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Narcissus
Picture Source:California Cut Flower Commission
| Popular Name: Narcissus |
| Botanical Name and Pronunciation: Narcissus tazetta (nar-SIS-us ta-ZEET-ta) |
| Common Name(s): Paperwhite |
| Color(s): white, yellow-orange |
| Form and Size: The leafless stems of narcissus are 12 - 15 inches long. At each stem end there are 4 – 8 flat flowers with a small cup. |
| Vase Life: 4 – 6 days |
| Availability: winter – spring |
| Care Instructions: Remove any leaves at the bottom of the stem, and place in fresh water with flower food. Do not re-cut stems when arranging with other flowers as it exudes a sap that can be harmful to other flowers. The sap will flow for about 6 hours after the stem is cut, therefore, the stem should not be re-cut. |
| History and Usage: A member of the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family, narcissus originated in the Mediterranean region. Its botanical name comes from the Greek youth, Narcissus, who according to mythology saw his reflection in the water and fell in love due to a spell cast on him because he rejected the nymph Echo. There are many different versions of the story. Some say he drowned trying to grab his reflection, some say he died of unrequited love or starvation while others say he killed himself when he saw that his reflection blurred when he touched it. He was then turned into the flower now named after him. |
| Points of Interest: Relatives of narcissus include agapanthus, alstroemeria, clivia, nerine and daffodil. Prince Charles receives a single daffodil or narcissus for payment of rent on the lands of Scilly. |
| Ethylene Sensitive: Unknown |