How to Harvest Narcissus

Narcissus (commonly known as daffodil) is such an early spring beauty but can sometimes be overlooked as being an “ordinary” flower. Today, I encourage you to take a new look and give her another chance and I am going to teach you how to harvest narcissus flowers correctly.

These flowers are a true welcome sign of warmer days to come and a great way to bring something fresh inside when you’re hungry for spring.

Love colorful varieties of spring flowers? Check out my posts on growing tulips and tips for growing dahlias next!

What are Narcissus Flowers

Narcissus flowers, also known as daffodils, are beloved for their cheerful colors and the variety of daffodil bulbs available. They stem from large bulbs, which make them easy to grow and maintain, even for beginners.

Why People Love Narcissus Flowers

People love narcissus flowers because they signify the arrival of spring with their early blooms, bringing a burst of color after the dreary winter months. Their flowers come in a variety of cheerful colors, making them perfect for flower arrangements and adding a touch of joy to any space.

Narcissus are also very easy to grow. Here in the northern hemisphere we plant these spring-blooming bulbs in October-December and they bloom in March-April depending on your exact location. They do need a cooling period in the ground of at least 10-12 weeks so the best hardiness zones for them are 3-9. After planting in the fall they come up and bloom in the spring without any extra care, they are one of the flowers you can plant and forget about!

My Favorite Narcissus Varieties:

1. Winston Churchill: Winston Churchill narcissus has white petals with a bright orange or yellow center. People like them because they look elegant and smell sweet.
2. Replete: Replete narcissus has creamy-white petals with a double center in apricot, peach, or coral. People like them because they look unique and romantic.
3. Bridal Crown: Bridal Crown narcissus has white petals with a yellow or orange cup in the center. People like them because they look delicate and are popular for weddings.
4. British Gamble: British Gamble narcissus has creamy-white petals with a yellow or orange cup. People like them because they are easy to grow and bring cheer to gardens.
5. Obdam: Obdam narcissus has creamy-white petals with a large, golden-yellow cup. People like them because they make a bold statement in gardens and bloom early in spring.
6. Acropolis: Acropolis narcissus has creamy-white petals with a small, yellow or orange cup. People like them because they add elegance to gardens and are easy to grow.

I source my narcissus bulbs in the fall from small, USA flower farmers because I feel they provide the healthiest and highest quality stock. My own flower farm here in Connecticut, Wild Iris Flower Farm, is one such small farm and we do a fall bulb sale for tulips, narcissus and peony roots!

Pro Tips for Harvesting Narcissus:

1. For the longest vaselife harvest narcissus when they are in the “gooseneck” phase (photo above). This indicates that the petals of the bloom are fully formed but not open yet. Over time in water the bloom will open up to it’s full potential and you can witness the entire process over 7-10 days! If you cut daffodils when the blooms are already open you will only get 2-3 days of vaselife.
2. Do not cut narcissus flowers to harvest, instead harvest by placing your fingers near the base of the plant, sometimes down into the soil, and pulling up. The stem comes free quite easily, plus this gives you the longest possible stems
3. When first harvested, daffodils need a chance to “rest.” Place stems in a bucket of cool water and let them sit for several hours. Daffodils contain a sap that is toxic to other flowers so do not place daffodils straight into a vase with anything else until they’ve rested.
4. When arranging daffodils take care not to re-cut the stems before placing them with other flowers. If you do, the toxic sap will begin to run again and may cause the other flowers in the arrangement to die more quickly.
5. Change the water in your arrangement daily so the stems are constantly drinking up fresh, clean water, and keep your arrangement away from direct sunlight, heat sources or air vents as these can severely cut down on vase life!