SKU: 00840369421524 Erlicher Narcissus - Indoor Narcissus- Nice, Healthy Bulbs Perfect for Holiday Forcing!!

Key Features

• Growth Habit: Upright, clump-forming bulbous perennial with narrow, strap-like blue-green foliage. Each mature bulb can produce sturdy flower stems topped with clusters of multiple double flowers.
• Bloom Color: Fully double creamy-white to ivory flowers with soft cream to pale yellow tones concentrated toward the center. Multiple flowers are typically carried on each stem.
• Bloom Season: An early-season Narcissus, typically flowering from late winter into early spring depending on climate, planting time, and growing conditions.
• Fragrance: Highly fragrant. Flowers produce a rich, sweet fragrance that makes Erlicheer especially desirable for containers near entrances, patios, porches, and outdoor seating areas.
• Fruit Flavor: None. Narcissus may form seed capsules following successful pollination, but they are not edible fruits and should never be consumed.
• Culinary Uses: None. All parts of Narcissus are considered unsuitable for culinary use. Bulbs can resemble onions when out of the ground, so they should always be clearly labeled and stored separately from edible bulbs.
• Medicinal Uses: Narcissus species contain biologically active alkaloids that have been investigated scientifically and have histories of specialized medicinal research. However, the raw plant is toxic and should never be used in homemade medicinal preparations or self-treatment.
• Possible Toxicity to Pets or Humans: Toxic if ingested. Narcissus contains alkaloids, including lycorine, with the bulbs generally containing particularly concentrated amounts. Ingestion can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, drooling, and other symptoms in people, dogs, cats, and livestock. Handling bulbs may also cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Keep bulbs away from children and pets and do not store them with onions or other edible produce.
• Wildlife & Pest Resistance: Narcissus is generally resistant to deer, rabbits, squirrels, and many other browsing animals because of its toxic alkaloids. Flowers can be visited by early-season pollinating insects. Potential problems include narcissus bulb fly, bulb mites, slugs, snails, and fungal bulb rots, particularly when bulbs are grown in persistently wet soil or poorly drained containers.
• Planting Zone: Commonly grown in approximately USDA Zones 6–9, although performance and perennial return vary with local climate. Erlicheer is particularly well suited to regions with relatively mild winters and may need protection from extreme cold in containers.
• Sun Preferences: Full sun to partial shade. Approximately 4–6 or more hours of sunlight encourages sturdy growth and abundant flowering. In warmer climates, morning sun with some afternoon protection can help flowers last longer.
• Soil Preferences: Prefers fertile, loose, well-drained soil or potting mix. Excellent drainage is essential because bulbs can rot when left in constantly saturated growing media.
• Drought Tolerance: Moderate during dormancy. Plants need regular moisture while actively growing and flowering but prefer substantially drier conditions after the foliage naturally dies back and the bulbs enter dormancy.
• Mature Size: Typically grows approximately 12–16 inches tall, with multiple flowering stems forming an attractive upright cluster.

When and How to Prune

• Remove individual faded flower clusters after blooming if seed production is not desired.
• Cut spent flower stems back near their base once all flowers on the stem have finished.
• Do not cut back healthy green foliage after flowering. The leaves continue photosynthesizing and transferring energy into the bulb for the following year's growth and flowers.
• Continue normal care until the foliage begins naturally turning yellow.
• Once leaves are completely yellow, brown, and easily detached, they can be cut back to soil level.
• Avoid tying, braiding, or folding green leaves after flowering, as this reduces the leaf surface available for photosynthesis.
• If several varieties are planted together, remove diseased foliage promptly and sanitize pruning tools between affected plants.

Planting Instructions (Bulbs into a Pot)

1. Choose a container with drainage holes. Narcissus bulbs should never be planted in a decorative pot that allows water to remain around the roots.
2. For an attractive grouped display, select a pot approximately 8–12 inches wide and at least 8 inches deep, depending on the number of bulbs being planted.
3. Fill the container with a high-quality, loose, well-draining potting mix. Adding drainage-promoting material can be beneficial if the mixture retains excessive moisture.
4. Position each bulb with the pointed end facing upward and the broad basal plate facing downward.
5. For outdoor container culture, plant the bulbs approximately 4–6 inches deep, or roughly two to three times the height of the bulb.
6. Space bulbs approximately 2–3 inches apart for a full container display. They can be planted somewhat closer in seasonal display pots than they would be in the ground, but the bulbs should not be tightly compressed against one another.
7. Backfill gently with potting mix and lightly firm the surface.
8. Water thoroughly after planting until excess water flows from the drainage holes.
9. Place the container where it will receive full sun to partial shade and the appropriate cool conditions needed for bulb development.
10. Keep the potting mix moderately moist but never soggy during root development and active growth.
11. Once green shoots emerge, make sure plants receive abundant light so stems remain sturdy rather than becoming weak and stretched.
12. Rotate containers periodically if sunlight reaches them primarily from one direction.
13. During flowering, moving the container to a somewhat cooler location out of intense afternoon sun can help extend the life of the blossoms.

After-Bloom Care

• Once flowering is finished, remove the faded flower stems but leave all green foliage intact.
• Continue watering while the leaves remain actively green.
• A light application of bulb fertilizer after flowering can help replenish nutrients if the bulbs will be retained for another season.
• Gradually reduce watering as the leaves begin naturally yellowing.
• Once the foliage has completely died back, discontinue routine watering and allow the bulbs to enter dormancy.
• Bulbs can remain in the container if conditions are suitable, or they can be lifted after dormancy begins and stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location until the appropriate replanting time.

Overwintering Container-Grown Erlicheer Narcissus

• Container-grown bulbs experience greater temperature fluctuations than bulbs planted directly in the ground because their roots and bulbs have less insulation.
• In mild climates, pots can generally remain outdoors in a protected location during winter.
• In colder regions, protect containers from extreme freezing and repeated freeze-thaw cycles by moving them to an unheated garage, cold frame, protected porch, or similarly cool location when necessary.
• Do not move dormant bulbs into a warm living area too early unless intentionally forcing them into bloom.
• Keep dormant pots lightly moist rather than saturated. Excess winter moisture is a major cause of bulb rot.
• Make sure drainage holes remain unobstructed throughout winter.
• Once shoots begin actively emerging, gradually return containers to brighter light.
• Protect tender emerging growth and flower buds from unusually severe late freezes.
• After flowering, allow the foliage to complete its natural growth cycle before beginning the next dormancy period.

With its double creamy-white flowers, multiple blooms per stem, and wonderfully sweet perfume, Erlicheer Narcissus is an outstanding choice for spring container displays. Planted in groups, the bulbs create a lush miniature bouquet that is especially effective on patios, porches, balconies, and beside entryways where the fragrance can be appreciated up close. Proper drainage, adequate light, and allowing the foliage to mature naturally after flowering will give the bulbs the best opportunity to store energy for another beautiful season.