Narcissus is a genus in the Amaryllidaceae family native to Europe, North Africa and Asia. As a popular garden plant it has been hybridized and there are new ones being introduced every year.
Photographs of the species M-Z will be found below.
Narcissus minor 'Cedric Morris' is a selection of Narcissus minor named in the 1950s. It is in bloom at Christmas time in California. Photo by John Lonsdale.
Narcissus obesus also known as N. bulbocodium ssp. obesus, is a late-flowering "hoop petticoat" species distinguished by its undulating, prostrate foliage and large golden flowers on short stems. The clone shown, vigorous and free-flowering, was given to Oregon gardener Molly Grothaus by British daffodil expert Frank Waley. Photos by Jane McGary and John Lonsdale.
Narcissus pallidiflorus is native to Spain. The flower is quite large, but its stems are rather short. The illustrated plants were grown from wild-collected seed and show a little variation in color, some being all pale yellow and some showing the more typical darker corona. Grown in a raised bed in Oregon, flowering in March. Photo by Jane McGary.
Narcissus papyraceus is the pure-white member of the tazzetta group. It is named after papyrus, from which the ancient Egyptians made their paper - thus the common name "Paper-white". A beautifully scented bulb which comes from the southern countries bordering the Mediterranean and Morocco, where this plant was collected. Photo by David Victor.
Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus , Wild narcissus, with a very pleasant scent, growing in open woods on the hills of Northern Italy ( 250/750 mts.); they like a shady position and moist soil. This is the last blossoming among narcissus here, from the end of April to late May. Photos by Giorgio Pozzi, May 2005.
Narcissus pseudonarcissus from Europe is a very variable species both in size and in color (white to yellow or bicolored.) Perhaps someone can help me identify which subspecies this one is blooming in January 2005. Photo by Mary Sue Ittner.
Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. moschatus from the Pyrenees is whitish, has forward leaning petals that largely parallel the trumpet-shaped corona. This photo by Becky Matthews was taken in rural Tennessee in March 2004.
Narcissus romieuxii is very similar to Narcissus bulbocodium but is distinguished by have a short pedicel and protruding stamens. Flowers are pale yellow. This is an early flowering species (winter) and is a native of Morocco. Photos by Arnold Trachtenberg and John Lonsdale.
Narcissus romieuxii flat corona . Photo by John Lonsdale.
Narcissus romieuxii 'Julia Jane' flowering in mid winter. Grown and photographed by Rob Hamilton.
Narcissus romieuxii ssp. albidus var. zaianicus is described as having upward-facing pale lemon flowers with shorter tepals than the subspecies. My plants were identified as Narcissus romieuxii var. zaianicus so may be the same plant as photographed by John Lonsdale below. Regardless of the correct name this is a very satisfactory plant, blooming well each year between late December and March, sometimes for months. Photo by Mary Sue Ittner.
Narcissus romieuxii ssp. romieuxii . Photo by John Lonsdale.
Narcissus romieuxii ssp. romieuxii var. mesatlanticus . Photo by John Lonsdale.
Narcissus romieuxii ssp. romieuxii var. rifanus flowering in January in northwestern Oregon, in a bulb frame. Purchased as seed (under the name N. riffanus) from Monocot Nursery, collector's number SL333. Native to Morocco. These plants do not have the green tips on the petals mentioned by John Blanchard in "Narcissus: A Guide to Wild Daffodils" but otherwise conform to his description. Photos by Jane McGary and John Lonsdale.
Narcissus romieuxii ssp. zaianicus . Photo by John Lonsdale.
Narcissus rupicola ssp. watieri is also known as N. watieri. It comes from Morocco. It is the only pure white member of its section and has a greenish throat. It flowers a little before typical N. rupicola. Hybridizers of miniature daffodils seek it, but it is well worth growing for its own sake, since it has exquisite form and increases moderately well. Shown flowering in a bulb frame in Oregon in March. Photo by Jane McGary.
Narcissus serotinus is a diminutive species flowering at the end of September. Usually carries 1 flower but sometimes 2, or even 3. Photos taken in habitat by Angelo Porcelli in Apulia - Italy.
Narcissus tazetta is one of the better known flowers from the Mediterranean. Much loved for its sweet scent, it has been cultivated for centuries and spread around the world. A countless number of hybrids exist.
This is the wild form found in Italy. Photo in habitat by Angelo Porcelli.
The next photo, by Jane McGary, shows wild plants of N. tazetta on the island of Marathonisi (ancient Krinai) off Gytheion in the Peloponnese, flowering at the end of October. Plants on Crete typically flower in early spring, however.
The double form of tazetta called 'Double Romans' Photo by Angelo Porcelli.
This is an old tazetta hybrid called 'Grand Primo'. It is by far the stronger grower Narcissus for me, with bulbs that can reach 10cm in diameter and often with two sturdy stalks per bulb. Photo by Angelo Porcelli.
This is the so called Narcissus tazetta italicus which is actually a sterile hybrid between N. tazetta and Narcissus papyraceus, found in Italy where the two species overlap. Note that N. papyraceus isn't an Italian native, but was introduced long ago and naturalized, especially along the coasts. William Welch reports this hybrid has been also named 'Stars' and 'Straw White', while Scott Ogden adds 'Minor Monarch' in his book. Photo by Angelo Porcelli.
This is the so called Narcissus tazetta orientalis known also as the Chinese Sacred Lily. This form isn't found wild in Italy. It is thought to come from Portugal and Spain and spread to China along the Silk Route. It has a delicious scent, never unpleasant. Photo by Angelo Porcelli.
Narcissus triandrus is native to Spain and is usually represented in cultivation by the creamy white form shown in the photo. It is an adaptable plant (the one shown is growing on a peaty rock garden bed that is watered frequently in summer) and often self-sows in gardens. Photo by Jane McGary.
Narcissus viridiflorus is an autumn flower species with green flowers. it is from Spain, Morocco, and Gibralter where it grows in rocky places. It needs a warm rest in order to flower. Photos by John Lonsdale.
Narcissus - Narcissus Species A-L - Narcissus Hybrids - Division 1 - Division 2 - Division 3 - Division 4 - Division 5 - Division 6 - Division 7 - Division 8 - Division 9 - Division 10 - Division 11 - Division 12 - Miniatures
Return to the Pbs wiki Photographs And Information page