Daffodil bulbs
Daffodil bulbs for a cheerful spring, from the dwarf daffodil Tête-à-Tête to fragrant Thalia. Mice leave them alone and they come back every year. Plant them this autumn in borders, lawns or pots. Daffodil bulbs for a cheerful spring, from the dwarf daffodil Tête-...
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Daffodil bulbs: the brightest sign that spring is here
When the first daffodils open their golden trumpets, you know winter is on its way out. Plant daffodil bulbs in autumn and you'll have flowers from February well into May: from dwarf daffodils in a pot by the front door to tall trumpet varieties lighting up the lawn. This collection includes early and late varieties, single and double flowers, in yellow, white, cream and soft apricot.
Daffodils are also among the most reliable bulbs you can grow. Mice and voles leave them alone, they shrug off a hard winter and, in the right spot, they come back every year, often with more flowers than before. Below you'll find when and how deep to plant, which varieties suit your garden and what to do once they've finished. Looking for other bulbs as well? Browse our full range of flower bulbs.
Why grow daffodils?
If you buy daffodil bulbs once, you'll enjoy them for years. Here's what makes them special:
- Rodent-proof: the bulbs contain compounds that rodents dislike, so mice and voles won't eat them, unlike tulips and crocuses.
- Back every year: daffodils naturalise well and spread over time. Plant once and enjoy them for years.
- Early colour: the first varieties open in February, when the rest of the garden is still bare.
- For every spot: in borders, lawns, under trees and in pots and containers.
- Scent: varieties such as Thalia and the pheasant's eye daffodil Recurvus have a lovely, delicate fragrance.
When to plant daffodil bulbs
The best time to plant daffodil bulbs is from September to November. They go in earlier than tulips because they like to put down roots in autumn. The sooner they're in the ground, the better they settle before winter, so September and October are ideal, especially for early varieties such as February Gold and Tête-à-Tête.
Daffodil bulbs: UK and Irish planting times
In most UK and Irish gardens, aim to have daffodils planted by the end of October. Running late? As long as the ground isn't frozen, you can still plant in November and even December. They'll flower a little later and perhaps less generously in the first year, but they'll make up for it the following spring.
How deep to plant daffodil bulbs
Daffodils follow the same rule as other bulbs: plant at two to three times the height of the bulb. For large daffodils that's about 15 cm deep; dwarf daffodils such as Tête-à-Tête need 8 to 10 cm. If in doubt, go slightly deeper rather than too shallow: deeper planting keeps them sturdy and flowering well for longer.
Planting daffodils in five steps
- Choose the spot: daffodils like sun to partial shade. They also do well under deciduous trees, as they flower before the trees come into leaf.
- Check the drainage: the soil can be moist but not waterlogged. Work some grit or compost into heavy clay.
- Pointed end up: set the bulbs nose up, 10 to 15 cm apart.
- Plant in drifts: daffodils look best in groups of ten or more. Allow 25 to 50 large daffodils per square metre, and up to twice as many dwarf ones.
- Firm in: backfill with soil and firm gently. Nature does the rest.
When do daffodils flower?
The daffodil season is a long one, from February to May. February Gold and Tête-à-Tête are first, often opening in time for St David's Day. In March and April the larger yellow and white varieties such as Carlton and Mount Hood follow, along with the double daffodils. Thalia flowers in April, and the pheasant's eye Recurvus closes the season in May.
Combine early and late varieties and you'll have daffodils in flower for months. They also pair beautifully with other spring bulbs: plant them with blue crocuses for an early contrast, or with tulips to carry the display through April and May.
Which daffodils should you choose?
There's far more to daffodils than the classic yellow trumpet. Our range includes narcissus bulbs for every spot and every taste.
Dwarf daffodils: Tête-à-Tête and White Petticoat
Tête-à-Tête is the best-known of the dwarf daffodils: around 15 to 20 cm tall, golden yellow and often with two or three flowers per stem. Perfect for pots, window boxes and the front of a border. White Petticoat is a dainty white daffodil with a flower shaped like a hooped petticoat, ideal for a rockery or a sunny patch of grass.
Early daffodils: February Gold
February Gold lives up to its name. This golden daffodil with slightly swept-back petals is one of the first to open and naturalises beautifully in grass and under shrubs.
Large daffodils: Carlton, Mount Hood and Large Cupped mix
Carlton is a classic bright yellow daffodil with a large cup on a sturdy stem. Mount Hood is a trumpet daffodil that opens creamy yellow and fades to pure white. The Large Cupped mix gives you a varied group of large-cupped daffodils in different shades.
Double daffodils: Golden Ducat, Ice King and Replete
Double daffodils have full, rich flowers. Golden Ducat is deep yellow, Ice King combines white petals with a ruffled creamy-yellow centre, and Replete has a striking salmon-pink heart. Prefer a combination? Choose the Double mix.
Botanical and scented daffodils: Thalia and Recurvus
Thalia is an elegant white daffodil with two or three nodding, fragrant flowers per stem. Recurvus, also known as pheasant's eye, has white petals around a small yellow eye rimmed with red, and a wonderful scent. The Botanical White mix brings the same natural, understated look to your garden.
Daffodils for every spot in the garden
Naturalising daffodils in lawns and under trees
Daffodils are made for naturalising. Scatter a handful of bulbs over the grass and plant them where they land for a natural look. Don't mow until the foliage has turned yellow, usually about six weeks after flowering. For more bulbs that spread on their own, take a look at our naturalising bulbs.
In borders
In a border, plant daffodils in groups between perennials. As the perennials grow, their leaves hide the fading daffodil foliage. Combine them with hyacinths for colour and scent in the same spot.
In pots and on the balcony
Dwarf daffodils such as Tête-à-Tête are a favourite for pots and containers. Choose a pot with a drainage hole and a layer of crocks at the bottom, for example from our outdoor pots and baskets. You can also layer them with other bulbs, or go for a ready-made bulb mix.
What to do with daffodils after flowering
Daffodils are easy-going, but a few simple steps after flowering will keep them looking good for years:
- Deadhead: snip off the faded flowers so the plant doesn't put energy into seed.
- Leave the leaves: the foliage feeds the bulb for next year. Only cut or mow it once it's yellow, and don't fold or knot it.
- Feed lightly: a little bulb fertiliser or compost after flowering helps the bulb build up reserves.
- Divide crowded clumps: if a group flowers less after a few years, lift it once the foliage has died back, split the bulbs and replant them in autumn.
- Give pot daffodils a second life: daffodils bought in a pot in spring can be planted in the garden after flowering, rootball and all. They'll flower there again next year.
All parts of the daffodil are toxic if eaten. Keep bulbs out of reach of pets and young children, and never store them with onions. If you put daffodils in a vase, stand the stems on their own for a few hours first: the sap they release makes other flowers wilt sooner.
Order your daffodil bulbs from Green Bubble
✔ Fresh from the grower
✔ Early, late, dwarf and double daffodils
✔ Rodent-proof and back every year
✔ Personal advice from our Personal Plantshopper
Plant your daffodils this autumn and enjoy a spring full of yellow and white, year after year. Not sure which varieties suit your garden? Our Personal Plantshopper is happy to help you choose.
