Bulb

When to Plant Daffodils

Deer-proof, squirrel-proof, and virtually indestructible. Daffodils naturalize and multiply, coming back bigger each year.

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Low once planted

Days to Harvest

150-180

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

Frost Tolerance

very high

The Short Answer

Daffodils are planted in fall, 8 weeks before your first frost date. They need winter cold to trigger their spring bloom. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Daffodils

Daffodils are the most reliable spring bulb — plant them once and they'll bloom for decades, multiplying each year. Unlike tulips, squirrels and deer leave daffodils completely alone because every part of the plant is toxic. For the longest seasonal display, plant early, mid, and late varieties: February Gold (early), Carlton (mid), and Thalia (late) will give you six weeks of bloom. After flowering, let the foliage yellow naturally for 6 weeks — this is when the bulb stores energy for next year's bloom. Braiding or rubber-banding the leaves is fine cosmetically but don't cut them.

Fall Planting

Daffodils are planted in fall, 8 weeks before your average first frost date. Plant 6" deep, 6" apart.

Growing Tips

Let foliage die back naturally after blooming — it feeds next year's flowers. Plant at 3x the bulb's height deep.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Tulips Hyacinths Grape Hyacinths

Daffodils Planting Dates by State

Click your state for daffodils planting dates specific to your location:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026