When to plant daffodils
hardy bulb
The short answer
Daffodils are planted in the fall, once the soil has cooled and well before the ground freezes. The exact window depends on your region - the rules below come from state extension services.
See the rules for your region, or the full bulb planting guide.
When to plant daffodils where you live
No single date works everywhere. These are the fall planting rules published by state extension services, quoted for the state each one covers.
| Minnesota | Usually mid-September to mid-October, so roots grow before the ground freezes. (University of Minnesota) |
| Colorado | Late September is preferred and September and October are the best months. Bulbs planted after October may not root well enough to flower evenly in spring. (Colorado State) |
| Iowa | October is ideal. Procrastinators can plant as late as December if the ground is not frozen. (Iowa State) |
| Wisconsin | Plant when the ground cools to about 50-55°F or lower (but is not frozen), and keep planting until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes. (University of Wisconsin) |
| South Carolina | Daffodils in October or November. Other spring bulbs only once the soil at planting depth stays below 60°F. On the coast, most bulbs go in late December or early January. (Clemson Home & Garden Information Center) |
| North Carolina | Plant in fall to build roots and meet the cold requirement, which ranges from six to 20 weeks depending on species or cultivar. Wait until the soil at planting depth is below 60°F. (NC State) |
| Missouri | Spring-blooming bulbs should be planted in October so they go through a cooling process over the winter. Daffodils are the best choice for Missouri because they handle the warmer temperatures and keep blooming year after year. (University of Missouri) |
| Georgia | Spring-flowering bulbs can be planted from October through late December in most areas. (University of Georgia) |
| Michigan | Many Michigan nurseries recommend a cutoff of late October for getting bulbs into the ground, because planting recommendations depend mainly on soil temperature. For bulbs that miss it, MSU Extension suggests a sheltered spot, a thicker mulch, or refrigerator chilling (for most bulbs, 14-16 weeks below 45°F). (Michigan State) |
Planting depth and spacing
| Bulb | Depth (inches) | Spacing (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| Daffodil (trumpet, large-cupped) | 6-8 | 6-8 |
| Daffodil (miniature) | 3-5 | 4-6 |
From Iowa State Extension; depth is measured from the base of the bulb to the soil surface. Plant with the pointed end up.
What extension services say
- Daffodils are hardy spring bulbs planted in the fall; Minnesota's usual window is mid-September to mid-October. University of Minnesota Extension ↗
- In South Carolina, plant daffodils in October or November. Clemson Home & Garden Information Center ↗
- October is the ideal planting month in Iowa. Iowa State University Extension ↗
- Daffodils tend to live longer than tulips in heavy soils, and are poisonous to chipmunks and squirrels, so they are less likely to be dug up. University of Wisconsin Extension ↗
- Forced daffodils can be saved and planted outdoors in the fall, unlike forced tulips and hyacinths. Iowa State University Extension ↗
- Daffodils are more hardy than tulips in North Carolina and usually come back year after year with minimal care. NC State Extension ↗
Questions gardeners ask
When should you plant daffodil bulbs?
In fall. Clemson says October or November in South Carolina; Iowa State says October is ideal in Iowa.
How deep do you plant daffodils?
Large daffodils 6-8 inches deep and miniatures 3-5 inches, measured from the base of the bulb (Iowa State).
Do daffodils come back every year?
Usually. NC State says daffodils are more hardy than tulips there and return year after year with minimal care.
Sources
- Iowa State University Extension: Selecting and Planting Spring-Blooming Bulbs
- Clemson Home & Garden Information Center: Spring-Flowering Bulbs (HGIC 1155)
- University of Minnesota Extension: Planting bulbs, tubers and rhizomes
- University of Wisconsin Extension: Plant Bulbs Now for Spring Color
- NC State Extension: Extension Gardener Handbook: Herbaceous Ornamentals
- Colorado State University Extension: Fall-Planted Bulbs and Corms
- University of Missouri Extension: Countdown to beautiful spring flowers begins now
- University of Georgia Extension: Flowering Bulbs for Georgia Gardens
- Michigan State University Extension: Is it too late to plant bulbs?
Extension advice is local to the state that wrote it. Where the sources differ, both are shown. Dates in the tables are estimates from typical frost dates; your garden’s own last frost can differ by a week or more. How we source data.