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Plant care

Angel's Tears Daffodil (Angel's Tears) care

Narcissus triandrus

Also called Angel's Tears, Triandrus Daffodil, Drooping Daffodil.

RHS H5USDA 5-9Toxic to petsIndoor 15-25 cm tall in flower

Watering rhythm

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Once per week during active spring growth; dry dormancy required in summer

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Sharply drained, gritty or sandy loam

Humidity

35-50%

Temp

1-18°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. Full sun to light partial shade. Naturally grows on open rocky hillsides with full exposure. Under deciduous canopy it needs full winter and spring sun before leaf-out. Deep shade reduces flowering significantly. 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: once per week during active spring growth; dry dormancy required in summer. 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. A classic bulb that requires a dry summer rest period. In containers, withhold water entirely after foliage yellows. In the garden, ensure the site does not collect summer rainfall — raised beds or sloping ground work well.

Soil and pot

Angel's Tears Daffodil grows best in sharply drained, gritty or sandy loam. Plant bulbs 8-10 cm deep in autumn in very free-draining compost. A 50:50 mix of loam-based compost and horticultural grit is ideal for containers. Rich, moisture-retentive soils cause rot during summer dormancy. 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 35-50% humidity and 1-18°C (34-64°F). Prefers moderate to low humidity reflecting its Mediterranean origin. Good airflow is important to keep foliage dry and deter fungal issues during the growing season. If you keep the room above 1 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 (low nitrogen, higher potash and phosphorus) in early spring as shoots appear. One application after flowering helps the bulb rebuild energy stores for the following year. 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.

  • Bulb rot — The principal failure mode in poorly drained soils. Add grit generously; plant in raised beds or sloping ground.
  • Non-flowering (blind) bulbs — Typically from insufficient summer baking, shallow planting, or underfed bulbs. Feed after flowering and allow full leaf die-back.
  • Narcissus fly larvae — The large narcissus fly lays eggs at the base of foliage. Firm soil around dying leaves to discourage; destroy any soft, hollow bulbs found at lifting.
  • Stem nematode — Causes swollen, distorted stems and foliage. No chemical control available to home gardeners; remove and destroy affected plants.

Companion plants

Angel's Tears Daffodil pairs well with Crocus speciosus, Muscari neglectum, Saxifraga, and Anemone blanda. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Detach bulb offsets after foliage has died back in early summer. Replant at correct depth immediately or store cool and dry until autumn. Seed propagation is slow, taking 3-5 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. Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, consistent with the ASPCA's listing of Narcissus as toxic. Contains lycorine and other Amaryllidaceae alkaloids throughout all plant parts, causing gastrointestinal distress, salivation, and potentially cardiac symptoms with larger ingestions. Contact a vet promptly. 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, Triandrus Daffodil, Drooping Daffodil. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Angel's Tears Daffodil apply identically to anything sold as Angel's Tears.

How much light does angel's tears daffodil need?

Angel's Tears Daffodil grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Full sun to light partial shade. Naturally grows on open rocky hillsides with full exposure. Under deciduous canopy it needs full winter and spring sun before leaf-out. Deep shade reduces flowering significantly.

How often should I water angel's tears daffodil?

Water angel's tears daffodil once per week during active spring growth; dry dormancy required in summer. A classic bulb that requires a dry summer rest period. In containers, withhold water entirely after foliage yellows. In the garden, ensure the site does not collect summer rainfall — raised beds or sloping ground work well. 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. Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, consistent with the ASPCA's listing of Narcissus as toxic. Contains lycorine and other Amaryllidaceae alkaloids throughout all plant parts, causing gastrointestinal distress, salivation, and potentially cardiac symptoms with larger ingestions. Contact a vet promptly.

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

Angel's Tears Daffodil is rated for USDA zone 5-9 and RHS hardiness H5. 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:

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Angel's Tears Daffodil qualifies for 5 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, Triandrus Daffodil, and Drooping Daffodil.