When to plant daffodil bulbs in Illinois

Fall planting in Chicago

Oct 8–Nov 19

Across Illinois the window opens between September 13 and October 8. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Chicago: Oct 8–Nov 19
Last frost, Chicago: Apr 10

Plant from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Daffodils root best when they go in a few weeks before the ground freezes. Deer and rodents leave them alone.

Daffodil bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

ChicagoOct 8–Nov 19

AuroraSep 25–Nov 6

NapervilleSep 18–Oct 30

JolietSep 27–Nov 8

RockfordSep 19–Oct 31

ElginSep 20–Nov 1

SpringfieldSep 24–Nov 5

PeoriaSep 25–Nov 6

ChampaignSep 26–Nov 7

WaukeganSep 21–Nov 2

CiceroOct 3–Nov 14

BloomingtonSep 18–Oct 30

SchaumburgSep 15–Oct 27

EvanstonSep 23–Nov 4

Arlington HeightsSep 28–Nov 9

BolingbrookSep 24–Nov 5

DecaturSep 26–Nov 7

SkokieSep 23–Nov 4

PalatineSep 21–Nov 2

Des PlainesSep 30–Nov 11

Orland ParkSep 24–Nov 5

Oak LawnOct 4–Nov 15

Mount ProspectSep 28–Nov 9

Tinley ParkSep 22–Nov 3

BerwynOct 3–Nov 14

WheatonSep 18–Oct 30

NormalSep 18–Oct 30

Oak ParkOct 3–Nov 14

Hoffman EstatesSep 15–Oct 27

Downers GroveSep 18–Oct 30

All 121 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Chicago	Oct 8 to Nov 19	Apr 10
Aurora	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 19
Naperville	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 28
Joliet	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 19
Rockford	Sep 19 to Oct 31	Apr 24
Elgin	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 26
Springfield	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 15
Peoria	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 16
Champaign	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 15
Waukegan	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 30
Cicero	Oct 3 to Nov 14	Apr 11
Bloomington	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 25
Schaumburg	Sep 15 to Oct 27	Apr 30
Evanston	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 26
Arlington Heights	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 19
Bolingbrook	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 20
Decatur	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 14
Skokie	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 26
Palatine	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 25
Des Plaines	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 16
Orland Park	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 19
Oak Lawn	Oct 4 to Nov 15	Apr 10
Mount Prospect	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 19
Tinley Park	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Berwyn	Oct 3 to Nov 14	Apr 11
Wheaton	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 28
Normal	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 25
Oak Park	Oct 3 to Nov 14	Apr 11
Hoffman Estates	Sep 15 to Oct 27	Apr 30
Downers Grove	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 28
Plainfield	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 20
Glenview	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 26
Elmhurst	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 16
Lombard	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 28
Buffalo Grove	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 19
Moline	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 24
Crystal Lake	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 25
Romeoville	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 20
Bartlett	Sep 15 to Oct 27	Apr 30
DeKalb	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 24
Belleville	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 12
Oswego	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 19
Urbana	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 15
Carol Stream	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 25
Quincy	Oct 2 to Nov 13	Apr 8
Park Ridge	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 16
Wheeling	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 19
Streamwood	Sep 15 to Oct 27	Apr 30
Carpentersville	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 26
Hanover Park	Sep 15 to Oct 27	Apr 30
Rock Island	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 24
Addison	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 16
Calumet City	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Northbrook	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 26
North Chicago	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 30
Woodridge	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 28
St. Charles	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 25
Mundelein	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 29
O'Fallon	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 12
Glendale Heights	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 28
Elk Grove Village	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 16
Pekin	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 16
Algonquin	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 26
Highland Park	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 26
Gurnee	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 30
Niles	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 16
McHenry	Sep 13 to Oct 25	May 1
Huntley	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 25
New Lenox	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 19
Glen Ellyn	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 28
Lake in the Hills	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 25
Galesburg	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 20
Burbank	Oct 4 to Nov 15	Apr 10
Danville	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 21
Lansing	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Lockport	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 20
Wilmette	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 26
Round Lake Beach	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 24
Vernon Hills	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 29
Granite City	Oct 8 to Nov 19	Apr 4
Oak Forest	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Yorkville	Sep 15 to Oct 27	Apr 28
Batavia	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 19
Chicago Heights	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Edwardsville	Oct 8 to Nov 19	Apr 4
Woodstock	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 25
South Elgin	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 26
Belvidere	Sep 19 to Oct 31	Apr 24
West Chicago	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 25
Alton	Oct 8 to Nov 19	Apr 4
Homer Glen	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 20
Morton Grove	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 26
Zion	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 30
Westmont	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 28
Melrose Park	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 16
Collinsville	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 8
Loves Park	Sep 19 to Oct 31	Apr 24
Rolling Meadows	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 19
Elmwood Park	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 16
Lisle	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 28
Kankakee	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 19
Maywood	Oct 3 to Nov 14	Apr 11
Freeport	Sep 15 to Oct 27	Apr 26
Machesney Park	Sep 14 to Oct 26	May 1
Roselle	Sep 15 to Oct 27	Apr 30
Bloomingdale	Sep 15 to Oct 27	Apr 30
East Peoria	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 16
Darien	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 19
Montgomery	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 19
Villa Park	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 28
Carbondale	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 9
Blue Island	Oct 4 to Nov 15	Apr 10
Frankfort	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Grayslake	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 29
Geneva	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 25
Park Forest	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
South Holland	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
Libertyville	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 29
Crest Hill	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 20
Dolton	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 23
East Moline	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 16

Questions

When should I plant daffodil bulbs in Illinois?

In Chicago, fall planting from October 8 to November 19. Across Illinois the window opens between September 13 and October 8, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.