NC State Extension
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Plant DetailShow Menu

Narcissus pseudonarcissus

Phonetic Spelling
nar-SIS-us soo-doh-nar-SIS-us
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Trumpet Daffodil is a herbaceous perennial, flowering bulb in the onion family that grows up to 1 and 1/2 feet tall. This plant blooms in early spring with single flowers that have a corona tube as long as or longer than petal length, a distinguishing feature of this plant. It is a relatively slow growing plant, reaching maturity in 2 to 5 years.

Trumpet Daffodil does best in moist, well-draining, soil in full sun or partial shade. This plant is tolerant of heat and drought. It is intolerant of extremely wet conditions. It benefits from the addition of bone meal or superphosphate added to the planting hole.

This plant has a spreading habit and is good for naturalizing. Daffodils bloom year after year and are best planted in quantity in beds, borders, wild gardens, open woodland areas, in front of shrubs or massed under trees. Plant 6 weeks before the first freeze, 4 to 5 inches below the soil surface. Deadhead flowers to prevent seeding, but cut foliage back only after it has browned naturally.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Corona (trumpet) is as long or longer than perianth segments
  • 1 flower per stem
  • Usually concolorous and yellow

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 

This plant is pest and disease resistant due to 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.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape s :
Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden Functional Foundation Landscape
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'February Gold'
    Long trumpet and petals like cyclamen, 14 to 16 inches tall, early bloomer.
'February Gold'
Tags:
#showy flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#yellow flowers#disease resistant#pest resistant#spring interest#fantz#HS302#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#fpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'February Gold'
    Long trumpet and petals like cyclamen, 14 to 16 inches tall, early bloomer.
'February Gold'
Tags:
#showy flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#yellow flowers#disease resistant#pest resistant#spring interest#fantz#HS302#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#fpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Narcissus
    Species:
    pseudonarcissus
    Family:
    Amaryllidaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers.
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western Europe
    Distribution:
    Eastern Canada and the United States south to Florida and west to Texas. Italy, Russia, Australia.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Resistant to pest and disease.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Trumpet
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are scapose, horiztonal to drooping or ascending, fragrant, up to 4" in diameter, and subtended by a one-valved, membranous spathe. Flowers have a perianth tubular base with 6 segments. Perianth segments are yellow or white, spreading, elliptic-oblong, entire, and .8-1.4". Corona is yellow or white, conspicuous, subentire to 6-lobes, and .6-1.7" in size.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are upright, strap-like, basal, linear, entire, erect, glaucous, flat, and less than an inch wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Heat
    Insect Pests
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Lycorine and other alkaloids
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Leaves
    Roots