Narcissus poeticus 'Actaea'

Amaryllidaceae. An old cultivar derived from the poet's narcissus, a wild species of mountain meadows and grasslands in southern Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Balkans. Registered at the beginning of the 20th century, 'Actaea' is one of the most widespread and persistent cultivars of the poeticus group in old gardens.

The plant reaches 40 to 45 cm in height. The leaves are upright, glaucous, ribbon-like. The flower, solitary, bears six broad, rounded tepals of pure white and slightly satiny, arranged in a regular star. The crown, very short and flattened — characteristic of the poeticus group — is a bright yellow edged with a vivid red rim, sharp and precise, which contrasts with the immaculate whiteness of the tepals. It is this striking contrast, visible in the photographs, that defines the identity of this cultivar. The fragrance is powerful and characteristic, sweet and slightly suave.

In its natural habitat, the flowering of the type species extends from April to June depending on altitude. In cultivation, 'Actaea' blooms in April-May, among the last narcissi of the season.

Robust and easy, it naturalizes readily in lawns and meadows mowed late, in any ordinary well-drained to fresh soil, in full sun or light partial shade. It multiplies slowly by division of clumps after flowering.