Grove Plant Care
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Cluster of small white paperwhite flowers with pale cups and yellow centers on one stem, against a dark background

Plant care card

Paperwhite

Narcissus papyraceus (often listed as N. tazetta) · Narciso blanco

Also called paperwhite narcissus or paper-white daffodil

Photo by Aravind Reddy Tarugu on Unsplash

Paperwhites are the easy holiday bulb: they need no cold period, so you set them in pebbles and water (or potting mix), keep the water at the base of the bulbs, and they bloom in about 4 to 6 weeks. Give them a sunny, cool spot so the stems stay short. Every part is toxic to pets, the bulbs most of all. Most experts say to toss the bulbs after they bloom and start fresh next year.

Grove care rating

Moderate 5 of 10

Getting a bulb from planting to bloom, and keeping the flowers going. Getting a forced bulb to bloom again: Not expected.

Toxic to cats, dogs and horses · Moderate

Vomiting, drooling and diarrhea; large amounts can cause seizures, low blood pressure, tremors and heart rhythm problems. The bulbs are the most poisonous part. NC State rates the poison severity as low; the ASPCA lists seizures, low blood pressure and heart rhythm problems in large amounts. Children: low severity. Eating any part, the bulb most, upsets the stomach; the sap can irritate skin, and bulbs can be mistaken for onions.

Pet poison line: ASPCA (888) 426-4435

Good for: holiday and winter blooms indoors, a first bulb-forcing project · Think twice if: pets chew plants, strong scents bother someone at home, you want a plant that lasts past winter.

Needs at a glance

  • Light4 of 4 · Sunny windowDim and cool until shoots show, then a sunny window; out of direct sun once it blooms
  • Water3 of 3 · Water at the baseIn pebbles, water just touching the bulb bottoms; in soil, keep it moist
  • Humidity1 of 3 · AverageA normal home is fine
  • Soil when pottedPebbles and water, or potting mixPotting mix holds tall stems up better

Indoors: best at 60 to 70°F (16 to 21°C). Keep it above 45°F (7°C) and away from drafts and heat vents.

How the rating adds up

0 = easiest · 1 = moderate · 2 = hardest

  • Missed waterings2 of 2 · HardestRoots need water at the bulb base the whole time
  • Light flexibility2 of 2 · HardestNeeds a sunny window, or stems stretch and flop
  • Humidity0 of 2 · EasiestNo extra humidity needed
  • Pests and disease0 of 2 · EasiestRarely; bulbs rot if water covers them
  • Sensitivity to change1 of 2 · ModerateWarm rooms make leggy, floppy stems

Growing outdoors

All year: USDA zones 8 to 10, where the coldest winter nights average 10°F (−12°C) or warmer.

Elsewhere: summer outside in full sun or part shade. Bring it in before nights drop below 45°F (7°C).

  • Forced indoors in pebbles or soil
  • In the ground in mild winters
  • Containers
  • Deer resistant

Sources: NC State, Iowa State, Illinois Extension, UConn, UF/IFAS, Clemson, Colorado State, University of Missouri, ASPCA, Penn State, National Capital Poison Center, RHS, UC ANR, USDA zone map and USDA PLANTS. Full list below.

Verified · How we rate plants

Are paperwhites poisonous to cats, dogs and children?

Yes. The ASPCA lists paperwhites as toxic to cats, dogs and horses. Eating them can cause vomiting, drooling and diarrhea, and large amounts can cause seizures, low blood pressure, tremors and heart rhythm problems. The bulbs are the most poisonous part, so keep loose bulbs and the growing bowl where pets and small children can't reach them. NC State rates the poison severity low. In people, eating any part upsets the stomach for a few hours, the sap can irritate skin, and bulbs have been eaten by mistake as onions. If a pet eats some and seems unwell, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

ASPCA, NC State, Penn State, National Capital Poison Center, RHS

How do I grow paperwhites in pebbles and water?

Put 1 to 2 inches of pebbles or gravel in a shallow bowl with no hole, set the bulbs on top with the pointed ends up, close together, and add more stones around them so only the tips show. Add water until it just touches the bottoms of the bulbs, and keep it at that level the whole time. Water that covers the bulbs makes them rot. If the water starts to smell, pour it off and refill.

Iowa State, Illinois Extension, UConn, UF/IFAS, Clemson, University of Missouri

Can I grow paperwhites in soil instead?

Yes, and it's easier to manage. Use a pot with a drainage hole and regular potting mix. Set the bulbs on the mix so their tips stick out, water well, let it drain, and keep the mix moist. Potting mix holds tall stems up better than gravel does. Choose firm bulbs with no soft spots or mold; bigger bulbs usually give more flowers.

Iowa State, UF/IFAS, Illinois Extension, University of Missouri, UConn

When should I plant paperwhites to bloom for Christmas?

Most extension sources say paperwhites bloom about 4 to 6 weeks after planting, and some say up to 8. So for Christmas, plant them in early to mid November. Cornell notes they can open in as little as 2 to 3 weeks. For flowers all winter, start a new bowl every 10 days to two weeks. Clemson says plantings from mid-October can give blooms from Thanksgiving into March.

University of Missouri, Illinois Extension, UF/IFAS, Colorado State, UConn, Cornell, Clemson

Why are my paperwhites floppy, and does alcohol help?

Warmth and low light make paperwhites stretch, and the tall stems tip over. A sunny, cool spot helps most. Cornell's Flower Bulb Research Program found a trick that works: once the shoots are 1 to 2 inches tall, pour off the water and use a 4 to 6% alcohol solution for every watering after that. Mix 1 part vodka, gin or other 40% liquor with 7 parts water, or 1 part rubbing alcohol with 10 to 11 parts water. Stems end up about a third shorter, and the flowers stay just as big, fragrant and long lasting. Skip beer and wine, since their sugars harm the plants, and keep the mix under 10%. Already floppy? Tie the stems to a stake with soft yarn or ribbon.

Cornell, Cornell Chronicle, Illinois Extension, UF/IFAS, UConn, Clemson

How much light and warmth do paperwhites need?

Start them cool and dim, around 45 to 60°F (7 to 16°C), for the first 2 to 3 weeks while roots grow. When shoots are a few inches tall, move them to a sunny window at about 60 to 70°F (16 to 21°C). Warmer rooms grow them faster but taller and floppier. Once flowers open, move the bowl out of direct sun to a cooler spot, which makes the blooms last longer.

Iowa State, Clemson, Colorado State, University of Missouri, Illinois Extension, UConn, UF/IFAS

Why do my paperwhites smell so strong?

Paperwhites are very fragrant, and people feel strongly about it. 'Ziva', the most common one, has a musky scent some people find unpleasant. If the smell bothers someone at home, try a milder variety such as 'Inbal', 'Ariel' or 'Nir', or keep the bowl in a roomy, airy spot.

Illinois Extension, UF/IFAS, UConn

Can I force my paperwhites again next year?

Usually no. Iowa State, Clemson, Colorado State and Missouri all say to throw out forced paperwhites after they bloom: forcing uses up the bulb's stored energy, so it won't bloom indoors again. Bulbs grown in pebbles or treated with alcohol are the least likely to come back. If you live where winters stay mild (USDA zones 8 to 11), UC ANR says bulbs forced in soil can go in the garden once their leaves die back, and they may bloom the next spring or the one after.

Iowa State, Clemson, Colorado State, University of Missouri, Illinois Extension, UC ANR

Can paperwhites grow outdoors?

In mild climates, yes: USDA zones 8 to 10, where the coldest winter nights average 10°F (−12°C) or warmer. There they bloom in late winter or early spring, in sun or part shade and well-drained soil, and deer tend to leave them alone. In colder places they don't survive winter in the ground, which is why most people grow them indoors. Even in Florida, UF/IFAS says getting them to bloom again is hard.

NC State, Illinois Extension, UC ANR, USDA zone map, RHS, Iowa State, UF/IFAS

How Grove helps

Grove can remind whoever is home to check the water level every few days, so the roots never dry out and the bulbs never sit underwater. Planting a new bowl every two weeks can be one of the tasks you can assign, and you can set a reminder for the day the shoots reach 1 to 2 inches if you want to try the alcohol trick.

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Sources