Narcissus tazetta
Paper white, Paper White
(c) Mehdi Chetibi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mehdi Chetibi · licence
Family: Amaryllidaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Narcissus tazetta (Paper white) is a non-native California herb in the Amaryllidaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by white to cream flowers with yellow crown and southern California distribution.
Paper white is a naturalized perennial found in southern California coastal areas, San Francisco Bay region, northern Channel Islands, western Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in disturbed places and former home sites at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering in spring, this plant produces very fragrant white to cream flowers with a yellow ruffled crown 5 to 10 millimeters wide, arranged in clusters with spreading perianth parts. Growing with slender stems 25 to 45 centimeters tall, it emerges from a bulb 4 to 6 centimeters wide with pale to dark brown protective coats. Its four leaves are flat, glaucous, and measure 20 to 45 centimeters long with pale brown papery bracts. The plant's bulb and highly fragrant blossoms make it a distinctive ornamental species commonly found in disturbed landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated species with 0 sympatric congeners. Distinguished by white to cream flowers with yellow crown and southern California distribution.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places, former home sites
Elevation: < 600 m
Outside California: Iran, widely naturalized elsewhere
Bloom period
Narcissus tazetta blooms Spring.
How to tell it apart
vs Hemerocallis: Narcissus grows from bulbs and blooms in spring; Hemerocallis grows from fibrous roots and blooms in summer.; vs Oxalis: Narcissus has six petals around a central trumpet; Oxalis has five simple petals with no crown and clover-like leaves.; vs Iris: Narcissus has upright trumpet flowers with all petals similar; Iris has three upright petals and three drooping falls.; vs Freesia: Narcissus flowers have a distinctive central crown or trumpet; Freesia flowers are tubular funnels with no crown structure.; vs Allium: Narcissus has large solitary flowers with a central crown; Allium has many small flowers clustered in a round ball.
Frequently asked questions
Is Narcissus tazetta native to California?
No. Narcissus tazetta is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Narcissus tazetta bloom?
Narcissus tazetta blooms Spring.
What plant family does Narcissus tazetta belong to?
Narcissus tazetta is in the Amaryllidaceae family, genus Narcissus.
What habitat does Narcissus tazetta grow in?
Narcissus tazetta grows in Disturbed places, former home sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.