Narcissus tazetta

Narcissus
Amaryllidacaceae
Bulbs and bulblike plants

NARCISSUS

Beyond their fascinating variety in flower form and color, these natives of Europe and North Africa offer numerous appealing traits. They are permanent, increasing from year to year; they stand up to cold (most are hardy to –30––F/ –34––C) and heat; and they are useful in many garden situations. Given minimum care at planting, they thrive with virtually no further attention. These plants do not require summer watering (but will take it), need only infrequent division (and will even survive without it), and are totally unappetizing to gophers and deer. They bloom in late winter or spring. All plants known by the names daffodil, narcissus, and– jonquil are properly Narcissus.

Flowers may be borne singly or in clusters. Colors are basically yellow and white, but there are many variations: shades of orange, red, apricot, pink, cream. Some are fragrant. Leaves may be straight and flat (strap shaped) or narrow and rushlike.

Use them among trees and flowering shrubs, in ground-cover plantings, near water, in rock gardens, or in borders. Naturalize them in sweeping drifts where space is available.

Narcissus tazetta

These are early blooming, cluster-flowering daffodils popularly known by the name “narcissus.” Each stem bears four to eight or more very fragrant flowers with short cup. Many have white perianth segments and yellow cup, but there are other color combinations. Tazettas are often grown indoors in bowls of pebbles and water (keep dark and cool until growth is well along, then gradually bring into light). Hardy to about 10°F/–12°C.

'Geranium'

These are early blooming, cluster-flowering types popularly known by the name “narcissus.” Each stem bears four to eight or more very fragrant flowers, each with a short cup. Segments usually white, cups orange. Hardy to about 10°F/–12°C.

'Minnow'

These produce multiple blooms; each has white petals with yellow center on 15- to 18-inch stems.

'Orientalis'

Each stem bears four to eight or more very fragrant flowers with light yellow segments and a darker
yellow cup.

'Paper White'

These are the white, fragrant, clustered daffodils that greenhouses and gardeners force by the million for indoor display at Christmas. But they're also excellent outdoor plants in mild-winter climates.