Brunfelsia australis aka Yesterday Today And Tomorrow

Brunfelsia australis is native to South America, specifically Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. It has the most southerly distribution of any Brunfelsia species, extending as far south as the Argentine province of Buenos Aires. In the wild it inhabits the understorey of low-elevation forests near rivers, at elevations up to approximately 450 metres.

The flowers of Brunfelsia australis are famous for their color-change display. Each bloom opens a rich purple with a white central eye, fades to pale lavender on the second day, and turns white by the third day. Because flowers of all three ages coexist on the shrub at the same time, the plant simultaneously shows purple, lavender, and white flowers — the origin of the common name "yesterday-today-and-tomorrow." Flowers are fragrant, with reports of night-scent.

Brunfelsia australis produces fragrant flowers. The blooms are described as fragrant and showy, and the genus is noted for night-scented flowers. The combination of floral color change and fragrance makes this plant a popular ornamental in warm gardens.

The fruit of Brunfelsia australis is reported to be added to foods as a condiment in its native range. However, the foliage is toxic to grazing animals and the wider Solanaceae family is known for alkaloid content, so consumption of plant parts is not broadly recommended without specific safety documentation.

The root of Brunfelsia australis has been used in indigenous South American traditional medicine as a remedy for syphilis. This species is not explicitly cited in peer-reviewed medicinal literature according to the Kew Medicinal Plant Names Services database; inclusion is based on related species having recorded medicinal uses. No other documented medicinal applications have been identified for this species.

No non-medicinal, non-edibility uses have been documented for Brunfelsia australis by available sources. The species is valued primarily as an ornamental shrub for warm-climate gardens.

Brunfelsia australis can be propagated by seed, layering, or division of root suckers that form around the base of the main trunk. Seeds have short viability and should be sown fresh; they typically germinate within 2–4 weeks under appropriate conditions. The plant also propagates readily from suckers.

Brunfelsia australis typically reaches 2–4 metres in height as a shrub or small tree, with ascending, spreading branches. The species is noted for moderate ornamental growth; it produces root suckers around the trunk. No specific spread or growth-rate data is recorded by available Tier-A sources.

Brunfelsia australis thrives outdoors in subtropical and warm-temperate climates at elevations below 500 metres. In tropical conditions it can be grown at over 1,000 metres. It prefers a partially shaded position — full sun exposure leads to leaf scorch and drop. Adding ground limestone to non-alkaline soils is beneficial. In cooler regions it is best grown in containers that can be moved indoors during frost periods.

Yesterday Today And Tomorrow should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Yesterday Today And Tomorrow loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

To ensure optimal growth, the Yesterday Today And Tomorrow prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

The Yesterday Today And Tomorrow grows at a slow pace and doesn't require any supplementary fertilizers. By renewing its potting soil once a year, it should receive enough nourishment. Remember, plants obtain their energy from sunlight, not fertilizers.

Yesterday Today And Tomorrow is toxic to pets if ingested. We suggest keeping this plant out of reach if you have cats or dogs in the home.