Brunfelsia, commonly known as Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant, is a tropical plant from Brazil. It has broad, glossy green leaves and distinctive flowers that change from purple to pale lavender and finally white over the course of three days. Indeed. With the right care, this plant can be grown in large pots or outdoors. Its height ranges from three feet to ten feet.
The Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant is not widely available as it is limited to southern and tropical regions. In the United States, this includes zones 10 and 11, with zone 9 being a possibility if the plant is well shielded from frost. Some gardeners have had success moving these plants into pots and bringing them indoors during the winter months further north.
The Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow plant is relatively easy to cultivate if certain conditions are met. These are:
1. Acidic soil is a requirement. If your soil is not naturally acidic, it can be amended with plant foods or fertilizers designed for acid-loving plants.
2. Loamy soils are preferable. These soils maintain moisture but do not become compacted and allow water to move freely, reducing the chance of drowning the roots. Achieving loamy soils requires a combination of silt, sand, and organic materials.
3. This plant does well in hot and humid conditions. While it can be grown indoors with regulated artificial climates, great care must be taken to control the conditions.
4. The plant must be kept adequately moist, but not overly wet. During watering, if water suffices to stay on top of the plant’s soil for ten seconds without being absorbed, watering must be stopped.
5. To keep the plant from becoming spindly, pruning must be done in spring and early autumn.
Besides attending to the Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant’s care, there are additional common queries one may tend to ask:
Where do I get one of these plants? Check out Logees.com or Tytyga.com Since soft woody cuttings can be taken from them, as well as the seeds dried and the seed pods saved to be sown in wet soil with growth agents, the plants can also be self propagated.
Should I plant it in as large a pot as it will ever need from the beginning? Not at all. Like any other plant, it’s helpful to increase the pot size gradually in accordance with the plant’s growth.
Do these plants attract bees, butterflies or hummingbirds? Yes, Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plants attract all three, but not to overwhelming levels.
Are the blooms edible like some other flowers? No. Moreover, the seeds and foliage are toxic to adults and pets and livestock. If you have young kids who may wish to taste and smell the flowers or pets that chew on plants, this not ideal for you.
The unique aesthetics of the Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant lies in the striking contrast the vivid blossoms in three different hues and the deep green foliage. While most flower enthusiasts may not appreciate it because of its climate requirements, it is a plant that deserves admiration.