Old Pheasant's Eye Narcissus poeticus Play pronunciation

Poets Narcissus is a beautiful white and yellow spring-flowering herbaceous perennial bulb in the onion family that grows up to 1 foot 5 inches tall. This plant blooms in mid spring producing extremely fragrant flowers with red-rimmed yellow corona and white petals that are the distinguishing features of the plant.The genus name honors a beautiful youth from Greek mythology who became so entranced with his own reflection that he pined away and the gods turned him into this flower. The species name means pertaining to poets.

Poets Narcissus does best sited in full sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained, organically rich soil. Unlike most other daffodils, this species tolerates wet soils in winter and during the spring growing season, but appreciates reduced moisture in summer and fall. This plant is tolerant of heat and drought. Flowers tend to face the sun, so plant the bulbs where any shade will be to the rear of the planting.

This plant is good for naturalizing, has a spreading habit, and does well planted in mass, in border fronts, under trees, or in containers. It benefits from the addition of bone meal or super phosphate to the planting hole. Plant 6 weeks before the first freeze, 4 to 5 inches below the soil surface. After the flowers have bloomed in spring, deadhead to prevent seed formation, but cut foliage back after it has browned naturally.

Quick ID Hints:

• One fragrant flower to a stem
• Pure white perianth segments
• Corona is flatenned, disc-shaped, green or yellow, and red-rimmed

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 

This plant is pest and disease resistant due to its poisonous alkaloids content. Watch for slugs, snails and bulb mites. Bulb rot can occur in wet soils.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants", a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Narcissus.