Narcissus Pheasant's Eye Daffodil Bulbs

Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit 1993; Wister Award of the American Daffodil Society 2014

Plant Narcissus Pheasant's Eye daffodil bulbs in autumn before the first frost, and in late spring, they bloom when most daffodils are beginning to fade. This classic "poet's daffodil" is a 1956 Lionel Richardson heirloom variety, one of the oldest varieties still being grown. A long-time favorite of gardeners, Pheasant's Eye is still beloved and coveted for its brilliant displays of pure white flowers with a bright yellow mini cup rimmed in red. Typically borne singly on long, slender stems rising to a mature height of 12 inches, the flowers are powerfully perfumed with a sweet fragrance that wafts through the garden or perfumes a room. In fact, many French fragrance companies use it in their formulary perfumes. The long-lasting blooms attract pollinators to the garden, including butterflies and hummingbirds, and make excellent cut flowers for elegant late spring bouquets.

A Narcissus poeticus (syn. N. poeticus var. recurves), commonly called daffodil, Pheasant's Eye has an upright, clumping habit and fast growth rate. It multiplies and naturalizes easily, with its sprawling clumps of long, flat, strap-like leaves and showy blooms appearing year after year, possibly for decades, in ideal conditions with adequate space, sunlight, water, and fertilizer. Best planted in groups or masses, daffodils are versatile plants that work equally well in mixed beds, borders, and containers. Plant in large sweeping drifts in open woodland areas, in masses under deciduous trees, and in smaller groupings in front of shrubs. Daffodils mix well with ground covers and other spring-blooming bulbs in the garden but can also be forced for indoor blooms in winter.

Narcissus Pheasant's Eye is a cold hardy (to Zone 3) bulbous perennial that's so easy to grow and maintain it's virtually foolproof. Daffodils prefer areas with cool winters and warm, dry summers, but they grow well in most USDA Hardiness Zones if there is a discernable winter. They grow best in full sun to part shade locations with rich, fertile, well-draining soil having a neutral to acidic pH. When planting Pheasant's Eye bulbs, allow adequate space between bulbs and plant them at the proper depth: 8 inches apart and 6 inches deep. Feed bulbs with a well-balanced fertilizer, such as Espoma Organic® Bulb-tone® Bulb and Flower Food, as soon as growth begins in spring; and water the plants during the growth period, but keep in mind, bulbs do not like soggy soils. After flowers bloom, allow foliage to die back naturally and cut back once fully faded. Pheasant's Eye daffodils are relatively pest-free and deer resistant.

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