🤍 Paperwhite
Narcissus papyraceus
Winter perfume that grows from a bulb you basically ignore.
Sun
Full sun to part shade, 4–6 hrs
Days to harvest
Blooms 4–6 weeks after planting
Spacing
4–6 inches apart, 2–3 inches deep
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
How to grow
Plant bulbs pointy-end-up in fall in soil that drains — paperwhites rot in soggy ground faster than a sandcastle at high tide. In Florida they can stay in the ground year-round and naturalize. For indoor forcing, nestle bulbs in pebbles with water just touching their bases and they will bloom on a windowsill.
Water & feeding
Water after planting and during growth; let foliage die back naturally afterward — those yellowing leaves are recharging next year's bulb.
Common problems
- Bulb rot in poorly drained soil — plant high and amend with coarse material
- Narcissus bulb fly larvae hollow out bulbs; destroy affected ones
- Floppy stems in low light — give them sun or stake the show-offs
Harvest
Cut stems for vases when the first buds crack open; deadhead spent blooms but leave the foliage until it yellows.
Nerdy fact: Paperwhites don't need a winter chill to bloom, which is why they're one of the only narcissus that thrives in Florida — most daffodils just sit there judging your warm winter.