Tuberose — an amazingly underutilized cutting flower
Back in March, Joe in D.C. wrote:
“I’m trying to track down tuberose, my girlfriend’s favorite flower, for her birthday, and have not had any luck.
“I guess they are out of season and rare in this area, but I saw that you wrote an article discussing tuberous begonias and dahlias, so I figured you might be the person to ask!”
I have to admit that I had to look this plant up. But thank you, Joe, for turning me on to (or reminding me of) this fabulous summer bloomer.
Grown as a cut flower for centuries and so wonderfully scented that it’s used in the manufacture of perfumes, tuberose is a frost-sensitive perennial native to Mexico that might survive winter (planted in the ground) in the heat sink of D.C. proper with some mulchy protection.
And that was, and still is, my advice: Order big bulbs now, plant them after all risk of frost has passed, and she’ll experience the beauty of those white tubular, sweetly scented blooms on ridiculously tall spikes from late summer through the fall.
Hummingbirds in Dupont Circle?
Of course, Joe was hoping I could help him track down some cut tuberose, his girlfriend’s favorite flower, for her March birthday — with something like three days’ notice to me.
So, we missed that boat. But it might be possible — and certainly expensive — through an overseas supplier next spring, Joe.
The folks at the famed Philadelphia Flower Show seem to be able to track down any plant for display in March — so I have a call in to them and will report the results next week.
But I still urge Joe to order some big bulbs now. They’re readily available from many suppliers, including this one, which seems to specialize in this amazing flower and offers excellent growing tips. Plant them after all risk of frost, and she’ll have her favorite blooms to enjoy “live in person” this summer.
And you both may get a special bonus treat as well. Plants with strongly scented tubular flowers are incredibly attractive to hummingbirds (who can only take nectar from flowers with a long tubular shape).
Yes, hummingbirds. Yes, even in the heart of the city.
The birthday timing may be a little off, but this would make for a fine double gift, now wouldn’t it?
Let’s get tuberous
They can plant the bulbs this spring. Then Joe and his girlfriend can celebrate her half-birthday in late summer with live versions of her favorite flower.
The directions are essentially the same as with dahlias, tuberous begonias and all of the other summer-blooming “bulbs” (a general term that’s always used, even though some of the plants grow from tubers or rhizomes).
- Pick (or create) an area with excellent drainage.
- Make sure it gets full sun. (No sun, no flowers.)
- Purchase the biggest bulbs or rhizomes available and plant them — not deeply, especially with tuberose — after all risk of frost is over.
- These tropical summer bloomers require little care afterward; just a nice mulch of compost after the plants emerge and/or a few feedings of a gentle organic fertilizer like worm castings or a fish and seaweed mix.
- Do not expose these plants to chemical fertilizers, or you’ll have mad pest problems.
- And keep them far away from treated lawns and other areas where herbicides have been foolishly used.
The wide world of summer blooming bulbs
Joe really got me thinking about a topic I don’t cover as often as I should — summer blooming bulbs. Although his “bulb in question” was the tuberose (an unsurpassed cutting flower whose proper name is Polianthes tuberosa), the basic category is large, rich and vibrant.
It includes showstoppers like dahlias, tuberous begonias (which are much bigger and showier than the bedding plant begonia) and canna lilies, which aren’t any kind of lily but big tropical plants with incredibly colored leaves finished with big bright orange flowers at the top.
You buy them in the dormant root, bulb or rhizome stage and plant those underground parts in full sun in excellent-draining soil after all risk of frost has passed.
Or in containers. Dahlias look especially great in hanging baskets, and canna lilies in big pots can turn your patio into a tropical paradise.
But they are tropical, so …
Summer-blooming tropicals like tuberose, canna lilies, dahlias and tuberous begonias will bloom beautifully for you this summer if you plant big bulbs, roots or rhizomes in full sun this spring.
But when frost threatens this fall, you have to remember that word, “tropical.”
In the heat sink of the city, most of these plants will survive winters under a heavy mulch of straw or shredded leaves. (That’s in the ground; they have to be removed and stored inside for the winter if they’re in containers.) Again, make sure their soil drains especially well at planting time; heavy wet soil over winter will rot the roots.
You can try protecting the roots with heavy mulch in the chillier suburbs if you’re willing to roll the dice, but most gardeners in iffy areas will dig up the underground parts after the first light frost, store them indoors and replant those roots — which should now be much bigger — the following spring.
And that last part is important; the bigger the bulb, root or rhizome, the faster the plant will grow and bloom. Really small “starters” may seem like a bargain, but they might not even bloom the first year.
Digging up (or “lifting”) your “bulbs” in the fall not only prevents the need to buy new plants each season, but means you’ll start out with bigger, faster-growing plants the following year.
Send your garden questions to Mike!
