Narcissus papyraceus Ker Gawl.

Paper White Narcissus

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Paper White Narcissus is an introduced perennial bulb in the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). It is native to the Mediterranean region on Western Europe and North Africa. Paper White Narcissus is frequently cultivated in Alabama and has escaped or persisted along roadsides, in fields, and around old home sites. It is a perennial from a dark brown, ovoid bulb. The leaves are flat, keeled, and 1-1 ½ feet in length. The leaves are dark green and glaucous. Leaves emerge before the flowers and are fully developed at flowering time. Flowers are produced in umbles of 5-20 flowers. Both the corona (cup shaped inner portion of the perianth) and outer perianth (composed of six tepals) are white. The flowers are strongly scented. The fruit is a capsule with many flat, papery, black seed. Paper White Narcissus is a member of the Tazetta Daffodil group which have stout flowering stems with four or more scented flowers per umbel. All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the bulb. Paper White Narcissus is one of the first Daffodil species to flower in Alabama, often as early as November. It is a popular species for Christmas gifts for forcing indoors. Cream Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta Linnaeus) is a similar species. It also has flat leaves and several fragrant flowers per umbel. The flowers of Cream Narcissus can be white or yellow, but the corona is usually of a different color than the outer perianth. It also flowers later in the year than Paper White Narcissus. Paper White is often sold at Christmas time and is the first of the "spring bulbs" to flower in our area. The species is often found flowering as early as(or late...depending on reference) Thanksgiving.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

<a href=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59380112> Spaulding, D.D. and T.W. Barger. 2014. Key to the Daffodils (Narcissus, Amaryllidaceae) of Alabama and adjacent states. Phytoneuron 2014-82: 1–10.</a>