in September, at the latest by the end of October, to a depth of three times the height of the bulb (usually 12–15 cm). After flowering leave the leaves for at least 6 weeks until they turn yellow. The whole plant is poisonous, most of all the bulb, which can be mistaken for a kitchen onion.

The daffodil is the most reliable spring bulb. Unlike large-flowered tulips, it flowers year after year in the same place, the clumps slowly spread, and rodents and deer leave the bulbs alone. All you need is to plant it in good time and deep enough, and to leave the leaves after flowering.

In this article we focus on how the daffodil differs from other bulbs: when exactly to plant, how to choose a group by flower shape, why after years it stops flowering and what to do so that it does not ruin your bouquet in a vase.

September is the month of daffodils

Daffodils begin forming roots earlier than tulips, already at the end of summer. So plant them among the first, right after snowdrops and crocuses, ideally in September. On the internet you occasionally find advice to wait until the second half of October, when the soil cools. The British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommends the opposite: plant in September, because bulbs planted in good time have stronger roots and flower better right in the first spring.

If you did not manage to plant the bulbs by October, plant them as long as the soil is not frozen. Late daffodils will flower, just with shorter stems and a little later. Worse is leaving the bulbs lying in a warm flat, where they dry out. Before you plant them, store them in a cool, dry place in an airy bag. The overall autumn planting calendar and the order of bulbs can be found in the article autumn planting of bulbs.

Daffodil groups by flower shape

Daffodils are sorted into 13 groups by flower shape and origin. Suppliers' catalogues commonly list them, and from the name of the group you can tell what to expect of a variety.

By combining groups you extend the flowering from the March miniatures right into May. For planting in a lawn the most reliable are trumpet, large-cupped and poeticus daffodils. An overview of other bulbs that go well with daffodils is given in the article bulbs and tuberous plants.

How to plant daffodils in a bed

1. Choose a sunny place or partial shade under deciduous trees. In the shade of evergreens daffodils gradually stop flowering.
2. Feel the bulbs. Discard soft bulbs, bulbs with a pinkish-white coating at the base or with rot; they may carry Fusarium rot.
3. Loosen the soil to a depth of 25–30 cm. Mix coarse sand into heavy clay and compost into sandy soil. Do not use fresh manure.
4. Measure the height of the bulb and make the hole three times as deep. For ordinary bulbs this comes to 12–15 cm, for miniature varieties 8–10 cm.
5. Lay the bulbs tip upwards in groups of 5–10, about two bulb widths apart.
6. Cover, press down and water so that the soil settles against the base of the bulbs and no air pockets remain.
7. Mark the spot. Daffodils are invisible until spring and are easily damaged with a spade.

In a lawn plant equally deep. Daffodils are taller than crocuses, so put them at the edge of the lawn, under trees or in places that you will not mow before June.

Why a daffodil stops flowering

Gardeners call clumps that send up only leaves "blind daffodils". The cause can almost always be found:

The leaves were removed too early

After flowering the leaves replenish the bulb's reserves for the next year. If you mow them, trim them or tie them in a knot before they turn yellow, the bulb will not set a flower next year. Wait at least 6 weeks after flowering.

The clump is overcrowded

After 4–6 years the bulbs in a clump crowd each other and flower less. Lift the clump when the leaves turn yellow, divide it and replant to the right depth, even only in autumn.

The bulbs are too shallow or in dry soil

Bulbs planted shallowly divide into small bulbs that do not flower. Daffodils also need moisture in spring, when the flower for the following year forms. In a dry April water them.

Rot or a pest

Fusarium rot shows as yellowing leaves and a soft bulb with a brown core. The larva of the large narcissus bulb fly eats the bulb from inside, and the clump then sends up only a few thin leaves. Throw away affected bulbs and do not plant daffodils in the same place for several years.

Daffodils in a vase

Cut daffodils when the bud is coloured and bent to the side. The cut stem exudes a slime that clogs the vessels of other flowers. So first stand them for several hours, ideally overnight, in a vase of their own. Then move them to the tulips and other flowers and do not trim the stems again, or the slime will flow again. Further principles of caring for cut flowers are described in the article how to keep plants beautiful in a vase for a long time.

The same slime irritates the skin. Anyone who cuts or sorts daffodils in large quantities may get red and itchy hands. So wear gloves when working with both flowers and bulbs.

Poison in the bulb: a daffodil is not a kitchen onion

Daffodils contain the alkaloid lycorine and other substances typical of the Amaryllidaceae family. The whole plant is poisonous, most of all the bulb. Poisonings most often result from mix-ups: a daffodil bulb stored in the pantry next to kitchen onions, or daffodil leaves picked instead of leek or wild garlic. It shows as vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. So store bulbs until planting away from the kitchen, in a labelled bag.

Daffodils are also poisonous to dogs, cats and horses. After eating a bulb there is a risk of vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea, and with a large amount also tremors and heart rhythm disturbances. A dog that digs up a freshly planted bed in autumn is a typical situation. If you suspect poisoning of a child, call the Toxicological Information Centre on 224 919 293 or 224 915 402, and for an animal a vet.

The toxicity has an advantage as well. Voles and mice do not eat daffodil bulbs, so daffodils are suitable where rodents destroy your tulips.

Frequently asked questions

When are daffodils planted?

In autumn, ideally in September, at the latest by the end of October. If you do not manage it, plant the bulbs as long as the soil is not frozen. Daffodils bought in a pot in spring should be planted out at once.

How deep should I plant daffodils?

To a depth of three times the height of the bulb, for ordinary bulbs 12–15 cm, for miniature ones 8–10 cm. In light soil rather deeper.

What should I do with daffodils after flowering?

Snap off the spent flowers so that the plant does not form seed, but leave the leaves for at least 6 weeks until they turn yellow. Do not tie or mow them. After that you can remove them.

Do daffodils have to be dug up every year?

No. Daffodils stay in the ground and the clumps spread. They are dug up only after 4–6 years, when they stop flowering, and divided at once.

Are daffodils poisonous to dogs and cats?

Yes, the whole plant, most of all the bulb. After eating it, vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea appear. If you suspect poisoning, contact a vet.

Why do daffodils in a vase kill other flowers?

The cut stems of daffodils exude a slime that clogs the stems of other flowers. Leave the daffodils in a vase of their own for several hours and then add them to the bouquet without trimming them again.

Recommended products

• Double garden daffodil, mix of 5 pcs – bulbs in stock for September and October planting; plant double flowers in a sheltered spot.
• Bulb basket, 26 cm diameter – makes it easier to lift and divide the clump after years when the daffodils have thickened.
• Bone meal 500 g – a slow-release feed in the hole without an excess of nitrogen, which promotes only leaves.
• Planting trowel – for deep holes of 12–15 cm, especially in a lawn and among roots.
• Rembrandt tulip, mix of 5 pcs – follows on from the flowering of daffodils, planted a few weeks later.

Sources

• Royal Horticultural Society: How to grow daffodils
• Royal Horticultural Society: Narcissus basal rot
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)
• Toxicological Information Centre, General University Hospital in Prague

Updated: 27 September 2026