According to Wikipedia, Paperwhites, or ƵNarcissus papyraceus,Ƶ is a perennial bulbous plant native to the Mediterranean region. The species is considered to be naturalized in Texas, California and Louisiana.

If you walk around an older part of town, you may see them lining sidewalks or forming a circle around the base of trees, often remaining long after the house is gone.

Growing Narcissus in Your Garden

Narcissus prefer a sunny location, but, according to Neil Sperry, they can Ƶwithstand some shade under deciduous trees that allow the sun to reach the plants in winter and early spring.Ƶ They need good drainage because the bulbs will rot if they sit in a wet area, so choose the site accordingly.

And remember, these bulbs will naturalize, so pick a spot where they have room to multiply and spread. An added bonus is that deer do not eat them, possibly because all parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and critters.

Since narcissus bulbs are small, they should not be planted too deeply, an inch or two will do. Water them well to settle the soil around the bulbs. Do not use a high nitrogen fertilizer, but Sperry suggests using Ƶa low nitrogen fertilizer right after planting or just as the first leave tips begin to emerge.Ƶ The bulbs will bloom within 4-6 weeks of planting.

One of the most important things you can do for your narcissus is to just leave them alone after they bloom. We generally want to tidy up and remove dead material from our gardens, but the narcissus foliage should be allowed to die down naturally. According to Dr. Welch, ƵNext yearƵs flowers begin to form in the bulb immediately after bloom, and removal of the foliage can abort the following seasonƵs bloom.Ƶ

After three or four years, you may want to dig up and divide your narcissus. If so, wait until the foliage has dried naturally and then dig up the bulbs. You can then clean them, let them air dry and store them for fall planting, or just trim the dead foliage and replant the bulbs in a new spot.

Forced Blooming

One of the reasons narcissus may be associated with December is that they are often used as holiday gifts or centerpieces. According to Southern Living, paperwhites Ƶwill remain beautiful throughout the holidays and beyond, making them great gifts for friends and family.Ƶ

Bulbs take four to six weeks to bloom, so plan accordingly. Start with a small pot filled with a coarse potting mix. Plant bulbs with pointed tips up and about 1/4 exposed. Place pots in a cool room for seven to ten days and then move to a warm spot with bright light, rotating the pot every few days.

Another method is to use fine gravel or marbles instead of soil and a shallow clear dish or wide-mouthed jar. Place the bulbs so that at least 1/3 of the bulb is above the gravel. Add water to just below the base and keep it there so the roots, not the bulb, stay wet. Then treat them as above.

All Daffodils are Narcissus, ButƵ

When I began researching narcissus in a couple of my gardening books and on the internet, daffodils kept popping up. I had always thought they were similar plants, but a different genus. Nope. As Dr. William Welch notes in his book Perennial Garden Color, ƵƵNarcissus (capital N) is the genus or generic name for all daffodils, while ƵnarcissusƵ (lower case n) is a common name for only certain typesƵthe small, cluster-flowering sorts.Ƶ