Tezetta Daffodils Narcissus tazetta Play pronunciation

Paper White Narcissus is a herbaceous perennial bulb in the onion family. It typically grows to 18 inches tall, but has been known to reach 30 inches. This plant has narrow, upright foliage, and fragrant white blossoms in early to mid-spring.

Paper White Narcissus does best in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Soils should be kept uniformly moist with good drainage during the growing season, but drought is tolerated while dormant. It tolerates heat, but not extremely wet conditions. This plant benefits from the addition of bone meal or super phosphate to the planting hole. Flowers usually face the sun, so plant bulbs with any shade areas to the rear of the planting.

It is good for naturalizing and has a spreading habit. Plant in the fall, 6 weeks before the first freeze, at a depth that is 2 to 3 times the size of the bulb, but at least 3 inches deep. Space bulbs 4 to 10 inches apart with larger bulbs further apart than smaller ones. The spaces will fill in over time as the plants spread. Flowers can be removed after blossoming, but cut foliage back only after it has browned naturally.

The  Clemson University Home and Garden Information Center has an article on forcing bulbs, N. tazetta in particular, for indoor flowers.

Quick ID Hints:

• 3 to 20 flowers per stem, leaves are flat
• Perianth segments are spreading, not reflexed, and white
• Flowers are fragrant
• Corona is yellow

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 

This plant is pest and disease free due to its poisonous alkaloid content. Watch for slugs, snails and bulb mites. Bulb rot can occur in wet soils.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants", a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Narcissus.