Plant Profile: Narcissus tazetta

Taxonomy: Narcissus tazetta

Names

Paper White Narcissus, Polyanthos Narcissus, Tezetta Daffodils

  • Photo of Narcissus tazetta (Narcissus tazettas)

Phonetic Spelling:nar-SIS-us taz-ET-tuh

Genus:Narcissus

Species:tazetta

Family:Amaryllidaceae

The Paper White Narcissus is a perennial bulbous herb that can reach a height of up to 1.5 feet. It typically flowers in early to mid-spring and is well-suited for naturalizing due to its spreading growth habit. This plant is resilient to heat and drought conditions but does not thrive in overly wet environments. To enhance its growth, incorporating bone meal or superphosphate into the planting hole is beneficial. It is recommended to plant the bulbs six weeks prior to the first frost, positioning them 4 to 5 inches beneath the soil surface. Once the foliage has naturally browned, it should be cut back. Thanks to its toxic alkaloid content, this plant is largely free from pests and diseases.

**Quick Identification Tips:**

For additional details on Narcissus, please refer to the provided resources.

Narcissus tazetta Feature Summary

Narcissus tazetta Image Gallery

Tags

#white
#fragrant flowers
#heat tolerant
#drought tolerant
#white flowers
#spring flowers
#rabbit resistant
#disease resistant
#pest resistant
#deer resistant
#spring interest
#fantz
#HS302
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses

Similar Plants

Narcissus tazetta is often confused with:

Narcissus tazetta Feature Summary

Attributes
Mediterranean, Afghanistan, China, Japan
Perennial
Bulb
Flowers
Flowers are scapose, horizontal to ascending, fragrant, 1.5" in diameter, and subtended by a one-valved, membranous spathe. Flowers have a perianth tubular at the base with 6 segments. Perianth segments are white, broad ovate, entire, and incurving. The corona is yellow, conspicuous, cup-shaped, and less than an inch long and wide.
1-3 inches
Leaves
Leaves are basal, strap-like, entire, erect, twisted, keeled and glaucous, and less than an inch wide.
Green
Blue
< 1 inch
Poisonous to Humans
Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part
Lycorine and other alkaloids
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Bulb
Spreading
Landscape
Drought
Deer
Insect Pests
Heat
Rabbits
Diseases
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Narcissus tazetta Attributes

Narcissus tazetta: Country Or Region Of Origin

Mediterranean, Afghanistan, China, Japan

Narcissus tazetta: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Resistant to pest and disease.

Narcissus tazetta: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Narcissus tazetta Flowers

Narcissus tazetta: Flower Description

Flowers are scapose, horizontal to ascending, fragrant, 1.5" in diameter, and subtended by a one-valved, membranous spathe. Flowers have a perianth tubular at the base with 6 segments. Perianth segments are white, broad ovate, entire, and incurving. The corona is yellow, conspicuous, cup-shaped, and less than an inch long and wide.

Narcissus tazetta: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Narcissus tazetta: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Narcissus tazetta: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Narcissus tazetta: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Narcissus tazetta: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Narcissus tazetta Leaves

Narcissus tazetta: Leaf Description

Leaves are basal, strap-like, entire, erect, twisted, keeled and glaucous, and less than an inch wide.

Narcissus tazetta: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Green

Narcissus tazetta: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Narcissus tazetta: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Narcissus tazetta: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Narcissus tazetta Poisonous to Humans

Narcissus tazetta: Poison Symptoms

Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part

Narcissus tazetta: Poison Toxic Principle

Lycorine and other alkaloids

Narcissus tazetta: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Narcissus tazetta: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Narcissus tazetta Whole Plant Traits

Narcissus tazetta: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Narcissus tazetta: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Narcissus tazetta Stem

Narcissus tazetta: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Narcissus tazetta Landscape

Narcissus tazetta: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Narcissus tazetta: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy