PEOPLE have been warned to expect a shortage of daffodils this Easter as the mild February weather triggers the flowers to sprout early and causes a surge in demand.

Experts from online garden centre GardeningExpress.co.uk say that the unseasonably warm temperatures have resulted in huge demand for the humble daffodil, which could cause a massive shortage of one of Britain’s favourite spring flowers come Easter.

Daffodils are usually planted in autumn and spend several months developing roots before the flowers burst open between March and May.

But with the mild conditions outdoors and temperatures creeping up to 16 degrees centigrade in some parts of the country, GardeningExpress director Chris Bonnett has seen a surge in demand for these flowers, with orders tripling in the last week.

GardeningExpress.co.uk said sells 30 different varieties of daffodil online and the team had noticed that the higher-than-usual temperatures were also causing the bulbs to react earlier, with many shooting up their flowering stems already.

Brexit could also scupper supply as millions of the golden blooms are produced in and shipped to the UK from the Netherlands.

The potential of increased tariffs, delays at ports and a sharp fall in the pound could all make it more difficult for EU nurseries to trade with British sellers.

Chris said: “With the unusually mild weather we’ve experienced over the past couple of weeks, anyone would be forgiven for thinking spring has sprung, and it seems the humble daffodil is following suit.

“It appears that the bulbs ‘think’ it’s spring already and have been shooting up their flowering stems since mid-February.

“Whilst this is lovely to see, it could mean that all the daffodils in the land will be finished by Easter this year – when most people like to buy them to decorate their homes.

“The company is taking special measures to ensure a continuity of supply by ‘tricking’ the bulbs into thinking it is still winter using giant cold stores.

“These stores are usually used to keep the shops stocked with seasonal agricultural crops like potatoes, but with demand so great wholesale prices of daffodils have already doubled compared to last year.

“If the demand continues, we’ll have to switch off the fridges and sell the flowers we’ve set aside for Easter too.”