Polianthes tuberosa

Tuberose

Perennials, Flowers

Native to Mexico. Grown for the heady, powerfully sweetfragrance of its flowers. Eachrhizome (actually a modifiedrhizome with bulblike top andtuberous roots) produces afountain of narrow, grassyleaves about 1 1/2 ft. high. Flower spikes rise above the leaves, bearing loose whorls of tubular, glistening white flowers in summer or early fall. Tallest tuberose (to 3 1/2 ft.) is the form sometimes sold as ‘Mexican Single’. More widely sold is double-flowered ‘The Pearl’, to 2 1/2 ft. high; it is a good garden variety, but single types provide longer-lasting cut flowers.

To bloom year after year, tuberoses need a long warm season (at least 4 months) before flowering.Where this can be providedoutdoors, you can plant rhizomes directly in the ground; elsewhere, start them indoorsin pots and plant outside aftersoil warms in spring. Set rhizomes 2 in. deep and 4–6 in. apart. If soil or water is alkaline,apply acid fertilizer whengrowth begins. When foliagestarts to yellow in fall, stopwatering. Dig plants, cut offdead foliage, let rhizomes dryfor 2 weeks, and store in a cool, dry place until planting time. Tuberoses can also be grown in containers and moved to protection during cold weather.