Merry Christmas From All About Daffodils

Merry Christmas!

Narcissus Tazetta Papyraceous:Paperwhite Narcissus

Narcissus tazetta papyraceous is also known as the paperwhite narcissus,narcissus polyanthus, or simply "paperwhite".Paperwhites are a popular bulb for growing indoors,especially at Christmastime. Paperwhites,like most other narcissus are native to the Mediterranean and are not hardy outdoors in most of North America.

Paperwhites were once considered to be a separate type of narcissus than other other types but they have been hybridized with tazetta daffodils for so long that they are now classified with them in Division 8. The familiar characteristics of paperwhites are white flowers that grow in large clusters and a strong,musky fragrance.

Although paperwhites are usually grown indoors they can be grown in the garden if you live in USDA hardiness zones 8-11.There are many old varieties of paperwhites that have naturalized in the Gulf Coast region. Many of the variety names have been lost to time but they still happily grow and bloom for generations.

Paperwhites will also grow outdoors in parts of southern California that don't have hard frosts. The varieties you'll find here are the same or similar to the ones that grow on the gulf Coast.

I have known of some gardeners who have successfully grown them in Zone 7 but they are not reliably perennial that far north. They may survive for several years and then succumb to a late frost that occurs while the bulbs are blooming.

If you visit the Gulf Coast or California in the late winter you'll probably see many cluster flowered daffodils with white petals and small yellow cups. These bulbs are all closely related and many of them are no longer available commercially. If you live in these regions you may be able to obtain some of these precious bulbs directly from the gardener.

In my research for this post I found several articles that revealed paperwhites were an important cash crop in the coastal South in the 1930s and 40s. Many of those paperwhites still grow from Florida to Texas although only a few commercial growers still exist. Apparently a rare mealy bug infestation (yes,mealy bugs are outdoor pests in the South) in the early 1950s drove many of these small growers out of business.

Today most commercially grown varieties of paperwhites come from Israel where they have been grown since biblical times. The most popular paperwhites today are Ziva, Inball, Nir, Ariel,Soleil D'or, and the ancient Chinese Sacred Lily.

Quick Tips For Growing Paperwhites Indoors

1. Paperwhite bulbs only need 2-3 inches of soil for their roots,so shallow containers are ideal. A pretty ceramic or terra cotta pot is nice if you're using soil. For planting in marbles,stones,or pebbles a clear container will show off the planting medium and the plant roots.

2. The planting medium for your narcissus bulbs just needs to provide support for the plants and must be suitable for roots to grow through.

3.Plant the bulbs with the narrow part pointing upward (the rounder,fatter end points downward) with the tops of each bulb above the soil/pebble line.Plant close together, almost touching, for the best display.


4.Add water so the planting medium stays moist. If planted in pebbles or marbles, add enough water to come within  3/4” of the top of the pebbles. If the bulbs are left in standing water they will rot. You want the base of the bulbs to just touch the water.

5. Place the pot or bowl in sunny or very bright location. Light will keep stems from growing too tall and becoming floppy.For another method of keeping paperwhite stems from becoming floppy,see Paperwhite Narcissus for Indoor Flowers All Winter Long. Paperwhites will usually flower within a month from planting.

After your paperwhites have bloomed and gone dormant, you can plant them in the garden if you live in a frost-free area . It's better to grow them in soil rather than pebbles if you want to move them outdoors later. Be aware that your bulbs may not bloom for two or three years.

For even more tips on growing narcissus tazetta papyraceous (paperwhite bulbs) please see some of my earlier articles:How To Keep Your Paperwhites From Falling Over By Giving Them Alcohol (eHow)

Paperwhite Narcissus Bulbs For Indoor Blooms All Winter Long (Squidoo)

Ziva Paperwhite

Next time I'll tell you about the Poet's Daffodil:Narcissus Poeticus

Narcissus Tazetta:The Bunch-Flowering Daffodil (Division 8)

Narcissus tazetta,also known as the bunch flowering daffodil,is the oldest type of garden narcissus.Narcissus tazetta bulbs were grown in ancient Greece and Egypt and have been grown in Northern Europe for at least 500 years.

Tazetta daffodils have a strong fragrance and are usually the  flowers used for extracting narcissus absolute essential oil. The scent is sweet with fruity or slightly musky notes and is often mixed with other floral and herbal oils to produce some of the world's most prized and expensive perfumes.

Narcissus Tazetta Is Native To The Mediterranean

Division 8 daffodils are native to the Middle East and the Mediterranean but have spread to grow all over Europe and Asia and parts of  Africa. They have also naturalized in many parts of the Southeastern U.S.

Narcissus tazetta easily forms natural hybrids when several varieties are grown near each other and plant breeders often cross tazettas with daffodils from other divisions, especially narcissus jonquilla and poeticus, to increase the hardiness and bloom count.Tazetta daffodils that have been crossed with poeticus types are called poetaz and usually have pure white petals and a strong,spicy scent.

Tazetta daffodils are called bunch-flowering for good reason. This narcissus has at least three and up to twenty flowers on each stem. The stems of tazettas are stout and thick so the large clusters of flowers are well supported.

Tazettas Thrive In Deep South Gardens
Along with Jonquils,tazetta daffodils are some of the best types of daffodils for southern gardens. They will reliably flower and multiply even along the gulf coast where most other types of daffodils won't.

There are many tazetta daffodils that have naturalized in the warmer parts of the deep south. These daffodils with white petals and yellow cups carry names like Grand Primo and Seventeen Sisters,reflecting their large clusters of blooms. Each area seems to have its own daffodils of this type that escaped cultivation in an earlier era. They are sometimes called cream narcissus and are passed down as heirlooms from generation to generation.

Some of the best varieties of narcissus tazetta for the home garden are Geranium and Cragford (both poetaz hybrids from the early 20th century) which have white petals and orange cups and Minnow,a popular miniature daffodil with white petals and yellow cups.Falconet and Martinette are two types with yellow flowers and dark,almost red cups.

Cheerfulness,Bridal Crown (double Cragford) and Sir Winston Churchill(double Geranium) are double flowered tazettas (Division 4) that bloom a little later than their single forms and should be included in every southern garden. 

Although these cluster-flowering daffodils thrive in southern gardens they will usually survive further north with some winter protection. They probably won't be reliable naturalizers in northern gardens,though.

Most Division 8 daffodils are late mid season bloomers but there are very early and late blooming varieties.The later blooming types have the best chance of perennializing in colder climates.

Tazetta daffodils are also a good choice for western gardens. Like most other daffodils,the bulbs thrive on hot, dry summers. If you grow daffodils in the dessert they will need watering and fertilizing while they are growing and blooming.

Narcissus tazetta is the best type of daffodil for indoor forcing because it doesn't need a chilling period like other types. Of course paperwhites are also in the tazetta group and I'll tell you about growing them in my next post.


*Photos from Wikimedia Commons