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Narcissus 'Actaea'

Image of Narcissus 'Actaea'

International Flower Bulb Centre

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Botanical Name

Narcissus 'Actaea'

Plant Common Name

Actaea Daffodil, Poeticus Daffodil

General Description

A late-blooming, fragrant, and elegant cultivar that does well in relatively damp or shady sites, this heirloom poeticus hybrid is one of the best daffodils for naturalizing. Each stem bears one rounded, creamy white flower with a small, yellow, red-rimmed cup.

Daffodils are hardy, long-lived, clump-forming bulbs. Unlike tulips they are poisonous, so they are not eaten by small mammals and their green tops are not browsed by deer.

These are some of the easiest bulbs to grow. They prefer full to part sun and require average to fertile soil. Plant bulbs in early- to mid-fall at a depth two to three times their width. After blooming, it is good to let their green tops photosynthesize to allow them to store plenty of fuel for next spring’s display. Once their leaves start to turn yellow, they can be cut to the ground.

Like all daffodils, this is a superb cutflower. In the landscape, it pairs well with spring-blooming perennials and shrubs.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    8 - 1

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    3 - 8

  • Sunset Zone

    A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Bulb or Corm or Tuber

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    14"-18" / 35.6cm - 45.7cm

  • Width

    4"-8" / 10.2cm - 20.3cm

  • Bloom Time

    Spring, Late Spring

  • Native To

    Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam

  • Tolerances

    Black Walnut Toxicity

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Clump-Forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White, Red

  • Flower Color Modifier

    Bicolor

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    No

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes