Paperwhites: forcing the bulbs indoors, and the zones where they grow outside

Why paperwhites are the easy bulb

UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions calls paperwhite narcissus one of the easiest bulbs to force inside, because unlike most spring bulbs they need no chilling before they flower. Iowa State and University of Illinois Extension say the same. Illinois says the name usually means Narcissus papyraceus, although N. tazetta goes by it too, and that both are relatives of the daffodil.

UF/IFAS says paperwhites come from the Mediterranean and, despite the name, can be white, yellow or orange, on stems 12 to 18 inches tall, and that the yellow ones are especially fragrant. It names ‘Erlicheer’ and ‘Omri’ as all-white and very fragrant, ‘Galilee’ as white and cream, ‘Avalanche’ with yellow cups, and the semi-double ‘Constantinople’. Illinois notes that some people dislike the strong scent.

Choosing bulbs

UF/IFAS says to buy bulbs that are firm and free of blemishes, which helps you avoid basal rot, a decay that starts at the roots and leaves plants dwarfed with abnormal flowers. Illinois says to avoid bulbs with sunken spots or discoloration, and because no chilling is needed some start sprouting in the store, so it picks bulbs with no growth or as little as possible.

Forcing them in pebbles and water

Iowa State forces paperwhites in clear, shallow bowls with no drainage holes. Partly fill the bowl with washed gravel or stones, set the bulbs on top, and add more stones around them, leaving the tips showing. Then add water until it touches the bottom of the bulbs, and keep it at that level the whole time.

UF/IFAS does the same with gravel, pebbles or marble chips: fill the bowl halfway, set the bulbs on top, add pebbles until the bulbs are about two-thirds covered, then add water just to the base of the bulbs and keep it there.

Illinois grows them in water alone, in a bulb vase or any container that lets the roots grow down into water while the bulb itself stays out of it. It likes a clear vessel because you can watch the roots grow. Illinois says the bulbs need no fertilizer, because everything they need is already stored inside them.

Forcing them in soil

Iowa State partly fills a pot with potting soil, sets the bulbs on it, and adds more soil so the tips still stick out, with the soil ½ to 1 inch below the rim. Water it thoroughly and keep the soil moist throughout. UF/IFAS uses a pot 3 to 5 inches deep with drainage holes and a well-drained mix, sets the bulbs pointed end up and close enough to fill the pot without touching, and leaves the tips exposed. Illinois says any pot should have drain holes and room for at least 2 to 3 inches of roots, or the roots push the bulbs up and out.

Light, and the cool start

Iowa State starts planted bulbs in a cool, dark place for 2 to 3 weeks to grow roots, then moves them to a sunny window when the shoots are about 3 inches tall. UF/IFAS puts them straight into a sunny, cool spot.

Both say why it matters. UF/IFAS says that in a spot that is too warm or too dim the leaves and stalks grow too tall and flop over, and that too much sun makes the flowers fade. Iowa State moves them out of direct sun once they start to flower, to make the bloom last longer.

UF/IFAS says full flowering takes about 4 to 8 weeks from planting, and Illinois says the display lasts two to three weeks.

Why the stems flop, and what to do

Illinois calls weak stems the one real downside: they often bend under the weight of the flowers and may need support as they reach full size. UF/IFAS says the cause is usually warmth or too little light, which makes the plants stretch.

After they bloom

Iowa State says to throw paperwhites away after they flower: they cannot be forced again, and they are not hardy outdoors. Illinois says they are hardy only to zone 8, so in Illinois they are treated as an annual and not planted out.

In warmer places they can go in the ground. UF/IFAS says paperwhites can be planted in the Florida landscape, even if it is difficult to get them to rebloom. The zone table on this page shows where NC State rates them hardy.

Paperwhites in the garden

NC State Extension’s plant toolbox lists Narcissus tazetta for USDA zones 7 to 10. It says to plant in fall, 6 weeks before the first freeze, at a depth 2 to 3 times the size of the bulb but at least 3 inches deep, and 4 to 10 inches apart, in organically rich, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It tolerates heat but not very wet conditions, and spreads to fill the gaps over time.

NC State says to remove the flowers after they bloom but cut the foliage back only after it has browned naturally. NC State says the plant is pest and disease free because of its poisonous alkaloids, apart from slugs, snails, bulb mites and bulb rot in wet soil.

Common mistakes

• Letting the water cover the bulb. Iowa State, UF/IFAS and Illinois all keep the water at or below the base of the bulb.
• A warm, dim room. UF/IFAS says the stems then stretch and flop.
• Keeping the bulbs to force again. Iowa State says they cannot be forced a second time.
• Planting them out where they are not hardy. Illinois says they are hardy only to zone 8.
• Leaving them in direct sun in full bloom. UF/IFAS says too much sun makes the flowers fade, and Iowa State moves them out of it.

We found no Texas or Louisiana source for paperwhites that we could read. Clemson’s bulb-forcing page, which NC State points to, did not load from here.

Questions

How do you grow paperwhites in pebbles?

Iowa State and UF/IFAS partly fill a bowl with washed gravel or pebbles, set the bulbs on top, add more around them with the tips showing, and keep the water just touching the bottom of the bulbs.

How long do paperwhites take to bloom?

UF/IFAS says about 4 to 8 weeks from planting. Iowa State gives the bulbs 2 to 3 weeks cool and dark first, then a sunny window. Illinois says the flowers last two to three weeks.

Why are my paperwhites falling over?

UF/IFAS says plants kept too warm or with too little light grow too tall and flop. Illinois says the stems are naturally weak under the flowers and may need support.

Can you plant paperwhites outside after forcing?

Not in cold areas: Iowa State says they are not hardy outdoors and should be discarded, and Illinois says they are hardy only to zone 8. NC State rates them for zones 7 to 10, and UF/IFAS says they can go in the Florida landscape.

Do paperwhites need chilling?

No. UF/IFAS, Iowa State and Illinois all say they need no chilling period, which is why they are so easy to force.

Sources

Freeze dates on this page are NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals, for every station the ZIP codes in each zone cite. Zones are the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. Growing advice is quoted from the extension publications below, each written for its own area.

• UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Paperwhite Narcissus (Accessed October 2026). Written for: Florida (USDA zones 8b–11b).
• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, How do you force paperwhite narcissus? (Last updated January 21, 2025). Written for: Iowa (USDA zones 4b–6a).
• University of Illinois Extension, Paperwhites: Delicate holiday blooms you can grow indoors , by Ryan Pankau (December 23, 2024). Written for: Illinois (USDA zones 5a–7a).
• NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Narcissus tazetta (paperwhite narcissus) . Written for: North Carolina (USDA zones 6b–9a).
• University of Minnesota Extension, Your holiday plant survival guide , by Robin Trott, Douglas County (November 24, 2025). Written for: Minnesota (USDA zones 3a–5a).

How we write our guides

Published October 25, 2026