Daffodils in Bloom – In December ! (2024)

FAQs

Why are my daffodils coming up in December? ›

If the weather is unusually warm in the winter, it may cause your daffodils to start sprouting early. (Daffodils normally start blooming in March.)

Daffodils. Sunny, cheerful daffodils are not only easy to grow, but they also naturalise well. This means, under the right conditions – good drainage and some sun during the day – you can leave the bulbs in the ground and they will bloom year after year, and multiply in numbers.

Like tulips, however, daffodils are naturally protected against mild-to-moderate cold snaps. If you believe the freezing temperatures are going to last longer than expected, you can place some extra mulch around the base of your daffodils for an added layer of thermal protection.

While tulips should be deadheaded immediately after flowering, it is not necessary to deadhead daffodils. The vigor of tulip bulbs quickly declines if tulips are not promptly deadheaded and seed pods are allowed to develop. However, seed pod formation on daffodils has little impact on plant vigor.

Early bulb growth is usually little cause for concern. Foliage that comes up early may be damaged by freezing temperatures, but as long as the flower buds are still beneath the soil, the bulb is still likely to bloom in the spring.

As you have noticed, your bulbs are reacting to the warm weather this fall. The correct time to plant bulbs is when the night time temperatures are consistently in the 40s. Up until mid-November this year, the temperatures have been too warm and pre-mature sprouting will probably occur.

Once the daffodil flower blooms it can last for several weeks. Daffodils are true bulbs and like all true bulbs are perennials, with a life span of three to five years, during which time they self- propagate. The dormant daffodil bulb consists of an embryo flower, short stem and tightly packed leaves.

Daffodils, also known by their botanical name narcissus, are easy and reliable spring-flowering bulbs. They multiply quickly and return to bloom again each spring, year after year. They are not fussy about soil, will grow in sun or part shade and are not bothered by deer, rabbits and other pesky critters.

Daffodils will naturally produce new bulbs over time, expanding the clump gradually. You can also propagate them by: seeds. division.

Daffodil foliage can tolerate snow – the blooms, not so much. But remember, the damage is only to the exposed foliage. Foliage that continues to emerge will be green. The bottom line is this – don't worry about the foliage.

How do you winterize daffodils? ›

Daffodils bloom in the spring but need to winterize each year before they flower. In warmer climates, you need to remove the bulbs from the ground and store them for 6 to 8 weeks before planting them. To store daffodil bulbs, stick the dried bulbs in an opaque paper bag that stays open.

Daffodil leaves should not be cut back until after they have turned yellow. Daffodils use their leaves to create energy, which is then used to create next year's flower. If you cut back daffodils before the leaves have turned yellow, the daffodil bulb will not produce a flower next year.

Daffodils that come up with foliage but no flowers are referred to as 'blind'. This condition may be due to the growing conditions or pests and diseases. It can be remedied in several ways depending on the cause.

Deadhead daffodils

You can begin deadheading daffodils by cutting the flowerhead from just behind the bulbous seed-head. You then need to wait, wait and wait some more, while the leaves and stems stay in place, for a good six weeks after flowering.

Tulips, daffodils and other fall-planted bulbs begin growing almost as soon as they are planted. During late fall and early winter, bulbs are developing their root systems and already starting to sprout. If the weather is unusually warm, these sprouts may rise to the soil surface and show a few inches of green.

Just leave the plants in place and wait to enjoy their blooms the following spring. Many of the early blooming minor bulbs like glory-of-the-snow, crocus and squills can tolerate the colder temperatures. I've seen all survive below freezing temperatures and at other times come out of a week of snow cover looking great.

In milder winters, or in particularly sheltered gardens, this trumpet daffodil can be in bloom in late December or early January, so if you want an early start to the season, then this is by far the best one to choose.

Daffodil Bloom Times

Daffodils may emerge in early spring (February to March), early to mid-spring (March to April), mid-spring (April), mid-to-late-spring (April-May), or late-spring (May).