Sleek, spring-time elegance bursting forth to banish the colder months
Diving right into the topic of banishment, let us now banish the notion that the winter months contain no hope of the crisp, airy lightness in flower-form that spring affords. May we present to you narcissus, more popularly known as paperwhites. This pretty, bulbous perennial is the tall, skinny cousin of the daffodil and is definitely a lady of simple tastes. The long, cold-snap-ready stems have architecturally enveloping leaves that idolize pretty, pure white, bell-shaped blooms. The effect is evocative of snow dropping from early spring grasses and is stunning, to say the least.
Paperwhite is one of those flowers that boasts the versatility of a pretty stem. Many cut flowers, like roses or hydrangea, have stems that simply aren’t visually appealing. If we see the stems of these flowers, many florists agree that something is most likely wrong with the arrangement. Flowers like tulips or calla lilies, however, often rely on the elegance of their stems to convey elegance within the composition. Paperwhite falls into the latter category. While the snowy, starburst bloom pattern of narcissus looks incredible nestled into bouquets and traditional centerpieces, there’s something to be said about taking a more natural approach to compositions featuring this lovely flower.
Think lush, earthy beds of moss populated with wooden disks and place cards, studded with bulbs of narcissus practically growing right out of your escort table! Imagine an aged, knobby birch log laced with reindeer moss, cedar greens, and graced with tiny stalks of Paperwhite. Now imagine it down the center of your banquet table! Trust us, it looks as stunning as it sounds. In addition to arrangements, bouquets, and tablescapes, narcissus packs a lot of party favor potential. Paperwhites are plants with nutrient-rich bulbs that need little more than water to grow! Send your guests home with tiny pots of blooming narcissus or pack the bulbs into little boxes with instructions on how to grow and care for the plant for a favor that is at once pretty and practical!
Paperwhite Facts
Season: Late autumn to early spring
Pairings: Nothing possesses as much understated elegance as a bulbed flower. Lovely as the sole focus or cozied up to other winter flowers in your centerpieces and bouquets.
Colors: Stark white with the potential for a creamy, slightly sulfuric yellow
When to use: When you need a reminder of spring among all the coniferous greens, red roses, and plastic baubles of many, more traditional styles of winter florals.
For more paperwhite pleasure, check out our Pinterest board!
