By Lola
Tuberose that is. My first encounter with this lovely plant was in N.C. I saw the plant in bloom and it smelled fantastic. The smell is like a gardenia. I purchased the plant and later brought it back to Florida and planted it in the ground. It died back that winter but came back the next spring and bloomed. Sadly it did not appear after the next winter.
Last year I purchased the bulbs of the double tuberose (Polianthes Tuberosa 'The Pearl'). I also purchased the single Mexican tuberose, (Rajanigandha, Sedap Malam) . Researching this one I learned the Aztecs used it's oil to flavor chocolate.
This is the picture of the single Mexican Tuberose As you can see it's got two flower stalks.
This is the picture of the double tuberose, The Pearl. They didn't bloom last year but have done so this year. They started forming flower stalks around the first of July. As time passed the stalks got longer. Then they started with the blooms.
This bloom is the result of the Mexican Tuberose being broken off.
See how the flower looks as we've brought it closer!!!
This is the double tuberose before it starts to open. A cluster of "pods" as I call them
A closeup of the "pods"
I have one sitting by the front door and one by the garage door so no matter which way we enter there is that lovely smell.So as long as they bloom we will have a very pleasant smell.......
In the Garden
It always amazes me that such delicate looking blooms can have such a great scent!
ReplyDeleteI have had that wonderfully scented flower also, but alas, it croaked. Hope you have better luck with yours.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
I'm curious to know what this smells like now Lola !
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen this plant before .. but then again it wouldn't survive up here in the frozen north .. haha
I do love plants that have a great scent by the entry ways of the house though .. it is always good to have that happening : )
I really like Tuberoses and tried to grow them one year. Think the voles got them....and just about everything else in that garden!! Enjoy yours!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lola and all, thanks for sharing your sweet smelling tuberoses. Placing them at the doorways is so smart too! They could get lost out in the garden and should be planted where they can better be appreciated for the little gems they are. Our neighbors gave us some one year, they came back once never to return again. Still worth growing as an annual for many of us. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
Hi Lola, they're very interesting. I love the idea of putting them by the door. I would love to walk into such a great smell upon entering and leaving.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day and thanks for sharing:0) Ciao
Tuberose is one of my favorites, still on my "to-get" list though. Are the Mexican and double equally fragrant?
ReplyDeleteHi Thanks for visiting my blog glad you enjoyed the Hydrangea. I think this plant Mexican Tuberose is lovely.
ReplyDeleteHi Lola, I love fragrant plants. Don't think it would do well up here but it's interesting to learn about them.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of having scented plants by the door. I'll have to think about how I could do that.
Marnie
Good Morning All,
ReplyDeleteDarla, as the say "big things come in small packages". These blooms are small but have a wonderful large smell.
Flowerlady, this is my second yr. with these beauties. Saving the bulb is the key. You should really try it again. It's worth it.
ReplyDeleteGardenJoy4Me, It's always nice to enter or exit one's home with a lovely smell. The smell is like a Gardenia. Please do try it again. Just protect the bulb in the winter.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet, drat those ole' voles. Try putting your bulbs in a can. Cut the top & bottom out of a can, then bury the can & put the bulb in the can. It worked for me in N.C.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a interesting plant it's almost orchid-like. I bet it smells nice.
ReplyDeleteHi Frances, you're welcome. They sure are gems. I love them, especially by the entrance. It kind of makes the day nice. You could keep them in your greenhouse in the winter.
ReplyDeleteHi Lola,
ReplyDeleteIf the Aztecs used it to flavor chocolate, I am sure it is heavenly! I wish you had a scratch and sniff for your blog.
Rosey
Thanks Anonymous. They really do smell fantastic. They would even work for you. Just put them in a pot by your door.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great day. Hug Lil Bundle & all the kiddos for us.
Lzyjo I think the double {The Pearl} has the louder smell. Both smell good. In fact the stalk that got broken off the Mexican {which is single bloom} one I took into the house & put it in a vase. Boy, did the whole house smell great. You should really try it.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, this plant is next to heaven with it's wonderful smell. It's so nice to have it by the entrance as you can have that wonderful smell every time the door is opened.
ReplyDeleteHi Marnie, of course it would work at you home. Just put it in a pot & sit it by the door. In the winter just put the pot in a much warmer place. The plant will die back in the winter & come out in the Spring.
ReplyDeleteHi Dawn, This plant sure is interesting. The smell is out of this world. If you like Gardenia's you'll love the fragrance of this flower. You really should try one. I ordered mine. I'm learning about this plant, so far I like all I've read about it. Funny how the oil was used to flavor chocolate by the Aztec.
ReplyDeleteHi Rosey, that sure would be nice for the scratch & sniff. But my opinion is that the flower of the Tuberose smells much better than chocolate.
ReplyDeleteYou should try one. It's worth it.
Hi Lola, so lovely to see Rajni gandha here! They're very popular in India and the smell is heavenly! About the Aztecs using the oil to flavour the chocolates---I found that information very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe blooms are not real small but yet they have a very danity look to them, very pretty....hope your day is great.
ReplyDeleteMy Tuberroses bloomed last year, but I'm not even sure if they came up this year. I should have put them in a pot!
ReplyDeleteMy mother gave me some tuberoses that I found in Lowes while home in TN this past spring. They were the roots and I planted them to no avail. They never came up at all. I think maybe too soggy where I planted them in the spring and they rotted from too much water. Argggggg. I should have potted them and will once trying them a second time. I am not giving up as I want to sniff that scent you all keep talking about! :) I never did find them in our stores here in GA so think they must not do well down here. I will give them a second try next year in a pot instead of the ground...
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of planting in the open ended cans! Perfect use for old coffee cans and to keep the voles at bay!
Hi Lola, Darn! I thought I had commented on this post this morning when I normally do my blogging. My apologies. I had the tuberose last year when we had all talked about it. It bloomed wonderfully and was super great. Nice fragrance for sure. But even though I saved the pot in a non-freeze area the bulbs did not return:( Oh well. Live and learn. It is great yours returns faithfully!
ReplyDeleteKanak Hagjer I'm glad you enjoyed the Tuberose. I'm glad you have it there to enjoy. I too was interested to learn that the Aztec used the oil to flavor chocolate. I would like to learn more about the uses of this lovely flower.
ReplyDeleteHi Jean, I too noticed that the bloom was not very big but it sure does pack a lot of "perfume". It is very delicate also. Just one stalk in the house made the whole house smell so good. And as one bloom closes another opens so you have a continued smell. I loved having it in the house for so long.
ReplyDeletesweet bay, I'm glad you have experienced this wonderful plant. I believe it to be more tropical. Even tho I first learned of this plant in N.C. I think now it must have been shipped in. Sometimes you can find the roots in a big store---L.
ReplyDeleteI thought they should bloom in the Spring but have found them to be a late Summer bloomer. That makes it nice.
Hi Skeeter, I'm sorry that you lost your Tuberose. Yes, they seem to do better in a pot & they don't like a lot of water. It took forever for mine to come up. I thought they had met their demise.
ReplyDeleteDo try them again as they are worth it. Once you smell them you won't ever forget that aroma.
Hi Tina, no apologies necessary. I know how it is to get busy.
ReplyDeleteBy you having one of these lovely plants you know how fragrant they are & how nice they smell.
I'm sorry yours did not come back. I'm hoping mine will multiply so that I won't loose it. As I said I will research this more as I would like to learn more about this wonderful plant. Flavoring for chocolate? Never knew.
Those flowers just look like they smell good. I'm not sure I've ever smelled one, but if it's like gardenia then I know I'd love it.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, yes, they do smell like Gardenias. But I think a bit stronger. I just know they smell fantastic. I think you would like them. If you can get some do try them.
ReplyDeleteHi Lola,
ReplyDeleteI love tuberoses, but only grew them one year, when someone gave me some. I didn't put them in a place where I should, and they didn't survive the winter here in zone 5b.
I didn't know there were different kinds. I hope yours do well.
Hi Sue, Sorry you lost yours. You really should try them again. I do believe they are tropical so they need to be protected in winter especially in your zone. I will be anxious to see if mine will perform for me next yr. like this yr.
ReplyDeleteThey have the best fragrance! I've never tried to grow them...hmm! I might have to try! gail
ReplyDeleteThere are some garden scents that I find overpowering--things like many roses--but tuberoses are great. I could live in the middle of an acre of them. I like how you've positioned them so that you can enjoy their best quality.
ReplyDeletelola,
ReplyDeleteit's great to have a fragrant flower that you like and plant it where you can enjoy coming and going. i used to plant gardenias under my windows in fl.
Hi Gail, always nice to see ya. The tuberose is a nice fragrant flower. You should try them. I think you would like them.
ReplyDeleteHi James, I know what you mean about over powering scents. I agree too many roses can do that. This lovely flower is just enough. Having only one at each place gives just enough fragrance to lift the spirits & make you take notice.
ReplyDeleteMorning Marmee, Yes it's nice to have them located at those points of entry. It's so nice just to pass by & smell that fragrance.
ReplyDeleteI like gardenias & would like to grow them again. It's hard to find the dwarf kind. With my limited space dwarf is what I have to go with.
Have a great day all.
What a lovely bloom! We definitely need smell-o-vision for our computers!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to find this post Lola! I planted some tuberose bulbs in the same container I have the gardenia. I know they've been growing but now I'm going outside to check for bloom stalks. I've never grown them before or smelled them so your post is very encouraging. I hope mine look at pretty as yours very soon!
ReplyDeleteHaving these in pots, did they come back the next year? I wonder if the Mex one might be alittle more reliable in a hot area?
ReplyDeletegarden girl I agree. I sure would like to smell some of the lovely flowers I've seen on the blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathleen, glad you found us. It is a lovely smell. If you planted them with your Gardenia you will have a great smell. I hope they bloom for you. They sure are worth it.
ReplyDeleteHi Carla, both are in pots & both came back. In fact I transplanted them into bigger pots this Spring. They are tropical so both should do good in your area. After all they do come from Mexico. I do protect mine in the winter here as it does get cold at times. I didn't do it, but it is suggested that you take the bulbs out of soil, clean a bit, let dry & store in paper bag or peat.
ReplyDelete