# Poet's Narcissus (*Narcissus poeticus*) The Poet's Narcissus is a beautiful flower known for its lovely white petals and bright yellow center. It blooms in spring and adds a cheerful touch to gardens and meadows. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Pheasant's Eye ![Poet's Narcissus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Grandalla_%28Narcissus_poeticus%29_al_Montseny_%28Catalunya%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Arnaucc, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grandalla_%28Narcissus_poeticus%29_al_Montseny_%28Catalunya%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Poet's Narcissus has striking pure white petals surrounding a small, flattened central cup. This cup is typically yellow with a distinct narrow red or orange rim, making it visually unique among many narcissi. Its delicate appearance gives it a refined and classic beauty. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Amaryllidaceae - **Genus:** Narcissus ## Interesting facts - Ancient Greeks linked it to the myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection. - Finding wild Poet's Narcissus often means the soil is healthy and undisturbed. - Its strong, sweet scent has been used in fancy perfumes for hundreds of years. - This flower is sometimes called "Pheasant's Eye" because its red-rimmed cup looks like one! ## Special abilities - **Toxin Shield:** Poet's Narcissus produces toxic compounds like lycorine to deter hungry animals from eating its bulbs and leaves. - **Scent Beacon:** Poet's Narcissus has a strong, sweet fragrance that attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies from a distance. - **Underground Pantry:** Poet's Narcissus stores energy in its bulb, allowing it to survive harsh conditions and re-emerge year after year. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** [Common Vole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-vole) (*Microtus arvalis*) — may consume bulbs - **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — can damage leaves ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat any part of this flower, as it can make you feel sick. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Poet's Narcissus? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Poet's Narcissus? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Poet's Narcissus? 5-8 cm ### When does Poet's Narcissus bloom? Spring ### Is Poet's Narcissus edible? No ### Is Poet's Narcissus toxic? Moderate ### What is Poet's Narcissus's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Poet's Narcissus pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Central New Bedford Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-new-bedford-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Green Brook Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/green-brook-park) — New Jersey, US · Park - [New Bedford Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-bedford-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Arboretum Ellerhoop](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arboretum-ellerhoop) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Park [View all places to see Poet's Narcissus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/poets-narcissus) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Poet's Narcissus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/poets-narcissus)