The Scent Of A Tuberose
There is nothing quite like the smell of a beautiful flower! I find the whiff of a Gardenia to be heavenly and the aroma of Honeysuckle or Lilac on a spring evening to be just intoxicating. While I can’t speak from experience I am told that the scent of a Tuberose flower can rival any of these beauties. Its fragrant reputation dates back to the 16th century and it has been a popular choice as a cut flower for the floral industry for decades.
Growing Tuberose gives you a lot of “bang for your buck” as each spike-like flower spike can have up to two dozen flowers. Talk about packing a fragrant punch! Another nice feature of Tuberose is that it begins to bloom in mid-August when a lot of flowers have already finished their blooming cycle and once they start flowering they can continue to do so until the first frost. Tuberose flower stalks can grow up to three feet tall and perhaps the only drawback of this plant is that flowers only come in the color white.
Varieties of Tuberose can be differentiated by the style of flower the plant produces. Some plants produce flowers that are singular while others produce a double flower. Each variety has its strengths as double-flowered varieties typically last longer while the single flower varieties make a better cut flower. While Tuberose flowers are beautiful the rest of the plant is rather plain looking so it is often a good idea to mix them together with other plants. Some good companion plants are Agapanthus and Canna.
Tuberose are effectively cultivated in garden ones 7 through 10. The bulbs are planted in spring after any danger of frost has passed. These bulbs should be planted 8 to 10 inches deep and 2 to 4 inches apart. They prefer soil that drains well and in partly sunny to full sun locations. If you live in a colder garden zone you can still grow Tuberose. You would treat it just like a Gladiolus and in the fall, after the foliage has died, dig up the bulb and store them in a cool spot in a garage or basement.
Finally, another nice feature is that Tuberose is rarely bothered by pests or diseases. If the flowering is not as robust as in previous years it may be that the bulb has gotten “crowded”. New bulbs form around the older bulb and these new bulbs should be removed. These smaller bulbs can be replanted and they will flower in a few years after they have matured. So, if you are a fan of fragrant flowers, why not give Tuberose a try in your yard next spring!
