Brunfelsia

Family. Solanaceae.

Origin. America.

Description. The Brunfelsia genus includes about 40 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees. The bush develops slowly and is successfully kept as a houseplant. The flowers are very fragrant with a white throat, up to 5 cm in diameter. The leaves are leathery, lanceolate, glossy, up to 8 cm long on short petioles. It is interesting that the tubular flowers often change shades - young, recently opened buds are violet-purple, later - pale lavender, blue, before wilting they acquire an almost white shade. For such an interesting feature, this plant was named "Yesterday, today, tomorrow". Each flower remains open for about 4 days, but the plant produces them very abundantly, so the flowering period is long. The buds have 5 petals, spectacular, up to 5 cm in diameter, collected in inflorescences of about 10 pieces at the ends of long stems, opening alternately. Under favorable conditions, brunfelsia can bloom throughout the year.

Height. From 60 cm to 3 meters.

Care at home

Reproduction

Propagated in spring by apical cuttings 8 - 13 cm long, rooted with the help of growth hormones. Place them in moist, loose soil made of equal parts peat and coarse sand or perlite. Cover the pots with a plastic cover and keep in bright light. Rooting takes approximately 4 - 6 weeks. At the first signs of new growth, young plants begin to be watered sparingly and fertilized every two weeks. Brunfelsia is also successfully grown from seeds.

Flowering time

The charming flowers typically appear from May to September, but under the right conditions the plant will bloom throughout most of the year. In order to ensure flowering over a long period, the temperature must be maintained at 13 - 16 °C. 

How to care 

In warm, humid conditions during the winter, these plants will not be able to go into dormancy and will suffer from lack of sun during the winter. Prune shoots radically in spring or at the end of the dormant period to maintain a compact shape and a denser crown. When pruning, the shoots are shortened by about half the height of the previous year. For a more branched crown, pinch the tops of young shoots - this can be done at any time.

Soil for brunfelsia 

Rich, moist but well-drained soil. Trees prefer acidic soils with a pH slightly below neutral.

Containment temperature

During the period of active growth, normal room temperature is ideal. Wintering is cool - 10 - 13 ° C for four to six weeks. 

Lighting

Bright light, 3 - 4 hours of direct sunlight every day promote more abundant flowering. Shade on hot summer days. 

Fertilizer

Actively growing shrubs are fed with a standard liquid fertilizer at half strength every two weeks to stimulate vigorous growth. 

Spraying 

Place the pot with the plant on a tray with damp pebbles to increase air humidity. 

Watering

During active growth, water enough to completely saturate the soil ball, but allow the top layer, about 1 cm thick, to dry out before the next watering. During the dormant period, water sparingly, just so that the earthen ball does not dry out. 

Transfer

The shrub grows best in cramped pots with a diameter of 13 - 15 cm. Replant in fresh soil every spring, but do not increase the volume of the pot. 

Pests and diseases

Pale or yellow leaves are the result of insufficiently acidic soil. The plant sheds its leaves when there is insufficient air humidity.

Of the pests, the most dangerous are aphids and red spider mites, as well as whiteflies and mealybugs, scale insects, sometimes thrips, spider mites, and aphids.  If kept outdoors in the warm season, the flower can be attacked by slugs and snails.  

Varieties:

Brunfelsia pauciflora

A lush flowering shrub up to 2.5 m high; when grown indoors, its height can be easily adjusted by pruning. The leaves are lanceolate, glossy, leathery, dark green, reaching a length of 8 - 15 cm. Flowers with 5 rounded petals are collected in small apical inflorescences and open gradually. Flower petals are capable of changing their color - only the opened flowers will have a rich purple hue, but every day the petals will fade until they become almost white. Each flower remains open for approximately 4 days. 

Brunfelsia americana, nitida

Tall flowering shrubs up to 4.5 m high in their natural habitat. The leaves are lanceolate, thick, glossy, on short petioles, reaching a length of 5 - 10 cm. Flowers with long, floral tubes, reaching a diameter of 5 cm, change color from white to cream or light green. During the flowering period, the plants emit a pleasant aroma that intensifies in the evening and night hours. 

Brunfelsia grandiflora

In open ground in warm climates, these evergreen shrubs reach a height of about 3 m. The leaves are dark green, lanceolate, leathery, glossy, reach a length of 30 cm, and are arranged alternately. The flowers are fragrant, change shades from purple to white and remain open for about 3 days each. 

This variety of brunfelsia has found its use in folk medicine - it is believed that the plant can relieve the symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis. 

Brunfelsia magnifica

A beautifully flowering evergreen shrub up to 3 m high with numerous thin, abundantly branched shoots. The leaves are glossy, dark green, lanceolate. Leaf veins are slightly recessed into the surface of the leaf blades. The flowers are large, on long floral tubes, with 5 oblong, corrugated petals. The shades of the petals vary from rich purple to lilac and white.

Brunfelsia lactea

A relatively compact variety - reaches a height of 120 - 150 cm. The shrubs have thin, flexible shoots covered with light bark. The leaves are dark green, lanceolate, entire, on short petioles. The leaf blades are slightly bent along the central vein. The flowers are drooping, on long flower tubes, with rounded petals, very fragrant. The color of the petals changes from white to slightly yellowish. 

Brunfelsia australis

Lush shrubs up to 2.5 m high with a rounded crown. The leaves are green, entire, thick, lanceolate, on short petioles, arranged alternately. Flowers appear throughout the year on the tops of shoots when grown indoors. The petals can change color from purple to lilac-pink and white. 

Brunfelsia latifolia

This variety reaches a height of about 2 m when grown outdoors in warm climates, but tolerates formative pruning, which can be used to control its size indoors. The stems are abundantly branched, covered with light brown bark, and form a rounded crown. The leaves are thick, lanceolate, green, alternate. The flowers are fragrant, large, and on each plant the flowers can be painted in different tones of summer, lilac and white.