Tuberose is a herbaceous perennial in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) native to Mexico. The plant will grow 2-3 feet tall from a tuber resembling a bulb. Plant the tubers 2 inches deep in well-drained loamy or sandy soil and allow the soil to partially dry between watering. Reduce moisture once the leaves begin to yellow as the plant will go dormant. Lift tubers and store them inside in zones lower than 8 or grow them in pots and bring them inside for the winter. Allow the plant to naturally die down so sufficient energy is stored for next year's bloom. The tubers produce offsets and will need to be divided every 2-3 years. Flowers are very showy and so fragrant they are used to make perfumes. Blooming is in spring or summer and flowers are waxy, tubular and white with 6 flared tepals. The leaves are up to 1.5 feet long and strap-like. Use tuberose in the border in masse planting, in containers, near the patio or in a cutting garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Too wet soils can cause root rot. Watch for spider mites, aphids, scale insects, thrips, and anthracnose VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Agave .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheClematis virginianaGardenia jasminoides 'Radicans'Syringa persica
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Strap-like leaves are slightly succulent, dull gray and 1-1.5 feet long and 1/2 inch wide.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Waxy white flowers on elongated spikes bloom from the bottom to the top. They are tubular with the tube being 2.5 inches long and flaring at the tip into 6 tepals.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Dries and splits to reveal many black seeds
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Tall green flowering stem
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Mexico
Wildlife value
Nectar from flowers attract hummingbirds and moths.