In my 20’s, I lived in Brisbane, Australia, which is subtropical. I dated a man whose mother had a lovely garden that included a shrub called Brunfelsia pauciflora, which has flowers of three colors on it simultaneously: some purple, some lavender, and some white.
This is a long-blooming shrub with the common name of “Yesterday Today and Tomorrow.” It blooms heavily each spring, which starts in September in Australia, and then blooms intermittently most of the year if it likes its spot. There is another heavy bloom in May, which is fall in Australia.
It grows 3-8 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide in full sun or light shade. It is toxic to pets and native to Brazil.
Other quaint names for it are “Morning Noon and Night” because of its prolific bloom, “Kiss Me Quick,” “Brazilian Raintree,” and “Franciscan Raintree.”
It prefers the soil to be moist always, and it likes humidity.
Much to my surprise, a friend here in Indiana last fall gave me a small one in a pot. I kept it over the winter under lights in my basement and was amazed to see some blooms on it. I will keep it outdoors in the summer. It triggers lots of memories and it is so pretty when it blooms.
This is Moya Andrews, and today we focused on Brunfelsia.
