Daffodil · last checked 2026-10-11
When to plant daffodil bulbs: fall timing, depth and spacing
Daffodils go in as bulbs in the fall. In the South, the Extension page we read plants them earlier than other spring bulbs and treats them as one of the most dependable bulbs to leave in the ground.
Each line below names the Extension service it comes from and links to their page. Where services give different advice, both are listed.
When to plant
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says in South Carolina, daffodils are planted in October or November, ahead of other spring bulbs, which should hold off until planting-depth soil stays below 60 °F. Spring-Flowering Bulbs (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-10-11
- Colorado State University Extension says fall-planted bulbs go in during September and October; anything set out after October may bloom unevenly. Fall-Planted Bulbs and Corms · checked 2026-10-11
- Illinois Extension says fall is the best time for hardy spring bulbs, and for most of them planting can carry on until the ground is frozen. Planting Bulbs (Flowers) · checked 2026-10-11
Annual or perennial
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says daffodils are the most dependable of the popular spring bulbs for naturalizing in the South; jonquil, tazetta, poeticus and species types grow reliably across South Carolina. Spring-Flowering Bulbs (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-10-11
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says divide large daffodils and thin crowded clumps every three or four years to keep them blooming well. Spring-Flowering Bulbs (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-10-11
- Illinois Extension says dig and replant daffodils every five years so they do not get overcrowded. Planting Bulbs (Flowers) · checked 2026-10-11
Sun and soil
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says daffodils need at least six hours of sun a day while their leaves are up. Spring-Flowering Bulbs (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-10-11
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says plant daffodils where the soil drains well. Spring-Flowering Bulbs (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-10-11
Spacing
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says set daffodil bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep, a little shallower for small species bulbs; bulbs planted too shallow can bloom sparsely. Spring-Flowering Bulbs (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-10-11
- Illinois Extension says large bulbs such as daffodils go about 8 inches deep, nose pointing up and root plate down. Planting Bulbs (Flowers) · checked 2026-10-11
- Colorado State University Extension says allow 4 to 6 inches between large bulbs such as daffodils. Fall-Planted Bulbs and Corms · checked 2026-10-11
When to prune
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says in spring, take off faded daffodil flowers so the plants do not set seed. Spring-Flowering Bulbs (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-10-11
- Illinois Extension says the leaves of large bulbs such as daffodils take several weeks to die back. Planting Bulbs (Flowers) · checked 2026-10-11
Timing shifts with your local climate and the plant’s variety; your state’s Extension service has the final word. See how these pages are put together.
Other flowers: Hydrangea, Lavender, Mums (garden chrysanthemums), Peony, Rose, Tulip.