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blakrab

Tiny White Daffodils Or Lilies?

7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

These small white blooms on an old house lot are about ~nickel-sized with a sickly sweet, almost stinky smell. And it has bulbs about the size of a large prune. What is this heirloom flower?



Comments (13)

  • 7 years ago

    I promised myself that I wouldn’t answer questions while sleepy, but I think these are paper whites, Narcisus papyraceus.

    blakrab Centex thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    Yes. Plain old Paperwhites.

    blakrab Centex thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
  • 7 years ago

    Yes, I agree with the other 2 posters.

    blakrab Centex thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    "incredible fragrance"?? LOL!! That's a matter of differing opinion. I won't have them in my house, as I think they stink!! And the OP doesn't seem to be overly entranced with their scent, either :-)

    blakrab Centex thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
  • 7 years ago

    Inball, Wintersun, and Erlicheer don't smell bad. As a matter of fact, Erlicheer had a very sweet smell.

    blakrab Centex thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    The fragrace or scent of any flower is a very subject quality. What may smell good to you may not smell good to someone else :-) Or may not even have much of a scent at all.

    btw, Erlicheer is a Division 4 narcissus, not a paperwhite (Division 8)

    blakrab Centex thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
  • 7 years ago

    Yes, Erlicheer is not a paperwhite but does have a heavenly scent as well as blooming a very long time. I believe I should have included Grand Soleil d'Or in the group. I have that and it's perfume is sweet. Grand also blooms a long time & does well here in the deep south.

    blakrab Centex thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    I like the scent of Paperwhites .....

    blakrab Centex thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
  • 7 years ago

    I agree that Erlicheer and several other narcissus (like any of the poeticus) have wonderful scents. But not paperwhites!! To me, that is a sickly, cloying scent and not at all pleasant. See what I mean about subjective?? Others, like floral, like it but for me, no thanks!

    blakrab Centex thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
  • 7 years ago

    I don't force paperwhites inside my home. I have them in my garden. Some are already in bloom.

    blakrab Centex thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    For some of us indoors is the only option. But for people with low winter chill they are one Narcissus they can grow in the garden without pre treatment.

    blakrab Centex thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
  • 7 years ago

    Add me to the camp of people who don't care for the smell of most paperwhites. They smell a little musty to my nose but then again I'm not that crazy about oriental lilies either and some people just love them.

    It seems like the white paperwhites have that scent, but some of the yellow centered ones are a little sweeter. I actually like erlicheer in small doses.