Picnic in a field of daffodils in Raleigh

Last updated February 15, 2025

Daffodil Blooms in Dix Park

Each year as winter turns its corner and we see the early signs of spring emerge, Dix Park welcomes a field of daffodils in its Flowers Field. There are 40,000 daffodils in Raleigh’s Dix Park, usually blooming from February through March. It’s our favorite time of year to visit the park as the sea of yellow flowers winds toward the Raleigh skyline.

Each year we thank the Raleigh community for their support by holding a complimentary photoshoot opportunity amidst the daffodil flowers. You’re welcome to bring friends and family and take your own photos posed in a picnic with the daffodils in the backdrop.

Daffodils in dix park growing — Dix Park daffodils as of Saturday, February 8, 2025

Dix Park Daffodil Field Bloom Updates for 2025

February 8, 2025: We are seeing the daffodils growing! They are roughly three to four inches tall this week. We are not seeing any buds at this stage. Based on what we are seeing, we are estimating peak bloom to occur in early March.

February 15, 2025: This week, the daffodils are about four to four and a half inches tall. Approximately 5% of the daffodils are showing their initial buds. Two stray daffodils were blooming as well. The cold weather we had this past week has likely slowed their growth. We are still estimating peak bloom for early March!

We will announce our free Daffodil Picnic Photoshoot at the end of February when we have a better idea of when to expect the best bloom time.

How do you plant 40,000 daffodils?

Fortunately, the staff at Raleigh parks are not tasked with planting 40,000 daffodil seeds by hand each year. A machine designed in Holland automatically plants the seeds in mere minutes! What’s even more incredible is that the park grounds remain in pristine condition even during the seeding process.

How does this all work? A tractor pulls a machine that cuts the ground and lifts up the turf. The machine then plants thousands of bulbs into the newly opened ground through a funnel. As the tractor pulls the machine forward, it then lowers the grass back over the ground, planting the bulbs firmly and safely beneath the surface.

Visit the Daffodil Field

Daffodils are in bloom from February through March. We typically see peak blooms in early to mid-March.
The flowers are planted in Flowers Field, near the Flower Cottage. Reference this map for directions.
Park visitors are welcome every day of the week from dawn to dusk.
Flowers are not to be picked - simply enjoyed!
More information on the daffodils can be found on Dix Park’s website.

Southern Picnics’ Annual Daffodil Photoshoot

Our annual complimentary picnic photoshoot in the daffodil field is right around the corner! This event is free and open to the public and is our way of saying thank you for all of the support we’ve received from the community.

We will announce a date and time for our public daffodil picnic photoshoot soon! Check the event page for the Southern Picnics Daffodil Photoshoot for more details.

Daffodil Common Questions

What time of year do daffodils bloom in NC?

Daffodils usually bloom from February through March in North Carolina, but the exact timeframe can change based on weather.

Do daffodils bloom all summer?

No, daffodils only bloom in early Spring. You won’t see daffodils blooming in summer in North Carolina because the temperatures are too high. A daffodil’s ideal temperature is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Where are the daffodils in Dix Park?

The daffodils are planted in Flowers Field, near the Flower Cottage in Dorothea Dix Park. The daffodils overlook the Raleigh skyline and are also near the historic cemetery. Reference this map for directions.

In 2024, we saw less daffodils bloom overall. We are keeping our fingers crossed for more flowers in 2025 though! Below are snapshots of growth for the daffodil field in 2024 for a comparison point.

Dix Park Daffodil Bloom Updates for 2024

February 10, 2024: We are seeing initial daffodils in bloom. About 5% of the daffodils are showing blooms this week.

February 17, 2024: We are seeing a few more daffodils in bloom this week, with about 10-15% showing flowers. While we are not yet at half bloom, now is a good time to visit the park to avoid crowds drawn in by the daffodil blooms.

Sources

- Dorothea Dix Park. “A Wave of Daffodils Emerge at Dix Park”. https://dixpark.org/article/wave-daffodils-emerge-dix-park. 11 January 2022.

- Dorothea Dix Park. “Visit the Daffodils at Dix Park”. https://dorotheadixpark.org/daffodils. 11 January 2022.

- Greg - Plant Identifier & Care. “What Is A Good Temperature Range For My Daffodil?”. https://greg.app/daffodil-temperature/. 17 February 2024.

About the Author

Angela Byrnes - Owner, Southern Picnics

Angela is the owner of Southern Picnics and started the business in September 2020. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in Writing and Literature. She later attended Duke University where she received a certificate in Digital Media and Marketing.

To provide a weekly update on the daffodil blooms, Angela visits Dix Park every weekend in February and early March to check in on the blooms.

Daffodils in Raleigh