About
A bulbous perennial to around 30cm tall with stems bearing 2-3 flowers up to 3.5cm wide. Each flower has white, overlapping perianth segments and a cup-shaped, loosely-ribbed corona that opens orange and may become paler sometimes with yellow at the base.
About the 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
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Coastal, Patio and container plants
ToxicityHarmful 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
Care notes
CultivationPlant bulbs at one-and-a-half times their own depth in autumn, slightly deeper in light soils and in grass, in well-drained, preferably slightly alkaline, soil that is reasonably moist in the growing season in spring, in full sun or light dappled shade, though they will flower best in full sun. See daffodil cultivation for further advice
PruningDeadhead as the flowers fade but allow the leaves to die down naturally
PropagationPropagate by division: separate and replant offsets as the leaves fade in early summer, or in early autumn before new roots are produced
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs, snails, large narcissus bulb fly, narcissus eelworm, and pollen beetles
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to narcissus basal rot, narcissus leaf scorch, narcissus smoulder, tulip grey bulb rot, other fungal diseases, narcissus yellow stripe virus, and other virus diseases