Plant Description

Brunfelsia australis

Brunfelsia australis

Also called Brunfelsia latifolia by some authorities (I really don't know which is correct), and known colloquially as 'Yesterday-today-tomorrow', this pretty, rounded shrub with glossy foliage grows about 2.4 m tall and grows easily in Sydney's climate. Like many shrubs which do well here, it hails from Central and South America. It comes into bloom around September and continues into October. Sometimes it may rebloom a bit again in the warmer months after lots of rain. Its simple, highly scented flowers open violet in colour, then change to pale blue and then white. The variety of colours on the bush at the one time gives an attractive effect. It is effective grown with pink fruit salad sage (Salvia dorisiana), orange or pale yellow nasturtiums (Tropaeolum), Clivia, Vinca major (a groundcover with flowers of a similar shape and hue) or any of the bulbs of spring growing at its feet.

It enjoys sunny sites, but will also do well in dappled or partial shade. It can be grown in a pot. It dislike frosts. It should be pruned back lightly after flowering to promote a dense shape. It could be used as a hedging plant. Propagation is by soft-tip cuttings taken from late spring to early autumn. There is a low-growing version called 'Sweet Petite' (ht 1 m).

Belonging to the Solanaceae plant family, Brunfelsia specimens have berries which are potentially toxic to dogs, and all parts of the plant are toxic.

 

Brunfelsia australis
Flowers September and October.
Plant Family: Solanaceae

Other Brunfelsia

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