TUBEROSE - Grandmas Favorite Fragrance

Polyanthes tuberosa…my grandmas favorite fragrance…

Description

 Now renamed Agave amica, this native of Mexico has an abundantly intoxicating fragrance. Cultivated by the Aztecs for centuries. They called it “omixochitl” - “bone flower”, probably due to its whiteness.An herbaceous tender ornamental, it produces from its tuberous rootstock a rosette of long, narrow, semi-succulent foliage. It’s related to asparagus and belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. 

In summer, a tall floral scape emerges on which are borne the waxy, white flowers. The fragrance is most intense at night.

History

 With a thousand-year history behind it - the pre-Columbian peoples used it for property of easing fatigue. They also grew it for its intense perfume with which they flavored their hot chocolate drinks.During the sixteenth century the Spaniards together with a French missionary brought the plant to Europe. They put them in their famous lunar gardens - places with flowers give off their fragrance only after sunset. 

Perfume

 Defined as a “perfumery harlot” - its fragrance was considered narcotic - categorically forbidden to European girls during the Renaissance. The fear was that these flowers of sin could inspire illicit thoughts in them, leading them to a spontaneous orgasm and total perdition.In India – where tuberose ( ki rani ) means “courtesan of the night” – it was thought that their perfume could make one fall into a spiral of emotionality that was difficult to escape.The fragrance has been distilled for use in perfumery since the 17th century. French Queen Marie Antoinette used a perfume called “Sillage de la Reine”, also called “Parfum de Trianon”, containing tuberose, orange blossom, sandalwood, jasmine, iris and cedar.  Beloved by Louis XIV of France, he had them planted by the hundreds in the flower beds of the Grand Trianon at Versailles. They were grown in clay pots and planted directly in the ground; to keep the perfume consistently strong new specimens were rotated in, sometimes daily. 

Tuberose absolute currently $650 an ounce

 Here in NYC we grow them as we do Dahlias – saving the bulbs every Fall and keeping them warm until Spring when we plant them in our gardens again! 

How about some in your garden !

Call us - we have the know where to get the bulbs !

PLANT SPECIALISTSGREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

   Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK