Narcissus (Daffodil) - Key Growing Information

LIGHT PREFERENCE: Sun/Part Shade Sun or partial sun. Narcissus tolerate part shade, especially during hot weather. Plants require at least 5–6 hours of sun per day at the time of bloom.
PLANT HEIGHT: Varies by variety.
PLANT SPACING: 1–6" apart. Wider spacing allows room for bulbs to multiply. Do not break apart bulb clumps that have smaller bulbs attached at the base. Plant them as an intact cluster.
HARDINESS ZONES: See individual varieties.
VASE LIFE: 4–6 days. The sap of daffodils can be toxic to other types of flowers. If you plan to use them in a mixed arrangement, allow the daffodils to sit in their own water for 12–24 hours before combining them with other flowers.
STORAGE TEMPERATURE: 32-35°F (0-2°C) optimal storage temperature.
HARVEST: To get a long stem and reduce the amount of sap released, harvest by reaching to the base of the stem and pulling gently. Avoid taking leaves when harvesting flowers; the plants need the leaves to manufacture energy for next year's blooms. Continue to irrigate plants even after the bloom period to ensure development of the bulbs for next year's flowers. Deadhead any blooms you do not harvest. Wait until the plant leaves have turned brown before mowing over.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Bulbs require a well-drained soil with pH 6.0–7.0. Amend the soil according to soil test results and as necessary to adjust the pH and optimize drainage. Planting in raised beds or the addition of compost can improve drainage. Avoid excess nitrogen and fresh manure.
NOTES: Irrigate plantings regularly during dry spells, even after plants have stopped blooming; the plants need water to form the bulbs that will create next year's flowers. Well-maintained plantings of daffodil bulbs should remain productive year after year. Daffodil bulbs multiply; in time one bulb will become a clump of bulbs. Dig up and divide the clumps of bulbs every 4–5 years. The best time to dig the bulbs is after the plants have fully died back, in late summer. Replant bulbs immediately.
Scientific Name:
Narcissus spp.
Alternate Common Names:
Daffodil, daffadowndilly, Narcissus, jonquil.