The Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant (Brunfelsia) is a tropical plant native to Brazil. Its lush green foliage is accented with unique blooms that change color. The flowers bloom first as a purple or violet bloom. The next day that same bloom is pale lavender and the next day it is white. Honest! Some varieties are aromatic, while others are not. The size of this plant allows for growing outdoors (in the right zones) or in large pots. The full-grown size averages three to six feet tall with some as tall as ten feet.
Not just anybody is able to say they have a Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant; only those who live in southern and tropical climates. For the United States, that means growing zones 10 and 11 with zone 9 being a possibility if protected from the danger of frost when it rears its chilly head. Some have had success in growing these beauties further north in large pots and bringing them indoors in the winter time.
The Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant is not difficult to grow as long as a few basic needs are met. These include:
1. Soil that is on the acidic side. If you don’t have acidic soil feeding or fertilizing with plant food or fertilizer for acidic plants will help.
2. The soil should be loamy. This means it will hold moisture without becoming hard-packed. The moisture will be retained yet flow through the soil and avoid drowning the roots. The best way to achieve a loamy soil is to make sure it is composed of silt, sand and organic materials.
3. This is a plant that thrives in the heat and humidity. Creating artificial climate to grow the Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant indoors is possible, but it needs to be well-controlled.
4. The plant needs to be kept moist, but not overly wet. When you water the plant, if the water doesn’t disappear into the soil within ten seconds, you need to stop watering.
5. Pruning should be done in the spring and early fall to keep it from getting spindly and devoid of any real shape.
In addition to caring for this tropical beauty, there are a few other questions people often have about the Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant:
Where do I get one of these plants? Online plant and seed suppliers such as Logees.com and Tytyga.com have the plants available for sale. The plants can also be propagated from soft woody cuttings and by saving and drying the seed from the seed pods and planting in moist soil with growing agents.
Should I plant it in as large a pot as it will ever need from the beginning? No. As with any other plant, it’s better to increase the size of the pot as the plant grows.
Do these plants attract bees, butterflies or hummingbirds? The Yesterday Today and Tomorrow attracts all three, but not overwhelmingly.
Are the blooms edible like some other flowers? No! The seeds and foliage are poisonous to humans and animals if ingested. If you have small children who might be tempted to smell and taste, or pets that chew on plants, this plant is not for you.
The tropical beauty of the Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant is one of contrast; the lush green foliage against the continual blooming flowers in three different colors. And while it isn’t for the majority of flower lovers due to its climatic needs, it is one to be admired and appreciated.
