Its a Friday night and I'm writing this blog - why?

Fri, Aug 07, 2009 at 07:45:05 PM

I don't normally write a blog on a Friday evening, but I just can't contain myself. I feel compelled to shout from my rooftop - Everyone should have this plant in their yard!!!! What plant, you ask? I have a Lady of the Night, Brunfelsia nitida planted near the east side of my house. It has been there about five years. It is absolutely, positively one of my favorite plants! It has been blooming for the past week. The flowers are tubular, opening white and gradually turning shades of yellow. Masses of flowers are produced by the 4' tall shrub. The leaves are a deep green, always dark green. You see, this shrub blooms many times a year. I should keep a diary about this plant! It never shows any insect, disease or nutritional problems. It does not grow huge and need constant pruning. This shrub is called Lady of the Night because of its incredibly spicy fragrance, usually present only after dark, but I've discovered that as the flowers age over a few days, the fragrance is produced earlier each evening. Just 45 minutes ago, I was on the west side of my house, trimming my Petrea volubilis. Suddenly, while working on the petrea, I noticed a wonderful, spicy fragrance carried to me by a southeasterly breeze on a lovely August evening. My Brunfelsia nitida has turned on its fragrance for the evening! I wish that I could bottle this wonderful essence and keep it with me always.

Brunfelsia nitida is a great shrub for anyone's garden. It remains a tidy size, is not demanding in its care, can be in sun all day or half a day and produces masses of flowers throughout the year. When it is not in flower, it is just a small shrub with dark green slightly glossy leaves. We will be selling the Lady of the Night and its fragrant sister, Brunfelsia plicata at the Members' Day Plant Sale, October 3. I don't know why it is not commonly available in local nurseries, but part of what we do at Fairchild is make these really special plants available for our members through our plant sales. We will always sell Brunfelsia nitida. a really special plant in my opinion!


Just a few of the many flowers on my Brunfelsia nitida

13 comments - Add a comment

'Brunfelsia lactea' is superior to both right?? Flowers more and has larger flowers, and yet still retains same great fragrant at night.....?

posted by andrew kirlin, Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 12:03 PM

We keep flowering records on many of the plants in Fairchild. Our records show that the Brunfelsia nitida blooms more often than our Brunfelsia lactea. The flowers of Brunfelsia lactea are larger. I have not smelled the fragrance of B. lactea. I like all the Brunfesias!

posted by Mary, Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 1:48 PM

Brunfelsia.....

posted by Mary, Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 1:49 PM

how about Brunfelsia isola?? does it bloom more than any other Brunfelsia species?? If not, then which one averages the most bloom days per year??

Plus there is soooo many so-called 'yesterday, today, tomorrow' species (Brunfelsia australis, Brunfelsia bonodora, Brunfelsia latifolia, Brunfelsia grandiflora, Brunfelsia magnifica Floribunda, Brunfelsia mire, Brunfelsia pauciflora, Brunfelsia calycina, Brunfelsia eximia, Brunfelsia pilosa) ........which one blooms the most?

posted by andrew kirlin, Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 4:20 AM

Brunfelsia grandiflora blooms the most. It begins flowering in Nov-Dec and continues for about 5 months continuously. Unfortunately, it has no fragrance. It is one of the yesterday, today,tomorrow species.

posted by Mary, Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 6:17 AM

I was looking at my Brunfelsia nitida last evening and saw new flower buds! It is going to be in bloom AGAIN in a few days!!

posted by Mary, Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 5:29 AM

thanx 4 info....how about Brunfelsia isola? does it bloom alot?

posted by andrew kirlin, Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 8:26 PM

I totally agree! I bought a Brunfelsia nitida at Spring Plant Sale 2001, and it has proven itself to be one of my favorite plants year after year. The only pest problem I have has with it is Florida wax scale, but a strong squirt from the hose kept it in check for the most part. One year, a hurricane (Wilma I think?) blew all the scale off of it, and it has never returned. I keep a nice layer of mulch around it, and add compost around the base, and it flowers in waves year round, doing best in the warm months. The frangrance is to die for, and is carried on the wind all way to the back of the house. Sweet and spicy, but never overpowering like Cestrum nocturnum (night-blooming jasmine) can be. Brunfelsia nitida or Lady of the Night is truly a lady!

posted by Melissa Contreras, Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 2:32 PM

thanx 4 info....how about Brunfelsia isola? does it bloom alot?

posted by andrew kirlin, Tue, Aug 18, 2009 at 12:41 AM

I own a brunfelsia isola and it bloomed beautifully when i first got it. Its been a few months and although the leaves are beautiful healthy green and it is growing tall (about 3 feet) it shows no sign of blooming.
Are you supposed to fertilize? And what about trimming? Am I doing something wrong or should i just be patient

posted by Sherry, Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 8:00 AM

My Brunfelsia nitida was purchased at Fairchild a few years ago and we planted it and we ran over it (planted near entrance to driveway, da, but it survived), later moved it and today it blooms at least once a month (if not more).
Only about 3ft tall but at night when in bloom and with the bay breeze coming in from the east, our neighbors (who loved it so much, we gave them a burnfelsia of their own) also enjoy the aroma of our little full plant! It is the prize of our entire yard.

posted by Jackie McAlonan, Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 12:51 PM

I just purchased a nitida a few weeks back at the exclusive members plant sale and I must say that I look forward to experiencing the same enjoyment many of you have shared. Thanks

posted by tony, Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 2:25 PM

Just wanted to let folks know that we planted 150 more seeds yesterday in our nursery for future plant sales.

posted by Mary Collins, Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 7:10 AM