One flower you might see and associate with December often is the paperwhite. Otherwise known as the Paperwhite narcissus, paperwhites are one of the few flowers known to grow easily in December and January. Part of the daffodil family, paperwhites brighten up holiday tables across the globe and have done so for many, many centuries. Here’s a history on this Christmas flower:
Origin: Paperwhites are one of the oldest and most widely distributed of the Narcissus tazetta — they originated in the Mediterranean region and central Asia.
TIMELINE:
- 960: Paperwhites arrived in China during the Late Sung period, about 1,000 year ago — they’re believed to be introduced by Arab traders.
- 1800s: The Dutch began growing the polyantha narcissus in large numbers during the late Victorian period when Chinese art and style were popular.
- 1850s: Chinese workers brought paperwhites to North America during the California gold rush, where fields can still be found today.
STATS:
32,000 is the number of registered cultivars of different daffodils.
4 weeks is the amount of time it takes for paperwhites to bloom indoors.
45 centimeters is how tall paperwhites typically get.
QUICK FACTS:
- Paperwhites are intimately associated with Chinese New Year celebrations, because they can bloom easily in January.
- The Chinese name for a paperwhite flower is “shuixian,” which translates as “water fairy”.
- As a symbol, paperwhite flowers are supposed to be the purveyor of great happiness.
- Paperwhites are related to the daffodil.
- Paperwhites are considered the birth flower of anyone born in December.
Sources: University of Arkansas Extension, The Laidback Gardener
