Bright yellow daffodils are among the first signs of spring, along with birds singing and green buds emerging from trees.
Daffodils are great flowers for science activities because they grow from bulbs and have distinct parts. You can learn about transpiration, competition for resources, phototropism and more with these five easy daffodil science experiments.
Warning - daffodil sap can be an irritant. Wear gloves when handling.
Daffodil Science Experiments
Colour Changing Capillary Action
Have you ever wondered how water travels from the soil all the way to the petals of a flower? If you add a little food colouring to water and place a daffodil in it, you'll see how this happens!
When water evaporates from the surface of the leaves, the pressure change pulls the column of water upwards to replace the water lost. This creates a constant stream of water through the plant. This process is called transpiration.
Where is the Sun? Phototropism
If you see a lovely sunny spot, you can walk over to it. Plants can't do that, so they have to grow towards the sunlight ( phototropism ).
You can demonstrate this by placing a daffodil in a pot of soil inside a cardboard box with a hole cut out in one side. If you place the box in a sunny spot, you'll see the daffodil start to grow towards the light.
Phototropism is the growth of a plant towards light. They do this with the help of a hormone called auxin. When sunlight hits the side of a plant, the auxin molecules move to the shady side of the stem, causing the cells on that side to stretch and grow longer. This makes the plant bend towards the light!
Positive phototropism is when stems and leaves grow towards sunlight.
Negative phototropism is seen in roots, which grow away from sunlight.
Acid or Alkali?
Find out whether daffodils prefer acidic or alkaline soil with a simple science investigation.
Place one daffodil in slightly acidic water (add a teaspoon of white vinegar), one daffodil in water with a teaspoon of baking soda added, and one daffodil in water (preferably distilled).
Observe the daffodils each day.
You should find that the daffodils prefer neutral or slightly acidic water.
Friend or Foe?
Have you ever noticed daffodils being kept separately from other plants and flowers? This is because they release a slimy sap called mucilage, which can stop other plants from growing!
An easy way to demonstrate this is to set up three jars containing the same amount of water
Jar 1
- Daffodil
Jar 2
- Daffodil and another type of flower
Jar 3
- Just the other flower
Leave for a couple of days and observe how the flowers change. You should find the flowers with the daffodil in jar 2 start to wilt before the ones in jar 3.
This activity provides a great opportunity to discuss allelopathy, in which some plants produce chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants in the wild.
Dissect a Daffodil
Dissecting a flower is a great way to learn about the different parts. You can clearly see the anther, filament, stigma and style!
Once you've identified the different parts of a daffodil, choose another flower and try to find them again.
Remember, daffodil sap can be irritating, so wear gloves
Fun Facts About Daffodils
- Daffodils produce a toxic sap that makes them taste bad to squirrels and other animals, which helps stop them from being dug up and eaten.
- They are phototrophic, which means they turn to face the sun.
- Daffodils are the national flower of Wales!
- There are over 25,000 registered varieties.
- A daffodil bulb can bloom for up to 50 years!
- Daffodils are of the genus Narcissus. The name comes from Greek mythology. Legend says that a man named Narcissus was so obsessed with his own beauty that he leaned over a pool of water to look at his reflection, then fell in and drowned. The daffodil grew where he fell, with its head bowed down.
- Daffodils are among the first flowers to bloom in spring, making them a sign of hope.
Last Updated on March 27, 2026 by Emma Vanstone
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