In fall of 2020, I planted about 800 various bulbs in this large bed in my front yard. The topic is about this time in 2021, and the bottom pic is today. On the left side of the picture in particular, you’ll see that a significant number of the daffodils did not return this year. These are all yellow Naturalizer types, mostly the varieties “Dutch Master” and “Carlton”.
Seems strange to me that varieties known to be good naturalizers, would almost completely die out in a single season. I left the foliage until it died back on its own. What even stranger is the more “froufrou” varieties, which you see at the very front and very back of the pictures (not blooming yet) look great with no noticeable loss.
My bet is it was too wet. We had a wet fall here. Hopefully the remaining ones will prosper and spread.
For those of you having problems with animals eating bulbs try daffodils as they are extremely poisonous. Known to kill horses. The bulb has the most toxin but the whole plant is poisonous
When we lived in central Wisconsin, my daffodils thrived and multiplied. Where we live now farther north near St. Paul they seldom last more than a year or two. The soil is very sandy in one area, better real soil in another. I suspect they can’t handle the cold. I don’t see many around town except close to foundations. We have a lot of deer that obliterate any tulips, but I had hoped we could grow daffodils here, since animals aren’t supposed to eat them. Little success after numerous attempts.
I have had mixed results here. I have tulips my mom planted. Not that many left but my mom passed in1986. Still have about ten that come up every year.
Not many bulbs of any sort survive up here. If they are mulched heavily and we get early snow cover, some will survive. In winters without early snow cover before sub-zero temps hit, most bulbs are toast.
Back in 2012 I had visions of naturalizing our acreage with daffodils in a fashion similar to Door County, WI. Nope, not gonna happen.
I put in two raised beds for garlic about 10 feet away from where some daffodils grow… on the area where i put the raised bed i have never seen daffodils there. I put down a heavy heavy layer of leaves on the bottom of the raised bed and it has over a foot and a half of soil in it… daffodils are poking up thru my garlic. I have no idea how im going to get rid of them i guess i will have to dig out the bed after the garlic harvest. So i know they have no issue poking thru that depth… that is not cool.
My mom planted one clump on a hillside about 45 years ago. in that time they have spread 1000 feet in every direction.
I think they are somewhat invasive…at least the ones that i have.
There is another strain way way up on my property that is near an old house foundation that must have been early settlers. Likely planted over 100 years ago. It bloomed this year in mid january… the ones near my house bloomed this past week.
I think it is too cold here for daffodils. They only last a year or two, unless they are against a foundation of a house. Where we used to live further down state they multiplied like crazy. Not here.
