Daffodil
Also called Wild daffodil, Lent lily, Narcissus.
| Light | full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 30 days in the growing season, every 30 in winter |
| Humidity | medium |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Height | Up to 35 cm (14 in) tall |
| Pets | Cats toxic, dogs toxic |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, Daffodil entry.
Toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The principle is lycorine and other alkaloids, with the bulb the most poisonous part. Large amounts cause tremors and cardiac problems. Keep it where an animal that eats houseplants cannot reach it, and speak to a vet if one does. In South Africa telephone the Poison Information Helpline on 0861 555 777; in the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.
A daffodil spends nine months underground making the flower you will see next spring, which is why the two rules about them are both about timing. Plant the bulbs early, in September in the north with October still fine, and set them at three times their own height deep so they do not work their way to the surface. In South Africa the winter and spring flowering bulbs arrive in the shops in March and go in from autumn into the cold months, with June still workable in most regions. The second rule is to leave the leaves alone. Everything the bulb stores for the following year is made by that foliage in the six weeks after the flowers fade, so tying it in knots or mowing it off is the usual reason a clump stops flowering.
Ailments observed
| It will not flower | Blindness from a clump that has become congested, or from leaves cut off too early. Lift and split the clump once the leaves have died back, and never knot or mow the foliage for six weeks after flowering. |
|---|---|
| Yellow leaves at the bottom of the plant | Normal die back after flowering, or narcissus bulb fly grubs in the bulb. Yellowing in late spring is the plant storing its year and should be left. Bulbs that come up thin and grassy year after year are infested and should be dug out. |
Filed underPlants that forgive a beginner
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