Paperwhite
Paperwhites are clustered narcissus bearing multiple small, snow-white, cup-and-star flowers on each slender stem, prized for their heady, sweet fragrance. Blooming in the depths of winter and forced through the holiday season, they bring an early promise of spring to seasonal designs. Florists use them for scent and delicate white detail, mindful that their perfume is powerful and their narcissus sap needs separate conditioning. Fresh, fragrant and luminously white, they are a festive-into-spring favourite.
| Family | Amaryllidaceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | Mediterranean region |
| Peak season | December, January |
| Availability | November, December, January, February |
| Stem length | 25–40 cm |
| Vase life | 5–7 days |
| Colors | white |
| Price tier | mid |
Like all narcissus, paperwhite stems release a slimy sap when cut, so condition them alone in shallow water for several hours before combining with other flowers. Do not recut afterward, as this restarts the sap flow; if you must, give them another separate soak. Keep them in cool, clean water and away from heat, which speeds the fading of the papery blooms. The intense fragrance carries far, so place with care in enclosed spaces.
- •Condition alone for several hours to release sap
- •Do not recut once mixed with other flowers
- •Use cool, clean, shallow water
- •Keep away from heat to preserve the blooms
- •Mind the strong fragrance in enclosed rooms
