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Bulbs

Narcissus poeticus (13)

pheasant's eye

A clump-forming perennial daffodil to 45cm high, with straplike, grey-green leaves, producing solitary, scented flowers in late spring. Flowers have long white outer petals, and a small yellow cup with a narrow red rim

Other common names

pheasant's eye daffodil
pheasant's eye narcissus
see morepoet's daffodil
poet's narcissus
Whitsun lily

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats, tortoises): Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Narcissus are bulbous herbaceous perennials with linear leaves and leafless stems bearing flowers, which may be solitary or in umbels, with 6 spreading perianth segments and a cup or trumpet-shaped corona
Name status: Correct
Horticultural Group: Division 13 daffodils include all natural species and their varieties and forms
Plant range: W Mediterranean

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant bulbs at one and a half to two times their own depth in autumn. Will tolerate most soils but prefers moderately fertile, well-drained soil that is constantly moist during the growing season. See daffodil cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by division, removing offsets as the leaves fade in early summer, or by chipping. See bulb propagation for more detailed advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Deadhead as flowers fade. Allow the leaves to die down naturally

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, large narcissus bulb fly, narcissus eelworm, and bulb scale mite on bulbs forced for early flowering

Diseases

May be susceptible to narcissus basal rot, narcissus leaf scorch or daffodil viruses

Get involved

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