Polianthes tuberosa 'The Pearl'
Hawaiian garland flower or tuberose
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil
- Flowering period: June to September
- Rate of growth: average
- Hardiness: tender
If you like fragrant flowers you will absolutely love this plant. Pretty white waxy double blooms form in clusters on loose spikes, held on upright stems above slender green foliage throughout the summer, but it is the glorious heady, sweet scent that it is known and grown for. Cut a few stems and the fragrance will fill your room, pass it in the garden and the perfume will be intoxicating. Easy to see why it is widely used in perfumes. - Garden care: Plant the tubers 10cm deep and 20cm apart and keep under glass until all risk of frost has passed. It can take time for them to emerge but you can then either plant them out in the border, or keep them in a pot for the conservatory or patio. Water moderately while they are in active growth and feed them with a balanced liquid fertiliser (such as MiracleGro) at fortnightly intervals. As they die down, stop feeding, reduce the water and make sure the tubers are either lifted or the pots moved to frost-free conditions during the winter.
- Humans/Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten