Wikimedia Commons
Amaryllidaceae
Paperwhite Narcissus
Narcissus tazetta
Purity and respect.
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Genus
- Narcissus
- Native to
- Mediterranean, Western Asia, China
- Bloom season
- Winter, Spring
- Type
- bulbous perennial
- Height
- 12-18 inches
- Sunlight
- full sun to partial shade
- Soil
- well-drained
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 8-11
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Paperwhites are one of the easiest bulbs to force indoors and can bloom in just 4 to 6 weeks without any cold treatment.
- In Chinese culture, narcissus tazetta is the sacred lily of China and is forced to bloom for Lunar New Year celebrations.
- Research has shown that adding a small amount of alcohol to the water when forcing paperwhites reduces stem height by one-third without affecting blooming.
- Each stem can carry up to 20 individual fragrant blossoms in a cluster.
- The strong, sweet fragrance of paperwhites is polarizing, with some people finding it pleasant and others describing it as unpleasant.
Color meanings
0
purity
1
respect
2
good wishes
3
prosperity