Avid gardener Adam Kirtland, who shares his tips on social media and his podcast View From The Potting Bench, says daffodils have a number of hidden properties that people should be aware of
Daffodils may be one of the most beloved wildflowers in the UK, but according to gardening expert Adam Kirtland, they’re not as “innocent” as they seem. Kirtland, who shares horticultural advice on social media and his podcast, View From The Potting Bench, took to TikTok to reveal some surprising facts about the flower.
He said: “They’ve got more than a few naughty secrets,” he quipped before going into detail. There are three key things Kirtland suggests you should know about Wales’ national flower.
“They are survival experts because animals just won’t touch them as they’re packed with toxins,” he explained. He also revealed that daffodils have “secret medicinal powers” due to a compound called galantamine, which is used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.
“They are more than just a pretty face,” he explained. However, there’s a downside – their “seriously sneaky sap”, as Kirtland described it. “If you get that sap on your hands, it can cause serious irritation,” he warned.
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He added: “Not only that – but if you put them in a vase with other flowers, it can make them flop. So next time you’re handling daffodils, be careful not to get any sap on your hands.”
Many of Kirtland’s 22,000 followers were surprised by the information, with one admitting: “Oh wow. I did not know about the medicinal benefits.”
One TikToker was enlightened, posting: “So is that why the daffodil is the symbol/flower for dementia awareness/charity. Makes sense now. Yes daffodils irritated my hands when I handle a lot of them at once. They are my favourite flower.”
Another person remarked: “Those naughty sneaky daffodils – they strike again!” While someone else shared a fact: “With a Greek name [Narcissus] meaning numb, due to narcotic properties.”
Meanwhile, the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) warns about the dangers of putting daffodil bulbs with onions on their website: “Daffodil bulbs are poisonous, causing a stomach upset if eaten. They are easily and regularly mistaken for onions, so to avoid any confusion always keep stored daffodil bulbs in labelled bags, and don’t plant them where onions might be grown.”
They also give tips for green thumbed enthusiasts, advising: “Plant in early September, in fertile, well-drained conditions with plenty of sun. They are happy in containers as well as in the ground, where they do best planted at a depth of three times the height of the bulb.”
