Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Daffodil
(c) Gilles San Martin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Gilles San Martin · licence
Family: Amaryllidaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Daffodil) is a non-native California herb in the Amaryllidaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by yellow flowers with ruffled crown and northern California distribution.
Daffodil is a naturalized perennial found in northern coastal California, Santa Clara Valley, and central coastal California in disturbed places at elevations below 350 meters. Flowering in spring, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with a distinctive trumpet-shaped corona 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide, surrounded by six elegant perianth segments spanning 5 to 7 centimeters. Growing with tall stems 25 to 50 centimeters high, it emerges from a pale brown bulb 2 to 5 centimeters in size. Its four flat, bluish-green leaves extend 20 to 45 centimeters long, providing a striking backdrop to the fragrant blossoms. The plant's pale brown papery bract and softly twisted yellow flower parts create an iconic springtime display.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated species with 0 sympatric congeners. Distinguished by yellow flowers with ruffled crown and northern California distribution.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: < 350 m
California counties: El Dorado, Napa, Santa Cruz, Placer, Butte, Contra Costa, Humboldt, San Mateo, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Monterey
Outside California: to Washington, eastern United States, Europe, western Asia, northern Africa
Bloom period
Narcissus pseudonarcissus blooms Spring.
How to tell it apart
vs Hemerocallis: Narcissus grows from bulbs and blooms in spring; Hemerocallis grows from fibrous roots and blooms in summer.; vs Oxalis: Narcissus has six petals around a central trumpet; Oxalis has five simple petals with no crown and clover-like leaves.; vs Iris: Narcissus has upright trumpet flowers with all petals similar; Iris has three upright petals and three drooping falls.; vs Freesia: Narcissus flowers have a distinctive central crown or trumpet; Freesia flowers are tubular funnels with no crown structure.; vs Allium: Narcissus has large solitary flowers with a central crown; Allium has many small flowers clustered in a round ball.
Frequently asked questions
Is Narcissus pseudonarcissus native to California?
No. Narcissus pseudonarcissus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Narcissus pseudonarcissus bloom?
Narcissus pseudonarcissus blooms Spring.
Where in California does Narcissus pseudonarcissus grow?
Narcissus pseudonarcissus occurs in El Dorado, Napa, Santa Cruz, Placer, Butte, Contra Costa, Humboldt, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of < 350 m.
What plant family does Narcissus pseudonarcissus belong to?
Narcissus pseudonarcissus is in the Amaryllidaceae family, genus Narcissus.
What habitat does Narcissus pseudonarcissus grow in?
Narcissus pseudonarcissus grows in Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.