🎺 Daffodil
Narcissus spp.
The cheerful trumpet that deer won't touch and squirrels won't dig.
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Days to harvest
Fall-planted bulbs; blooms late winter–spring
Spacing
6 inches apart, 3x bulb depth
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
How to grow
Plant bulbs in fall, pointy end up — in Florida zones 8–9, choose low-chill varieties ('Grand Primo', tazettas) or pre-chill bulbs 8–10 weeks in the fridge. North of zone 8 they're plant-and-forget perennials that multiply. Never braid or cut the foliage until it yellows.
Water & feeding
Water after planting; winter/spring rain handles the rest. Summer dormancy wants dry soil.
Common problems
- Blind buds (no flowers) — usually insufficient chill or planted too shallow
- Basal rot in soggy soil
- Narcissus bulb fly (maggots in bulbs)
Harvest
Cut for bouquets when buds show color but haven't opened — they'll open indoors. Deadhead spent blooms but leave every leaf until it flops naturally.
Nerdy fact: Daffodils are poisonous — all parts contain lycorine, which is why deer, rabbits, and squirrels leave them alone. It's the garden's way of saying 'look, don't nibble.'