Narcissus poeticus 'Albus Plenus Odoratus'

Narcissus poeticus 'Albus Plenus Odoratus', often called the 'Double Pheasant Eye', is a delightful double-flowered form of the Poet's Narcissus, highly valued for its fragrance. This historic variety, discovered before 1861, produces charming flowers in late spring that resemble those of a gardenia, warmed by a small yellow heart bordered in red. Double and subtly multicoloured, adorned with a magnificent scent, this flower makes beautiful bouquets to perfume the house. Like many varieties derived from the Poet's Narcissus, this bulb prefers cool climates and is perfectly resistant to cold. 

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 Poet's Narcissus) and horticultural. The jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla), with yellow flowers and leaves resembling those of a 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, which often leads to confusion between jonquils and narcissus.

Narcissus poeticus 'Albus Plenus Odoratus', of uncertain origin, was already known and appreciated in the early 19th century. It is derived from the Poet's Narcissus, which grows spontaneously in France, Switzerland, and Italy, particularly in alpine meadows. It is a bulbous plant with slightly pointed linear leaves, of a slightly bluish-green colour. The hollow stems, about 40cm (16in) long, end with flowers that have a double to triple perianth, composed of pure white petals that blend with the small golden-yellow crown bordered in red-orange. The Narcissus poeticus 'Alba Plena' produces highly fragrant flowers. This variety tends to bloom in May or early June, depending on the climate. Curiously, some years, the flower buds fail to open, depriving gardeners of the long-awaited flowering. Various hypotheses have been put forward to explain this phenomenon, none of which, individually examined, seems truly satisfactory. Perhaps it is a question of climate or temperature at the time of flowering...

Easy to grow and very hardy, Narcissus 'Albus Plenus Odoratus' can be planted in various locations in the garden: at the front of a shrub bed, as a border, in the middle of a short grass meadow, or even in a pot. It pairs beautifully with tulips, forget-me-nots, and wood hyacinths, and naturalizes easily. However, be cautious with young children, as the bulb, flower, and leaves are toxic. Narcissus bulbs are the hardiest bulbs planted in autumn, preferring well-drained and light soil, but they are very accommodating. 

For bouquets: We advise against mixing Narcissus with other flowers, especially tulips. The stems of Narcissus contain a substance that quickly wilts other flowers. This adverse effect on other flower types can be mitigated by dipping the ends of the Narcissus stems in warm water for 1 to 2 minutes.