Narcissus tazetta (paperwhite,bunch-flowered narcissus,bunch-flowered daffodil,[1]Chinese sacred lily,cream narcissus,joss flower,polyanthus narcissus) is aperennialornamental plant that grows from abulb.Cultivars ofN. tazetta include 'Caniculatus','Grand Soleil d'Or' and 'Ziva', which are popularly used for forcing indoors, as is the form ofN. tazetta known as Chinese Sacred Lily.[2][3][4]
Narcissus tazetta is amongst the tallest of the narcissi, and can grow to a height of up to 80 centimetres (31 in),[5] with thin, flat leaves up to 40 centimetres (16 in) long and 15 millimetres (0.59 in) wide.Umbels have as many as 8 flowers, white with a yellow corona.[6][7][8][9][10]
Narcissus tazetta contains a fragrant compound found in only a few other plants, includingroses andAcnistus arborescens, calledorcinol dimethyl ether, which is almost undetectable to the human nose. Experiments withhoneybees have shown they can readily detect it.[17]
Narcissus tazetta is grown commercially for itsessential oil, mostly in southern France. An interspecies hybrid, withNarcissus poeticus, is also grown for its essential oil.[20]
