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The Poet's Daffodil Actaea

Narcissus poeticus

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ZONES  3-8 | Good to grow! Zone
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The Original Poet's Daffodil: Actaea is a true heirloom that's perfect for naturalizing. Flowers are pure white with a yellow cup edged in red. Sweet fragrance. (Narcissus poeticus recurvus)

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The Poet's Daffodil Actaea

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Description

If you want an authentically wild' look, but also a spectacular display, this is the one. The Poet's Daffodils are among the oldest members of the flower kingdom, a true heirloom species, very close to the true wild form. (Most true species daffodils, the real 'wildflowers' that have been hybridized for years, are very small plants, but this one is strong and tall with large flowers.)

Since it is so ancient, it is one of the most perennial daffodils of them all. Once you plant them, you'll have them forever. It's fitting that when Linnaeus, the famous early scientist who invented Latin botanical nomenclature, named this flower, he christened it Narcissus poeticus recurvus. He simply decided that this is the one that best represents the early poet's story of Narcissus, the famous handsome youth from Greek mythology. Remember Narcissus? He was the young man who was so handsome he fell in love with himself while gazing into a reflecting pool. Today we know that the whole family of daffodils ended up being called 'narcissus', but the 'poeticus' in the name of this one is the direct connection to the early myths, and an official historic tribute to the incredible beauty of this particular flower. Of course, the myth of Narcissus gives us modern psychology's 'Narcissus complex', and men who are very vain are still called 'narcissistic.'

In botanical history, however, a great story and a great name don't necessarily point to a great plant for today. But in this case, they certainly do, especially for gardeners who love really beautiful flowers that take absolutely no care.

There are only a handful of choices among 'Poet's Daffodils'; they are so unique they create their own category among Dutch daffodil types. One is called 'Old Pheasant's Eye' for obvious reasons. But we chose 'Actaea' since we think it's a bit more beautiful. Both have the stunningly-colored short center cup in brilliant contrast colors against the flat background of pure white petals. You'll love this daffodil.

Planting & Care

Naturalizing Daffodils: Probably nothing in the gardening world is more foolproof and more rewarding than 'naturalizing' daffodils. Because unlike most other garden flowers, these fantastic plants are super-easy to plant in fall, they don't care about soil, as long as it's well-drained, and they'll bloom beautifully for you with absolutely no work every spring after you plant them. Best of all, daffodils increase over the years, each bulb developing into a blooming clump. All you have to do is pick the spots. The one thing to remember is that you won't be able to mow that area until the tops die down. Everything else takes care of itself. In a new or established wildflower meadow, the wildflower plants grow up around the daffodils hiding the fading foliage, so there's no work to do. And if you're planting wildflower seed, what could be easier that to pop in the bulbs when you have the ground already turned?

About the Wild Daffodils: Like wild tulips which are more the size of crocus, most of the wild daffodils are tiny too. They're generally small wildflowers that have been hybridized by the Dutch into the big tall beauties we know today.

Unlike tulips which are native to Central Asia, daffodils are European wildflowers, native to areas of France, Spain and Portugal.

Holland is not the ancestral home of any bulb flowers. But it's the home of almost all the hybrids, since the Dutch hybridizers have not only created thousands of new flowers gardeners love, they've developed a huge national industry that supplies bulbs to gardeners worldwide.

To a wild gardener, of course, the original un-hybridized species (and their close hybrids) are all interesting, and even better, they're all dependably perennial. Plant them once, and they're there forever. Unlike the hybrids which develop bigger and bigger clumps each year, and have to be divided every few seasons for good bloom, the wild species simply spread, like they do in the wild. So there is no maintenance for the wild bulbs, once you get them established.

Here are the major wild species:

  • Narcissus tazetta
  • Narcissus triandrus
  • Narcissus pseudonarcissus
  • Narcissus jonquilla
  • Narcissus poeticus recurvus
  • Narcissus clyclamineus'

Further Reading:

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As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat.  The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (802) 227-7200 or contact us by email or chat.

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key features

Advantages
  • Bee Friendly
  • Naturalizes
  • Easy To Grow
  • Cut Flowers
  • Fragrant
  • Container Planting
  • Deer Resistant
  • Squirrel Resistant
Light Requirements
  • Full Sun
  • Half Sun / Half Shade
Bloom Time
Late spring

Additional information

Planting Time
  • Fall
Soil Moisture
  • Average
  • Dry
Soil Type
  • Loamy Soil
  • Acidic Soil
  • Well-Drained Soil
Mature Height
16" tall
Bulb Spacing
6 per sq ft
Flower Bulb Size
14-16 cm
Planting Depth
6" deep
Growing Zones
  • Zone 3
  • Zone 4
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
Ideal Region
  • Midwest
  • Northeast
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Southeast
  • Southwest
  • West
Poisonous or Toxic to Animals
Yes - Bulbs, blooms, leaves, and stems all contain toxic compounds, which are most concentrated in the bulb.
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