Polianthes Tuberosa

      Polianthes tuberosa is a part of the family Agavaceae, along with other 12 species and it is widely known because of its frequent use as ingredient in creating perfumes. Its name comes from Latin and is strongly related to the way in which the roots are, as tuberosa means tuberous.

      The touberous has a long and thin stem that can reach a height of one meter and the flowers occur all aroud and are shaped as bells. The little white flowers have a very strong fragrance that becomes even stronger when the night comes. It blooms in August, only at night and lasts for around 40 days.

      The leaves are relatively small, of a greysh-green color that usually occur at the base of the plant. There are also small leaves growing on the stem and one interesting detail regardin these leaves is that there are always simetrical.

      The propagation process is made by bulbs that should be planted at a distance of 30 centimeters from one another. The bulbs are very sensitive to frost and it is strongly recommended keeping them inside during winter. After planting tuberosa, the plant should receive water in abundance until the leaves appear and a certain regularity should be kept after this. Some important things to know about the watering process is that the plant does not enjoy alkaline water and that blooming might not occur in the first year.

      Besides the pleasant smell, Polianthes tuberosa has many therapeutical effects and has been used with this purpose since the XVIth century. The essential oils extracted from the plant are considered to be benefic for the human body as they induce a certain peace, amplifying creativity. The exotic smell of Polianthes tuberosa was included in several worldwide known perfumes such as “Pison” by Christian Dior or “Chloe” by Karl Lagerfeld.

Polianthes tuberosa Pictures Gallery

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