Polianthes is a tuberous genus of approx. 13 species from Mexico considered by some, especially recently using DNA analysis, to belong to the Agavaceae family, but has also been proposed to be included in the Asparagaceae family. Species have narrowly lance-like to strap shaped leaves and white, pink, or red flowers. The red flowered species are sometimes separated into the genus Bravoa. Dormant in winter, the species are summer growing and blooming. Some species need protection from freezing temperatures. The species most commonly grown, Polianthes tuberosa , is known for its fragrance. Hybrids between different species have started appearing recently, as have hybrids between Polianthes and Manfreda, another member of the Agavaceae family.
Polianthes ×bundrantii T.M.Howard is a hybrid between P. howardii and P. tuberosa. However, unlike P. tuberosa, it doesn't have any scent that I can detect. Photos taken Aug. 2004 by Lee Poulsen. Note from wiki administrators: Kew refers to this name as unplaced, but we're not sure what that means.
Polianthes geminiflora syn. Bravoa geminiflora grows naturally in winter-dry oak forests in Mexico. It has flowers in pairs in early to mid summer that are reddish orange to yellow. This species may be a bit hardier than some of the others. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner show flowers in bud and then more fully open.
This species increases vegetatively and is evergreen for Jacob Knecht in Honolulu, Hawai`i but fails to bloom, most likely due to lack of sufficiently cooler winter temperatures.
Some PBS mail list members caution against giving this species too much water in winter, although it can apparently tolerate some. Tony Avent from North Carolina reported that he does not protect it from wetness when it goes dormant in winter. He says it has survived temperatures down to about six degrees F in his garden (-14 C).
Dennis Szeszko wrote: "I have seen this species growing in warm oak forests in Mexico that are seasonally very dry. They grow in highly mineralized clay soils and are accustomed to a 6 month dry season.
"Water your plants and provide almost full sun from May 15 to October 15 but then only just enough water (once per month?) to keep the soil from completely drying out from October 15 to May 15. Almost all of the bulbous plants (Bessera, Tigridia, Calochortus etc.) in the same habitat as P. geminiflora react to the onset of summer rain by starting growth immediately after receiving a good soaking, so I'd be careful of overwatering during the dry season lest they commence growing unnaturally. This species grows in warm temperate oak forests at around 1700 m., so it should adapt well to growing outdoors in the US during the summer."
Polianthes howardii is native to Jalisco and Colima in Mexico. It's a vigorous grower for me here in Honolulu, Hawai`i and blooms year-round. The flower colours are attractive in their unusual tones of coral, dusky pink, greyish-green and black. Inflorescences can grow up to 1m tall. The foliage is evergreen. The fourth photo is by Nhu Nguyen. Photos 1,2,3,5 and 6 by Jacob Knecht.
