Autumn daffodil

Sternbergia lutea

Mediterranean bulb with goblet-shaped buttercup-yellow flowers — looking like crocuses but actually in the amaryllis family — emerging straight from bare ground in autumn alongside the new strap-like leaves.

Hardiness ratings

Autumn daffodil hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 6–9 −23.3 °C to −1.1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H5 −15 °C to −10 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 6–8 −18 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 2–6 −10 °C to 15 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Flowers September–October — a classic autumn equinox marker around the Mediterranean
  • Needs hot dry summer dormancy to flower reliably — plant at the foot of a sunny wall
  • Sometimes proposed as the “lilies of the field” of the King James Bible (Matthew 6:28)
  • Slow to establish — patience needed for full flowering displays

Pet caution: Autumn daffodil is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Autumn daffodil against your zones

Reference

Autumn daffodil on Wikipedia