Narrow-leaved poet's daffodil

About

Narrow-leaved poet's daffodil is the only daffodil that grows wild in Ukraine. The flower is white, with six reflexed petals; in the center, there is a small yellow corona with a red frilled edge. The plant is 20–40 cm tall, with narrow linear leaves and a strong delicate fragrance. It blooms from late April to May.

With names, it is easy to get confused. Botanists classify the Carpathian plant as the species Narcissus poeticus as the subspecies radiiflorus. In many Ukrainian sources and in the current list of the Red Book of Ukraine, it is referred to as Narcissus angustifolius. So, it is the same plant.

Mostly, this daffodil is a high-altitude plant: it grows in the meadows of the Alps, Balkans, and Southern Carpathians at an altitude of 1000–2000 m, and in Ukraine, it is found on the polonynas of Marmarosy and Świdowiec. However, the most famous place lies almost at sea level: the "Valley of the Daffodils" in the Kireshe area, 4 km from the city of Khust, at an altitude of 180–200 m. The massif, covering an area of about 256 ha, has been part of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve since 1992 and received the status of a wetland of international importance in 2019.

Narrow-leaved poet's daffodil is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine with the status of "vulnerable," so picking flowers and digging up bulbs is prohibited. Moreover, all parts of daffodils are poisonous, especially the bulbs.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Ukraine · Slovakia · Romania · Hungary · Poland · Czechia

Mountain ranges

Maramureș Mountains, Svydovets, Low Beskids

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

All parts of daffodils are poisonous, especially the bulbs.

Protection and rules

Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (Narcissus angustifolius, vulnerable). Enjoy, but picking and digging up is prohibited.

Admire, don’t pick: plants listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine — and any plants in nature reserves and strictly protected zones of national parks — must not be collected.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ