What's in Bloom

What's in Bloom — Highlight 07.26.2010  

PHOTO: Polianthes tuberosa

Polianthes tuberosa 'The Pearl',
found in the Sensory Garden

The Pearl Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa 'The Pearl') is a double-flowered, highly fragrant native of Mexico used by the ancient Aztecs as a perfume, to infuse chocolate with its aroma, and as an aromatic oil.

Around the world, the value of Polianthes tuberosa has been focused on its beautiful, white, fragrant flowers, which appear to glow in the evening when the release of the fragrance is at its peak, and for the production of fragrance oil that creates a complex "middle note" in many floral perfumes. This is one of those wonderful plants preserved by gardeners, both ancient and modern, as it cannot be found growing wild anywhere in Mexico (center of diversity for the genus).

The genus name is derived from the Greek polios (bright) and anthos (flower). It is a member of the Agave or Agavaceae family. The fleshy bulbs can be planted in a succession in gardens to provide continuous bloom from midsummer until the first frost. Not hardy in the Chicago region, the bulbs can be dried off when the foliage starts to yellow and then held over winter in a cool, dry location. Polianthes grows best in full sun in moist, rich soils.

PHOTO: Allium senescens PHOTO: Cosmos bipinnatus

In bloom around the Garden

PHOTOl: Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline'Clockwise:

German garlic (Allium senescens) in the Home Landscape Garden

Charles Aznavour™Floribunda Rose (Rosa 'Meiberausai') in the Rose Garden

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus 'Double Click Rose Bonbon') in the English Walled Garden

Wild bergamot (Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline' ) on Evening Island

 PHOTO: Rosa 'Meiberausai'

Use this map to help plan your walk.