Plant Profile: Narcissus poeticus

Taxonomy: Narcissus poeticus

Names

Narcissus Recurvus, Old Pheasant's Eye, Pheasant's Eye Daffodil, Poet's Narcissus

  • Photo of Narcissus poeticus (Narcissus poeticuss)

Phonetic Spelling:nar-SIS-us po-ET-ih-kus

Genus:Narcissus

Species:poeticus

Family:Amaryllidaceae

Narcissus, commonly known as daffodil, is a striking perennial bulbous herb that showcases beautiful white and yellow flowers in the spring, reaching heights of up to 1.5 feet. This plant typically blooms in mid-spring, featuring a distinctive red-rimmed yellow corona surrounded by white petals. Known for its ability to naturalize, Narcissus has a spreading growth habit and is resilient to both heat and drought conditions. To enhance its growth, incorporating bone meal or superphosphate into the planting hole is recommended. For optimal results, plant the bulbs six weeks prior to the first frost, burying them 4 to 5 inches deep. Once the foliage has naturally browned, it should be cut back. Thanks to its toxic alkaloids, this plant is resistant to pests and diseases. Narcissus thrives when planted in groups at the front of borders, beneath trees, or in containers.

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Narcissus poeticus Feature Summary

Narcissus poeticus Image Gallery

Tags

#white
#showy flowers
#fragrant flowers
#white flowers
#perennial bulb
#mass planting
#flower arrangements
#herbaceous
#naturalizes
#bedding plants
#cutting garden
#fantz
#border front
#under tree planting
#spring flowering bulbs
#HS302
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses

Similar Plants

Narcissus poeticus is often confused with:

Narcissus poeticus Feature Summary

Flowers
Flowers are scapose, horizontal to ascending, fragrant, 2-3" in diameter, and is subtended by a one-valved membranous spathe. The perianth is tubular at the base with 6 segments. Perianth segments are white, elliptic, entire, and cuneate. The corona is yellow, conspicuous, in the form of a flattened discoid cup, and is red-rimmed and frilled.
Fragrant
Good Cut
Showy
1-3 inches
Leaves
Leaves are basal, strap-like, entire, erect, green to blue-green and glaucous, and less than an inch wide.
Green
Blue
< 1 inch
Poisonous to Humans
Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part
Lycorine and other alkaloids
Whole Plant Traits
Erect
Clumping
Landscape
Cutting Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Drought
Insect Pests
Heat
Diseases
Container
Woodland
Lawn
Naturalized Area
Small Space
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Narcissus poeticus Attributes

Narcissus poeticus: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe

Narcissus poeticus: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Resistant to pests and diseases.

Narcissus poeticus: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Narcissus poeticus Flowers

Narcissus poeticus: Flower Description

Flowers are scapose, horizontal to ascending, fragrant, 2-3" in diameter, and is subtended by a one-valved membranous spathe. The perianth is tubular at the base with 6 segments. Perianth segments are white, elliptic, entire, and cuneate. The corona is yellow, conspicuous, in the form of a flattened discoid cup, and is red-rimmed and frilled.

Narcissus poeticus: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Narcissus poeticus: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Narcissus poeticus: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Narcissus poeticus: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Narcissus poeticus Leaves

Narcissus poeticus: Leaf Description

Leaves are basal, strap-like, entire, erect, green to blue-green and glaucous, and less than an inch wide.

Narcissus poeticus: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Green

Narcissus poeticus: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Narcissus poeticus: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Narcissus poeticus: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Narcissus poeticus Poisonous to Humans

Narcissus poeticus: Poison Symptoms

Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part

Narcissus poeticus: Poison Toxic Principle

Lycorine and other alkaloids

Narcissus poeticus: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Narcissus poeticus: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Narcissus poeticus Whole Plant Traits

Narcissus poeticus: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Narcissus poeticus: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Narcissus poeticus Stem

Narcissus poeticus: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Narcissus poeticus Landscape

Narcissus poeticus: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Narcissus poeticus: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Narcissus poeticus: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Narcissus poeticus: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Narcissus poeticus: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy