Brunfelsia - A Plant of the Solanaceae Family
Published · Flower Resource
This plant belongs to Solanaceae family and its botanical name is Brunfelsia calycina. It is a semi deciduous shrub species of flowering that grows in light woodland ad thickets. Thus shrub can grow up to feet in height and spread across 12 feet. It is mostly cultivated for its fragrant flowers. It is native to Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Columbia and different varieties of these flowers are Brunfelsia pauciflora, Brunfelsia Grandiflora, Brunfelsia Australis and Brunfelsia Latiflora.
The plant is commonly called Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. It has foliage depending on the climate evergreen or deciduous. The plant can create a beautiful flower bed of charming flowers of different colors like purple, lavender and white. The flower smells mesmerizing throughout the whole blooming season. The flowers bloom from May to August.
Uses of Brunfelsia
- The root of the plant is used as remedy against rheumatism and arthritis.
- It is also used for the treatment of fever.
- The leaves are used for treatment of severe back pain and bronchitis.
- The wood from the taller plants is also used in construction of traditional hut.
- You can plant them in containers in your patio, it will definitely turn heads.
Interesting Facts
- The plant must be handles with care as every part of the plant is poisonous.
- The scientific name of the plant is related to famous German botanist called Otto Brunfels.
- The genus consists of thirty different species and all of them are native to Antilles and American forests.
- The nickname of the shrub is changing color that is because the flowers changes its colors from violet or purple to blue to white barely in three days.
- The other common names of these flowers are Morning Noon and Night; Kiss me Quick and Brazil Rain tree.
Soil Needed
- It requires rich, moist and well drained soil with liberal amount of quantities of the compost.
How to Plant?
- It can be propagated through seeds.
- If fresh seeds are sown they can germinate within 2 to 4 weeks.
- It is a good idea to plant it in spring in a pot and indoors.
- You cannot grow it inside the apartment as the air is too dry indoors.
- The shrub fears freezing so you can place it anywhere inside the room with temperature above 10 degree Celsius.
- Treat the plant as matured plant after four months of its start of propagation and you can move the plant to standard potting mixture.
Maintenance and Care
- Annual repotting of the plant is almost mandatory in spring.
- To increase the blooming you can add Rose tree fertilizer once in a week during the blooming season.
- If you want to reshape the shrub wait for the blooming season to end and then cut the stems back by half.
- Do not water too much but water regularly.
- Protect your shrub in winter unless you live in a tropical region.
- The leaves lose the color when they are attacked by parasites.