Narcissus poeticus recurvus - Daffodil

The Narcissus poeticus recurvus, sometimes called the true poets' narcissus, is a late-flowering variety. Its delicately fragrant flowers have petals that are pure white with a small yellow crown in the centre, bordered by a red-orange edge. Each stem bears only one flower.

Native to Western Europe, the narcissus belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. The genus Narcissus includes many species and varieties, both of botanical origin (such as the poets' narcissus) and horticultural. The jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla), with its yellow flowers and leaves similar to those of the rush, is one of the species in the Narcissus genus. In some regions, the yellow narcissus or trumpet narcissus (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is sometimes called a jonquil, hence the frequent confusion between jonquil and narcissus.

The narcissus is a bulbous plant with slightly pointed linear leaves, which are sometimes slightly bluish-green in colour. The hollow stems end in single or double flowers, with 6 petals in white or yellow. In the centre, there is often a crown in shades of yellow or orange. The Narcissus poeticus recurvus produces delicately fragrant flowers with pure white petals and a small yellow crown bordered by a red-orange edge. The wild species grows spontaneously in nature, particularly in alpine meadows. 

The flowering of narcissus lasts about fifteen days and takes place between February and May, depending on the varieties (May for this variety). The flowers are perfectly suited for bouquets, as long as they are not mixed with other flowers, as the sap releases a substance that accelerates wilting.

Easy to cultivate, the narcissus can be planted in various locations in the garden: in the foreground of a shrub bed, along the edge, in the middle of a short grass meadow, or grown in a pot. It pairs beautifully with muscari, early tulips, and hyacinths, and naturalises easily. However, be cautious as the bulb, flower, and leaves are toxic.