This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Polianthes tuberosa
  • Tuberose

a member of the Polianthes genus in the family Agavaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 9
    Zone 9
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Polianthes tuberosa has 0 edible uses listed
Polianthes tuberosa has 0 material uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Flowers - cooked. Used in vegetable soups or added to the substrate of 'kecap', an Indonesian soy sauce[1][2][3]. The flowers are the source of tuberosa-flower water[3]. No further details are given.

Flowers

Unknown use

Material uses

An essential oil is obtained from the flowers. It is used in high grade perfumery[1][4][5]. 1150kg of flowers yield 1kg absolute essential oil[1][4].

Unknown part

Essential

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Polianthes tuberosa.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a sunny position in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division of offsets after the plant has finished flowering in late summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Polianthes tuberosa. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a warm sheltered position[6] and a well-drained soil[7]. When grown in pots it is best to use a fibrous loam enriched with compost and some silver sand for drainage[8]. Plants require copious amounts of moisture when starting into growth[8].

Not very hardy outdoors in Britain, this species is often grown in the greenhouse where it can be induced to flower at almost any time of the year[9]. It can also be grown outdoors in warm areas of Britain, planting out the bulbs in spring, harvesting them in the autumn and storing them in sand overwinter in a cool but frost-free place[6]. This species is sometimes cultivated for its edible flowers[3]. They are very strongly scented[6]. The flowers are perhaps the most powerfully scented of all flowers. The perfume is almost intoxicating, especially when the plant is grown in gentle heat when it is heavy and sickly almost to the point of unpleasantness[8]. A double-flowered cultivar, 'The Pearl' has an even more pronounced fragrance[8].

The plant is cultivated for its essential oil in China[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Polianthes tuberosa. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Polianthes tuberosa.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Polianthes tuberosa
Genus
Polianthes
Family
Agavaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[1][4][5]
Botanic
[6]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
9
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    ?
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1 x 0.15 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    7. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.3 Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
    9. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

    "image:Starr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Polianthes_tuberosa&oldid=79536"
    Facts about "Polianthes tuberosa"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyAgavaceae +
    Belongs to genusPolianthes +
    Has binomial namePolianthes tuberosa +
    Has common nameTuberose +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFlowers +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone9 +
    Has imageStarr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useEssential +
    Has mature height1 +
    Has mature width0.15 +
    Has primary imageStarr 070906-9086 Polianthes tuberosa.jpg +
    Has search namepolianthes tuberosa + and tuberose +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy namePolianthes tuberosa +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Polianthes tuberosa + and Polianthes tuberosa +