Bouvardia

Family. Rubiaceae.

Origin. A tropical plant that grows in Mexico and South America. 

Description. Bouvardia is named after Charles Bouvard, personal physician to Louis XIII and caretaker of the royal gardens in Paris. The genus includes about 30 species of evergreen flowering shrubs with rather thin and brittle stems. The leaves are lanceolate, green, about 5 cm long. From summer to mid-winter, the plant forms amazingly fragrant inflorescences with the scent of jasmine from white or pink star-shaped tubular flowers. The plant blooms early and is a wonderful bushy shrub for greenhouses and indoor plants. But even with the most careful care, it will last no more than two years, since old specimens no longer bloom so willingly and abundantly.

Height. Up to 90 cm.

Care at home

Reproduction

Propagated in spring by stem or root cuttings.

How to care for a flower in a pot 

Prune heavily in early spring and pinch out growing tips until late summer to keep the plant bushy.

Composition of soil

Based on soil with peat and loam mixed with one fourth of leaf soil and coarse sand.

When it blooms 

Fragrant flowers appear from mid-summer to early winter. 

Containment temperature

The minimum temperature in winter is about 7° C; the rest of the time - warm room conditions; when kept cold, it loses leaves. 

Lighting

When grown as a houseplant, bouvardia needs bright, indirect light.

Fertilizer

During the flowering period, fertilize every 2 weeks with a weak solution of liquid fertilizer.

Spraying

There are no special requirements, you can do without spraying, it loves ventilated areas. 

Watering

Water abundantly during the period of active growth: during the dormant period - in late spring and early summer - keep the substrate relatively dry. During the dormant period (late spring and early summer), the substrate should be fairly dry.

Transfer

In spring, transplant into a larger pot. 

Pests and diseases

Powdery mildew. Bouvardia is damaged by whitefly; inspect the plant and spray with insecticide if necessary.

Sometimes the bushes suffer from invasions of mealybugs, aphids and spider mites.

Purpose

Ideal for a greenhouse or sunny windowsill. Bouvardia is often used in floristry when making bouquets.