Plant daffodil bulbs in fall, from early September (Zone 3) to mid-December (Zone 9), starting 3 weeks before the first fall frost and finishing at least 4 weeks before the ground freezes. Daffodils go in 2 weeks before tulips: extension guides name September for daffodils and hold tulips until the soil cools below 60°F.
In mild-winter areas, including Dallas, Houston, Austin, Savannah, Jacksonville, and Sacramento, daffodil bulbs go straight into the ground from mid-October to early or mid-December with no chilling; jonquilla, tazetta, and southern types such as ‘Carlton’ come back each spring. Where winters have fewer than 20 nights a year below 40°F, including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Los Angeles, plant paperwhites from November 15 to December 31, or chill other daffodils in the refrigerator for 8–10 weeks first. The first frost date sets the planting window, and the USDA planting zone, also called a hardiness zone or growing zone, shows which daffodils come back. When do you plant daffodil bulbs in your own garden? Enter a ZIP code below to see the daffodil planting dates for the nearest NOAA weather station.
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs by USDA Zone?
Daffodil bulb planting windows run from September 1–October 10 in Zone 3 to November 15–December 31 in Zone 10. The table lists the typical first frost date, the planting window, and the daffodil types that return each spring for USDA planting zones 3 to 10, from NOAA 1991–2020 weather-station data for every ZIP code in each zone.
| Planting zone | Plant daffodil bulbs | First frost date (typical) | Which daffodils return? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Sep 1–Oct 10 | Sep 20 (Sep 2–Sep 26) | Any type |
| Zone 4 | Sep 5–Oct 15 | Sep 26 (Sep 18–Oct 3) | Any type |
| Zone 5 | Sep 15–Oct 25 | Oct 5 (Sep 25–Oct 14) | Any type |
| Zone 6 | Sep 25–Nov 5 | Oct 15 (Oct 3–Oct 24) | Any type |
| Zone 7 | Oct 5–Nov 15 | Oct 25 (Oct 14–Nov 11) | Any type |
| Zone 8 | Oct 15–Nov 25 | Nov 4 (Oct 26–Nov 14) | Any type in 76% of ZIP codes; southern types in 24% |
| Zone 9 | Oct 15–Dec 15 | Nov 30 (Nov 13–Dec 17) | Southern types in 84% of ZIP codes; any type in 9%; paperwhites, or chill in 7% |
| Zone 10 | Nov 15–Dec 31 | Dec 25 (Dec 10–Jan 6); none in frost-free ZIP codes | Paperwhites, or chill in 78% of ZIP codes; southern types in 21%; any type in 1% |
Dates in the same zone differ because USDA zones measure winter lows, not frost timing. Zone 8 splits in 2: the Pacific Northwest, the Carolinas, north Georgia, and north Alabama grow any daffodil, while Dallas–Fort Worth, Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast choose southern types. The ZIP code tool above gives the exact window and the daffodil types for one garden.
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Zone 3?
In Zone 3, plant daffodil bulbs from September 1 to October 10. The first fall frost date is Sep 20 (Sep 2–Sep 26), so the window opens on September 1, the earliest start the site gives. 3% of Zone 3 ZIP codes, at mountain stations with frost in every month, plant in September only. More on the zone: USDA Planting Zone 3 with Map.
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Zone 4?
In Zone 4, plant daffodil bulbs from September 5 to October 15. The first fall frost date is Sep 26 (Sep 18–Oct 3). University of Minnesota Extension plants bulbs from mid-September to mid-October in cold climates, so they “grow roots before the ground freezes.” More on the zone: USDA Planting Zone 4 with Map.
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Zone 5?
In Zone 5, plant daffodil bulbs from September 15 to October 25. The first fall frost date is Oct 5 (Sep 25–Oct 14). Madison, Minneapolis, and Des Moines open their windows on September 10, 20, and 25 and plant through October, the month Iowa State University Extension calls “the ideal time to plant daffodils.” More on the zone: USDA Planting Zone 5 with Map.
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Zone 6?
In Zone 6, plant daffodil bulbs from September 25 to November 5. The first fall frost date is Oct 15 (Oct 3–Oct 24). Denver plants from mid-September, and Colorado State University Extension calls late September the “preferred time”; Chicago and Cleveland keep planting into mid-November. More on the zone: USDA Zone 6: Planting & Hardiness Map.
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Zone 7?
In Zone 7, plant daffodil bulbs from October 5 to November 15. The first fall frost date is Oct 25 (Oct 14–Nov 11). Every Zone 7 ZIP code grows any daffodil type: the Zone 7 cities in the table below have 115–160 nights a year below 40°F, more than the 12–16 weeks of cold most bulbs require. More on the zone: USDA Zone 7: Planting & Hardiness Map.
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Zone 8?
In Zone 8, plant daffodil bulbs from October 15 to November 25. The first fall frost date is Nov 4 (Oct 26–Nov 14), so the window starts on October 15, the latest start the site gives, rather than 3 weeks before the frost. 76% of Zone 8 ZIP codes, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Birmingham, and El Paso, grow any daffodil; 24%, including Dallas and much of the Gulf Coast, choose jonquilla, tazetta, or southern types such as ‘Carlton’ and ‘Ice Follies’. More on the zone: USDA zone 8 Map with its 25 states.
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Zone 9?
In Zone 9, plant daffodil bulbs from October 15 to December 15, with no chilling. 84% of Zone 9 ZIP codes, including Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Savannah, Jacksonville, Sacramento, and Fresno, have 20–89 nights a year below 40°F: enough for jonquilla, tazetta, and southern types to come back each year, too few for most modern daffodils. Seattle and Portland, Oregon, grow any daffodil type. Tampa and other ZIP codes with fewer than 20 cold nights plant paperwhites from November 15 to December 31. More on the zone: USDA Planting Zone 9 with Map.
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Zone 10?
In Zone 10, plant paperwhites and other tazetta daffodils from November 15 to December 31; chill other daffodils in the refrigerator for 8–10 weeks first and plant fresh bulbs each year. 78% of Zone 10 ZIP codes, including Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, have fewer than 20 nights a year below 40°F, and San Diego follows the same dates. 21%, including parts of Phoenix, plant southern types from October 15 to December 15. Zone 11 follows the Zone 10 dates. More on the zones: USDA Zone 10 with Map and Zone 11.
How Deep to Plant Daffodil Bulbs?
Plant daffodil bulbs 6–8 inches deep, measured from the base of the bulb to the soil surface, according to Iowa State University Extension and Clemson Cooperative Extension. The rule behind the number: plant a daffodil about 3 times as deep as the bulb is tall (Iowa State University Extension). Small cultivars such as ‘Tête-à-Tête’ go 4–6 inches deep (Iowa State University Extension). In Louisiana, LSU AgCenter plants large bulbs no more than 4–5 inches deep, because “planting too deeply also can cause bulbs to rot” in its climate; UF/IFAS Extension covers Florida bulbs with 4–5 inches of soil.
How Far Apart to Plant Daffodil Bulbs?
Plant daffodil bulbs 4–6 inches apart, according to Colorado State University Extension; Iowa State University Extension spaces most daffodils 6 inches apart and small cultivars 4 inches. Daffodils multiply into clumps, so Mississippi State University Extension leaves room for the clumps to expand. Clumps that grow too crowded stop blooming (Mississippi State University Extension); Clemson Cooperative Extension divides large daffodils every 3–4 years.
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in 44 U.S. Cities?
The table lists the first frost date, the first hard freeze, and the daffodil bulb planting window for 44 U.S. cities, from the NOAA 1991–2020 records of each city’s nearest weather station.
| City | Plant daffodil bulbs | Planting zone | First frost date (32°F) | Hard freeze (28°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bemidji, MN Cass Lake, MN | Sep 1–Oct 10 | 3b | Sep 20 | Sep 30 |
| International Falls, MN International Falls International Airport, MN | Sep 1–Sep 25 | 3b | Sep 6 | Sep 20 |
| Fargo, ND Fargo 3S, ND | Sep 5–Oct 20 | 4a | Sep 28 | Oct 6 |
| Duluth, MN Duluth, MN | Sep 5–Oct 15 | 4b | Sep 26 | Oct 6 |
| Minneapolis, MN Lower St Anthony Falls, MN | Sep 20–Oct 31 | 5a | Oct 10 | Oct 21 |
| Madison, WI UW Arboretum – Madison, WI | Sep 10–Oct 25 | 5b | Oct 3 | Oct 15 |
| Des Moines, IA Des Moines International Airport, IA | Sep 25–Nov 5 | 5b | Oct 14 | Oct 25 |
| Chicago, IL Chicago Midway Airport, IL | Oct 5–Nov 15 | 6a | Oct 26 | Nov 5 |
| Denver, CO Denver Water Dept, CO | Sep 15–Oct 25 | 6a | Oct 6 | Oct 16 |
| Grand Rapids, MI Weather Service Office Grand Rapids, MI | Sep 15–Oct 31 | 6a | Oct 8 | Oct 20 |
| Columbus, OH Columbus WCMH, OH | Sep 30–Nov 10 | 6b | Oct 20 | Oct 31 |
| Cleveland, OH Cleveland, OH | Oct 10–Nov 20 | 6b | Oct 30 | Nov 7 |
| Detroit, MI Dearborn #2, MI | Sep 30–Nov 10 | 6b | Oct 20 | Nov 1 |
| Boston, MA Jamaica Plain, MA | Sep 25–Nov 5 | 6b | Oct 16 | Oct 29 |
| Louisville, KY Louisville International Airport, KY | Oct 10–Nov 25 | 7a | Nov 2 | Nov 11 |
| St. Louis, MO Cahokia, IL | Oct 1–Nov 10 | 7a | Oct 22 | Nov 1 |
| Philadelphia, PA Pennsauken 1N, NJ | Oct 5–Nov 15 | 7b | Oct 25 | Nov 5 |
| New York City, NY New York Central Park Tower, NY | Oct 15–Dec 5 | 7b | Nov 14 | Nov 24 |
| Nashville, TN Nashville International Airport, TN | Oct 10–Nov 20 | 7b | Oct 30 | Nov 9 |
| Oklahoma City, OK Norman 2NW Mesonet, OK | Oct 10–Nov 20 | 7b | Oct 31 | Nov 7 |
| Asheville, NC Enka, NC | Sep 30–Nov 10 | 7b | Oct 19 | Oct 28 |
| Atlanta, GA Atlanta Fulton County Airport, GA | Oct 10–Nov 20 | 8a | Nov 1 | Nov 13 |
| Charlotte, NC Charlotte Douglas Airport, NC | Oct 10–Nov 20 | 8a | Oct 30 | Nov 8 |
| Raleigh, NC Clayton Water Plant, NC | Oct 10–Nov 20 | 8a | Oct 30 | Nov 8 |
| Dallas, TX Dallas Redbird Airport, TX | Oct 15–Dec 5 (southern types) | 8b | Nov 16 | Dec 1 |
| Portland, OR Portland KGW-TV, OR | Oct 15–Dec 15 | 9a | Nov 22 | Dec 7 |
| El Paso, TX El Paso International Airport, TX | Oct 15–Dec 5 | 8b | Nov 14 | Nov 24 |
| Birmingham, AL Birmingham Airport, AL | Oct 15–Nov 25 | 8b | Nov 6 | Nov 15 |
| San Antonio, TX San Antonio/Seaworld, TX | Oct 15–Dec 15 (southern types) | 9a | Nov 29 | Dec 12 |
| Austin, TX Austin 6S, TX | Oct 15–Dec 1 (southern types) | 9a | Nov 10 | Nov 23 |
| Seattle, WA Seattle Sand Point Weather Service Office, WA | Oct 15–Dec 5 | 9a | Nov 15 | Dec 1 |
| Savannah, GA Savannah International Airport, GA | Oct 15–Dec 10 (southern types) | 9a | Nov 21 | Dec 6 |
| Houston, TX Houston Sugarland Memorial, TX | Oct 15–Dec 15 (southern types) | 9b | Dec 3 | Dec 18 |
| San Jose, CA Los Gatos, CA | Oct 15–Dec 15 (southern types) | 9b | Nov 28 | Dec 10 |
| Sacramento, CA Sacramento Executive Airport, CA | Oct 15–Dec 15 (southern types) | 9b | Nov 26 | Dec 8 |
| Fresno, CA Fresno Yosemite International Airport, CA | Oct 15–Dec 15 (southern types) | 9b | Dec 6 | Dec 15 |
| Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville, FL | Oct 15–Dec 15 (southern types) | 9b | Nov 29 | Dec 13 |
| Tampa, FL Plant City, FL | Nov 15–Dec 31 (paperwhites, or chill) | 9b | Dec 28 | Jan 2 |
| Phoenix, AZ South Phoenix, AZ | Oct 15–Dec 15 (southern types) | 10a | Dec 8 | Dec 19 |
| Orlando, FL Orlando Executive Airport, FL | Nov 15–Dec 31 (paperwhites, or chill) | 10a | Jan 3 | None |
| Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Downtown USC Campus, CA | Nov 15–Dec 31 (paperwhites, or chill) | 10b | None (frost-free) | None |
| San Diego, CA San Diego Brown Field, CA | Nov 15–Dec 31 (paperwhites, or chill) | 10b | Dec 22 | None |
| Miami, FL Miami Kendall Tamiami Executive Airport, FL | Nov 15–Dec 31 (paperwhites, or chill) | 10b | None (frost-free) | None |
| San Francisco, CA San Francisco Oceanside, CA | Nov 15–Dec 31 (paperwhites, or chill) | 10b | Dec 12 | None |
“Southern types” marks cities with 20–89 nights a year below 40°F: plant jonquilla, tazetta, ‘Carlton’, or ‘Ice Follies’ in the ground with no chilling, and they come back each spring. “Paperwhites, or chill” marks cities with fewer than 20 cold nights: plant paperwhites and other tazettas as they are, or chill other daffodils in the refrigerator for 8–10 weeks and plant fresh bulbs each year. In 7 of 10 years, the first frost comes after the date shown; the same dates appear on the First and Last Frost Dates by ZipCode page.
How to Find the Daffodil Planting Date for a ZIP Code?
To find the daffodil planting date for a ZIP code, use the tool at the top of this page in 3 steps:
- Enter the 5-digit ZIP code and select Show planting dates.
- Read the planting window: the first line gives the dates in words, and the second line gives exact dates, the planting zone, and the daffodil types that bloom there.
- Open How this date was calculated to see the first fall frost date, the nearest weather station, and its distance.
How Are Daffodil Planting Dates Calculated?
Daffodil planting dates on this page come from NOAA 1991–2020 weather-station records. For each ZIP code, the tool takes the nearest weather station’s first fall frost date (32°F; in 7 of 10 years the first frost comes later) and applies a planting rule built from university extension guidance: plant daffodil bulbs from 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after that frost, starting between September 1 and October 15 and ending by December 15. The number of nights a year below 40°F decides which daffodils return each spring. The full method is on How We Calculate Frost and Planting Dates.
| Where you garden | Daffodil planting rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cold and cool winters: 90 or more nights a year below 40°F (Zones 3–8, Seattle and Portland) | Plant any daffodil from 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost, at least 4 weeks before the ground freezes; start between September 1 and October 15, finish by December 15. | Iowa State University Extension, University of Minnesota Extension, Colorado State University Extension, Penn State Extension, University of Illinois Extension, N.C. Cooperative Extension, University of Georgia Extension |
| Mild winters: 20–89 nights below 40°F (Dallas–Fort Worth, central and south Texas, the Gulf Coast, north Florida, California valleys) | Same window, in the ground with no chilling; choose jonquilla, tazetta, or southern types such as ‘Carlton’ and ‘Ice Follies’, which come back each spring. | Clemson Cooperative Extension, LSU AgCenter, Mississippi State University Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, UF/IFAS Extension |
| Mild or frost-free winters: fewer than 20 nights below 40°F (central and south Florida, coastal California) | Plant paperwhites and other tazettas from November 15 to December 31 with no chilling; chill other daffodils in the refrigerator for 8–10 weeks first and plant fresh bulbs each year. | UF/IFAS Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, UC Master Gardeners |
| Mountain areas with frost in every month | Plant daffodil bulbs in September, at least 4 weeks before the ground freezes. | Colorado State University Extension, University of Illinois Extension |
How to Plant Daffodil Bulbs?
To plant daffodil bulbs, set them pointed end up, 6–8 inches deep and 4–6 inches apart, in full sun and well-drained soil, then water once. Iowa State University Extension and Clemson Cooperative Extension give the same depth. Planting takes 6 steps:
- Pick a site with full sun, at least 6 hours a day; daffodils tolerate part sun under deciduous trees (Iowa State University Extension).
- Choose soil that drains: “bulbs that sit in soggy ground are more likely to rot” (Mississippi State University Extension).
- Dig holes or a trench 6–8 inches deep, measured from the bottom of the bulb to the soil surface (Iowa State University Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension).
- Set each bulb with the pointed end up and the flat root base down (Iowa State University Extension, Mississippi State University Extension).
- Space bulbs 4–6 inches apart (Colorado State University Extension).
- Cover the bulbs with soil and water once to settle the soil; avoid overwatering, because daffodils “do not tolerate wet conditions” (Iowa State University Extension).
When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Pots?
Plant daffodil bulbs in pots in the same fall window as in the ground, then give the pot 12–16 weeks of cold, according to Iowa State University Extension. Oregon State University Extension sets daffodil bulbs about half an inch apart, tip up, so a 14- to 20-inch-wide pot holds 20–30 bulbs, and keeps the pot in a protected outdoor spot for its cold period. To keep the bulbs from freezing in the pot, Oregon State University Extension moves pots indoors for a while when the temperature drops below 28–30°F. After bloom, let the leaves die back in the pot to feed the bulbs (Oregon State University Extension). Where winters have fewer than 20 nights a year below 40°F, pot paperwhites as they are, or chill other daffodil bulbs in the refrigerator for 8–10 weeks before potting them in a pot or container (UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County).
Why Plant Daffodils Before Tulips?
Daffodils are planted before tulips because the extension guides name September for daffodils and hold tulips back until the soil cools. Iowa State University Extension warns that September planting makes some bulbs, such as tulips, sprout in fall; the warning names tulips, not daffodils, and University of Minnesota Extension plants bulbs from mid-September to mid-October but lets tulips go in “as late as you can get them into the soil.” Clemson Cooperative Extension plants daffodils in October or November and waits for soil below 60°F only for the other spring bulbs. In Saint Paul, the daffodil window is September 20 to November 1 and the tulip window October 5 to November 15; in Seattle, daffodils go in from October 15 and tulips from November 1. Tulip dates: When to Plant Tulip Bulbs.
Why Are Daffodil Bulbs Planted in Fall?
Daffodil bulbs are planted in fall because they grow roots before the ground freezes and require winter cold to form a flower. Iowa State University Extension states that bulbs planted in October have “sufficient time to develop a good root system” before the ground freezes, and that “gardeners must plant daffodils in the fall.” Most spring bulbs require a 12- to 16-week chilling period to flower (N.C. Cooperative Extension); in Zones 3–8, winter supplies that cold in the ground.
How Late Can You Plant Daffodil Bulbs?
Daffodil bulbs can be planted as late as December, as long as the ground is not frozen, according to Iowa State University Extension; the dates on this page are the window for a full root system, not the last day. Bulbs planted late root less and may bloom late or unevenly the first spring: Colorado State University Extension notes that bulbs planted after October “may not have time to root adequately.” Plant late bulbs at once rather than storing them until spring.
Can You Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Spring?
Daffodil bulbs planted in spring rarely bloom that year, because “spring-planted bulbs usually don’t grow well because they lack well-developed root systems” (Iowa State University Extension). Daffodils forced into bloom in pots indoors can go into the garden after flowering and bloom in later years (Iowa State University Extension: “Forced daffodils can be saved and successfully planted outdoors”).
Which Daffodils Grow in the South (Zones 8–10)?
Where winters have fewer than 90 nights a year below 40°F, from Dallas and the Gulf Coast to Florida and California, jonquilla, tazetta, poeticus, and species daffodils come back each year, while many modern large-flowered daffodils bloom only once; Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Birmingham, with 92–127 cold nights, grow any type. Clemson Cooperative Extension calls daffodils “the most successful of the popular spring bulbs for naturalizing in the South” and lists ‘Carlton’ and ‘Ice Follies’ among the “reliable perennials for the South.” N.C. Cooperative Extension names ‘Carlton’ and ‘Thalia’ for eastern North Carolina. LSU AgCenter treats many modern daffodils as annuals in Louisiana and recommends heirloom varieties “with proven heat tolerance and little demand for chilling.” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension names low-chilling daffodils and paperwhite narcissus as perennials that “return year after year.”
In central Florida, a UF/IFAS Extension trial in Pasco County found that only ‘Carlton’, ‘Erlicheer’, and ‘Nat Williams’ of 10 cultivars bloomed again each year. Paperwhites bloom without chilling: UF/IFAS Extension notes that paperwhite narcissus bulbs “don’t require chilling prior to flowering” and can be planted in the Florida landscape, though they rarely bloom again. Where winters have fewer than 20 nights below 40°F, growing other daffodils takes 3 steps:
- Buy bulbs in September and keep them in the refrigerator (40–45°F) for 8–10 weeks, away from fruit, because ripening fruit gives off ethylene gas that damages bulbs (UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County).
- Plant the chilled bulbs from November 15 to December 31, 6–8 inches deep (Clemson Cooperative Extension), or 4–5 inches deep in Florida and Louisiana (UF/IFAS Extension, LSU AgCenter).
- Treat them as annuals and plant fresh bulbs each fall; plant paperwhites as they are, with no chilling.
When Do Daffodils Bloom?
Daffodils bloom in late winter and spring: from late March through the end of April in Iowa (Zone 5), according to Iowa State University Extension. The Gibbs Gardens field in north Georgia (Zone 8a), shown above, was photographed in bloom in February.
After bloom, leave the leaves on the plant for at least 6 weeks or until they turn brown (Clemson Cooperative Extension); in Iowa, the foliage dies back in late June or early July. Cutting the leaves early “reduces plant vigor and bulb size, resulting in fewer flowers next spring” (Iowa State University Extension).
Are Daffodils Deer and Rodent Resistant?
Daffodils resist deer, rabbits, and rodents because the plant is poisonous, the bulb most of all, according to N.C. Cooperative Extension, which lists daffodils as deer-, rabbit-, and rodent-resistant. Iowa State University Extension notes that daffodils, unlike tulips, resist browsing by deer and rabbits, and University of Minnesota Extension notes that squirrels and chipmunks dig up and eat tulip bulbs, while narcissus bulbs are poisonous. Keep daffodil bulbs away from children and pets, and wear gloves if the sap irritates the skin (N.C. Cooperative Extension).
To recap: when to plant daffodil bulbs depends on the first frost date for your ZIP code and your USDA planting zone. Plant daffodil bulbs from 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost in Zones 3–9, between early September and mid-December, choosing southern types where winters are mild, and plant paperwhites from November 15 to December 31 in Zones 10–11. Tulips and garlic follow the same fall calendar: see When to Plant Tulip Bulbs, When to Plant Garlic, What to Plant in November, and the other crops on When to Plant.