Brunfelsia grandiflora Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Introduction

This may be one of the most beautiful group of plants grown in Florida landscapes, although many people are not aware of them. They grow to about 8 or 10 feet tall and are most known for their beautiful flower display. Flowers range from white to lavender. B. pauciflora and B. australis flowers emerge lavender or purple and fade to white during the next day or two. B. australis may be the best one adapted to a partially shaded location. Other species have purple flowers with white centers. In south Florida, plants fill with flowers during the warm months of the year. Flowering is restricted to the summer and fall in the northern part of its range.

General Information

Scientific name: Brunfelsia grandiflora

Pronunciation: brun-FELZ-ee-uh gran-dif-FLOR-uh

Common name(s): yesterday, today, and tomorrow

Family: Solanaceae

Plant type: shrub

USDA hardiness zones: 9B through 11 (Figure 4)

Planting month for zone 9: year round

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Uses: specimen; accent; border; foundation; mass planting; screen; trained as a standard

Availability: grown in small quantities by a small number of nurseries

Description

Height: 7 to 10 feet

Spread: 5 to 8 feet

Plant habit: upright

Plant density: dense

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: oblong

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: 8 to 12 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no fall color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: lavender; purple; white

Flower characteristic: pleasant fragrance; spring flowering; summer flowering; fall flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: unknown

Fruit length: unknown

Fruit cover: dry or hard

Fruit color: yellow

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy; typically multitrunked or clumping stems

Current year stem/twig color: brown

Current year stem/twig thickness: medium

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun

Soil tolerances: acidic; slightly alkaline; sand; loam; clay

Drought tolerance: moderate

Soil salt tolerances: moderate

Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches

Other

Roots: usually not a problem

Winter interest: no special winter interest

Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more

Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant

Use and Management

The shrub is nicely suited for displaying by itself as a specimen or can be combined with others in a shrub border. It can be used along the foundation of a large commercial building but grows too large for planting along most house foundations. Surprisingly, flowering is acceptable in the partial shade. Selective pruning can keep the plant at any height from 4 to about 8 feet.

This plant is well adapted to a variety of well drained soils, acid, or alkaline.

Pests and Diseases

Few problems seem to affect this nice shrub.