Daffodil
One of the easiest bulbs to grow in NZ - it naturalises and multiplies if left undisturbed after flowering, so let the foliage die back naturally rather than tidying it away early. Hates wet feet, so avoid soggy, poorly drained ground.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 12cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 40cm
- Flowering season
- Aug, Sep
- Common diseases
- Basal rot
- Common pests
- Slugs and snails
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-April. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: April. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: April-May.
Growing stages
Germination & plantingApril to May
- Plant into free-draining soil; daffodil hates wet feet and dislikes soggy, poorly drained ground
- Space bulbs around 12cm apart in full sun
Establishment
- Water moderately as roots and shoots establish
- Basal rot can affect bulbs in wet, poorly drained soil
Vegetative growth
- Watch for slugs and snails on emerging foliage
- Naturalises and multiplies well if left undisturbed year to year
FloweringAugust to September
- One of the easiest bulbs to grow in NZ, flowering reliably each spring
- Slugs and snails can still target flowers and foliage
Dieback & dormancy
- Let the foliage die back naturally rather than tidying it away early, so the bulb can store energy for next year's flowers
- Left undisturbed, clumps naturalise and multiply over successive years