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Narcissus

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

Daffodils are fast-growing, perennial, deciduous bulbs in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family. Their native range is northern Africa, Europe, Afghanistan, China, and Japan. With an erect, clumping habit, plants will be 8 to 30 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide. The genus Narcissus is named for a beautiful youth who became so entranced with his own reflection that he pined away, and the gods turned him into this flower.

Daffodils require full sun to partial shade and acidic soil. The flowers follow the sun so consider this when planting. While drought tolerant, the plants require moisture and good drainage during the growing season. The best time to plant the bulbs is in the fall. Plant in groups of at least six sweeping masses, and they can be mixed with all varieties of other spring-flowering bulbs. You will be able to plant 10 to 12 bulbs per square foot when planting them 2 to 3 inches apart. Plant the bulbs 8 inches deep. After the flowers have bloomed, the top portion of each flower stem may be removed as practicable to prevent seed formation, but foliage should not be cut back until it begins to yellow. Bulbs can be left undisturbed for a number of years. If bloom quality and quantity decline over time, clumps can be divided by digging just after the foliage dies back. 

The Narcissus genus has 13 divisions or shows or cultivar groups. 

Division I - Trumpet Narcissus

Division II - Large-cupped Narcissus

Division III - Small-cupped Narcissus

Division IV - Double Narcissus

Division V - Triandrus Narcissus

Division VI - Cyclamineus Narcissus

Division VII - Jonquilla Narcissus

Division VIII - Tazetta Narcissus

Division IX - Poeticus Narcissus

Division X - Bulbocodium hybrids

Division XI - Split Corona Narcissus

Division XII - Miscellaneous Narcissus

Division XIII - Species, Wild Variants and Wild hybrids

Daffodils are great for use in beds, borders, rock gardens, as fresh cut flowers, ground covers, and in woodland gardens. They are deer, rabbit, and salt resistant. The fragrant flowers bloom for two to three weeks between late winter and late spring. Some varieties can be forced to bloom indoors in the winter. 

Quick ID Hints:

  • Geophyte with flat or reed-like leaves
  • Flowers with six-parted perianth and projecting corona

Insects Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No serious insects or diseases. Bulb rot may occur in wet soils. Watch for bulb mites and slugs and snails.

 

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

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden Sun and Shade Demonstration Garden, Buncombe County Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Greenhouse Beds Pink and White Garden Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Souto Sun Garden Hidden Vegetable Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Chinita', 'Dreamlight', 'Eastern Dawn', 'Hawera', Kokopelli, Narcissus 'Tahiti', N. cyclamineus, N. jonquilla, N. poeticus, N. pseudonarcissus, N. tazetta, N. triandrus, N. x incomparabilis, N. x odorus
Tags:
#fragrant#hardy#bulb#showy flowers#poisonous#full sun tolerant#houseplant#drought tolerant#nectar plant#winter interest#rabbit resistant#mass planting#flower arrangements#winter bulbs#groundcover#rock garden#border planting#bedding plants#cutting garden#fantz#border front#nectar plant spring#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#HS302#problem for cats#flowers late winter#ebh#problem for dogs#problem for horses#ebh-g#contact dermatitis#container plant#hsc#hsc-fl#wildlife friendly#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Chinita', 'Dreamlight', 'Eastern Dawn', 'Hawera', Kokopelli, Narcissus 'Tahiti', N. cyclamineus, N. jonquilla, N. poeticus, N. pseudonarcissus, N. tazetta, N. triandrus, N. x incomparabilis, N. x odorus
Tags:
#fragrant#hardy#bulb#showy flowers#poisonous#full sun tolerant#houseplant#drought tolerant#nectar plant#winter interest#rabbit resistant#mass planting#flower arrangements#winter bulbs#groundcover#rock garden#border planting#bedding plants#cutting garden#fantz#border front#nectar plant spring#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#HS302#problem for cats#flowers late winter#ebh#problem for dogs#problem for horses#ebh-g#contact dermatitis#container plant#hsc#hsc-fl#wildlife friendly#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Narcissus
    Family:
    Amaryllidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Northern Africa, Europe, Afghanistan, China, Japan
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract butterflies.
    Bulb Storage:
    These bulbs do not need to be stored.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Poisonous
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Low
    Medium
  • 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)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Pink
    Variegated
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Winter
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Trumpet
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    fused petals
    Tepals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Many different colors flowers appear single or in a cluster on top of a naked stem. Tubular projection above the 6 spreading petal-like parts. Cultivars bloom anywhere from December to May for 2-3 weeks. Perianth tubular with 6 free lobes, and the lobes are spreading to reflexed. A petaloid corona arises from the perianth throat junction. Corona is cylindrical, cup-like, or saucer-like. Flowers can grow alone or in clusters at the top of a naked stem, each white to yellow to red with a papery bract at the back. Inflorescence is a scapose umbel or reduced to a solitary flower.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Waxy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Narrow, erect, flat or terete strap-shaped leaves are erect in sprawling clumps. Leaves grow alone or in groups in a basal rosette. Often has a glaucous surface.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Small Space
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    English Garden
    Fairy Garden
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Rabbits
    Salt
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION SEVERE! Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, trembling, and convulsions; may be fatal. Contact dermatitis ("lily rash") following the handling of bulbs, flowers, and stems. Low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Phenanthridine alkaloids such as lycorine, also calcium oxalate crystals.
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Leaves
    Roots
    Stems