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Plant care

Angel's Tears Daffodil (Triandrus daffodil) care

Narcissus triandrus

Also called Angel's tears daffodil, Triandrus daffodil, Angel's tears.

RHS H6USDA 4-9Toxic to petsIndoor 15–25 cm tall in flower

Watering rhythm

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Low; water during active growth, dry summer dormancy

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Sharply drained, lean sandy or gritty soil

Humidity

Low

Temp

-20 to 18°C

Pet safety

Toxic to pets

Mature size

15–25 cm tall in flower

Care at a glance

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Requires full sun for at least six hours per day; a sunny, sheltered south-facing slope, rock garden pocket, or raised bed reproduces the open hillside conditions of its native range. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for angel's tears daffodil — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering angel's tears daffodil: low; water during active growth, dry summer dormancy. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water sparingly but regularly from autumn through to foliage die-back in late spring; keep bone dry through summer — in the UK, growing in a bulb frame or raised bed helps achieve the necessary summer drought.

Soil and pot

Angel's Tears Daffodil grows best in sharply drained, lean sandy or gritty soil. Prefers a poor, gritty soil with low organic content; enrich only modestly with leaf mould as excessive fertility promotes leafy growth at the expense of flowers and increases rot risk. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Angel's Tears Daffodil sits happiest at around Low humidity and -20 to 18°C (-4 to 64°F). Native to dry Mediterranean hillsides; high humidity or poor air circulation encourages botrytis and bulb rots, so avoid shaded, damp positions. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed angel's tears daffodil sparingly. Apply a balanced bulb fertiliser at half strength as shoots emerge in late winter; excess nitrogen causes lush foliage and reduces flower count. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on angel's tears daffodil in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Narcissus bulb fly (Merodon equestris) — The larva of this hoverfly bores into bulbs and hollows them out; inspect bulbs at lifting and destroy any that feel soft; covering emerging foliage with fleece in spring deters egg-laying adults.
  • Basal rot (Fusarium oxysporum) — A common fungal disease that causes the basal plate of the bulb to turn brown and collapse; buy certified disease-free stock, avoid waterlogged soil, and do not replant in the same spot for several years after an outbreak.

Propagation

Divide bulb offsets when dormant in summer; Narcissus triandrus also sets viable seed — sow fresh seed in a cold frame in late summer; seedlings can take 4–5 years to reach flowering size. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Angel's Tears Daffodil is toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists Narcissus as toxic to dogs and cats. All parts, especially the bulb, contain lycorine and other Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Ingestion causes severe vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, excessive salivation, tremors, and in large amounts cardiac arrhythmias. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Angel's Tears Daffodil care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Narcissus triandrus?

Narcissus triandrus is most commonly called Angel's Tears Daffodil, but it is also known as Angel's tears daffodil, Triandrus daffodil, Angel's tears. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Angel's Tears Daffodil apply identically to anything sold as Triandrus daffodil.

How much light does angel's tears daffodil need?

Angel's Tears Daffodil grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Requires full sun for at least six hours per day; a sunny, sheltered south-facing slope, rock garden pocket, or raised bed reproduces the open hillside conditions of its native range.

How often should I water angel's tears daffodil?

Water angel's tears daffodil low; water during active growth, dry summer dormancy. Water sparingly but regularly from autumn through to foliage die-back in late spring; keep bone dry through summer — in the UK, growing in a bulb frame or raised bed helps achieve the necessary summer drought. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is angel's tears daffodil toxic to cats and dogs?

Angel's Tears Daffodil is toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists Narcissus as toxic to dogs and cats. All parts, especially the bulb, contain lycorine and other Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Ingestion causes severe vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, excessive salivation, tremors, and in large amounts cardiac arrhythmias.

What USDA hardiness zone does angel's tears daffodil grow in?

Angel's Tears Daffodil is rated for USDA zone 4-9 and RHS hardiness H6. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Angel's Tears Daffodil deep-dive guides

Every aspect of angel's tears daffodil care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Angel's Tears Daffodil qualifies for 6 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Angel's Tears Daffodil is also known as Angel's tears daffodil, Triandrus daffodil, and Angel's tears.