Where to buy seeds
Some links are affiliate links — Verdantly may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more.
Ziva Paperwhites are a cultivar of Narcissus papyraceus that brings winter and spring blooms to warm-climate gardens and indoor spaces. These elegant perennials reach 14 to 18 inches tall and display crisp white flowers in just 20 to 29 days from planting, thriving in zones 8 through 10 where they can be grown outdoors year-round. For gardeners in colder regions, they're equally at home forced indoors, making them one of the most rewarding bulbs for quick, fragrant color during the darkest months of the year.
Full Sun
Moderate
8-10
18in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Ziva Paperwhites bloom with remarkable speed, flowering within three to four weeks of planting, which is faster than most spring bulbs. The pure white blossoms appear reliably during winter and spring, bringing fresh fragrance indoors or to outdoor beds with minimal fuss. They're heirloom non-GMO bulbs that perform as true perennials in warmer zones, returning reliably year after year with virtually no special treatment required.
Ziva Paperwhites are grown primarily for their ornamental flowers, which appear indoors in forcing bowls filled with water and pebbles or in traditional soil-based pots. Gardeners plant them in autumn for winter blooms, making them essential for seasonal decoration during the holidays and early spring. In zones 8 through 10, they naturalize outdoors in beds and borders, returning each year to brighten the early season landscape.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
For indoor forcing, plant bulbs in autumn (September through November) in shallow bowls filled with pebbles, stones, or potting soil. Position the bulb so its tip is just above the growing medium, then add water until it touches the bottom of the bulb. Keep in a cool location (50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) for two to three weeks, then move to a bright, cool windowsill. Blooms will emerge within 20 to 29 days of planting.
In zones 8 through 10, plant bulbs directly outdoors in October for winter and spring blooming. Choose a location with full sun and well-draining soil. Harden off forced indoor bulbs gradually before transplanting outdoors after flowering if desired, though they are typically treated as annuals after forcing.
Bulbs are not seeds and are planted directly into their growing location. Outdoors in warm zones, plant bulbs four inches apart and two inches deep in October.
Remove spent flower stems after blooms fade, but leave the foliage intact. Allow leaves to yellow and wither naturally before cutting back, as this process returns energy to the bulb. After flowering, trim any dead or damaged leaves as needed.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Narcissus papyraceus has been cultivated for centuries, particularly in Mediterranean regions where paperwhite variants have been prized for their rapid forcing capabilities. The 'Ziva' cultivar represents a continuation of this tradition, selected and maintained as a heirloom variety for its reliable performance and swift blooming cycle. This cultivar embodies generations of growers' knowledge about which paperwhites force most predictably and abundantly, making it a living connection to how gardeners have used these bulbs for centuries to brighten winter homes.”