Founding florist
Tulipanna
Bondi NSW · est. 1992
A Bondi Road florist since 1992, with seasonal bouquets, arrangements, roses and potted orchids, and a weekly note on what's at market.
Seasonal cut flowerPolianthes tuberosa
Tuberose: when it's in season in Australia
Tuberose is in season in Australia from January to April. Outside those months you'll mostly find imported stems.Being confirmed
- Right now
- Out of season in September
- Season
- January to April
- Vase life
- 10 to 14 days
Season by state
Tuberose is a late summer and autumn flower in Australia, at market from about January to April. It needs about four months of warmth to flower, so it suits the warmer states and does poorly where winters bring frost. Tall spikes of waxy, creamy white flowers carry a heavy, sweet scent that fills a room, and the same flower is prized in perfume. Buds open from the bottom of the spike up, giving a long vase life.
Where to buy tuberose
Sold by the stem or small bunch. Priced as a speciality scented flower. Being confirmed
How to choose good tuberose
Count the open florets. Two or three open at the base, with plump, creamy buds above, is ideal. If half the spike is already open, there is less vase life left. Look at the top of the spike too: the buds should be firm and pale, not green and shrivelled or brown at the tips. The stem should be straight and firm with no slimy base. Three to five stems will scent a whole room, so you don't need many, and a single stem in a bud vase works well on a bedside table. February and March, the middle of the season, is when supply is steadiest.
Grown here or imported?
Tuberose is not native to Australia, but it's grown here commercially.
Where it's grown
Tuberose grows from a tuber and needs a long, warm, frost-free season to flower, so Australian cut stems come mainly from warmer districts such as south-east Queensland and northern NSW. Being confirmed It is a specialist line, grown in small plots by market gardeners and flower farms rather than as a big glasshouse crop. Tubers go in once the soil warms in spring, and the spikes arrive from late summer. Each tuber flowers once and then makes offsets, which growers lift and replant to build up stock. Home gardeners in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney can grow it well in a sunny spot, and in cooler cities it does best in a pot.
Out of season, florists bring in imported stems. Ask your florist which you're buying: local stems are usually fresher and have travelled less.Being confirmed
Colours, varieties and care
Colours
- creamy white
- white with pink blush
Varieties to ask for
- The Pearl (double)
- Mexican Single
Vase life
10 to 14 days Being confirmed
Making it last
- Choose spikes with the lower florets just starting to open and a strong scent
- Recut stems and stand in fresh water with a sugar-based flower food
- Snip off spent lower florets as the upper buds open
- Keep it cool, which also keeps the scent from becoming overpowering
- Change the water every two to three days
Using it at home
Tuberose shares its months with dahlias, lisianthus, late hydrangeas, gardenias and frangipani, so a summer white arrangement is easy, though that much scent in one small room can be heavy. A few stems with eucalyptus or plain green foliage is often better. Use a tall, narrow vase that supports the spikes. The florets open from the bottom up over a week or two, and the scent is strongest in the evening. As the top buds open and the spike gets shorter, move the stems into a smaller vase to keep the look neat.
Meaning
In the Victorian language of flowers, "dangerous pleasures".
Where to see it growing
Sydney Flower Market
Flemington
Best: all yearBeing confirmed
Melbourne Market flower market (National Flower Centre)
Epping
Best: all yearBeing confirmed
Questions people ask
When is tuberose in season in Australia?
Tuberose is at Australian markets from about January to April, flowering in late summer and autumn. It needs a long, warm growing season, so supply comes from warmer growing areas.
How long does tuberose last in a vase?
Around ten to fourteen days with care. Flowers open from the bottom of the spike upwards, so pinch off the spent lower flowers and use a flower food with sugar to help the top buds open.
Why does tuberose smell so strong?
Tuberose is one of the most fragrant cut flowers and is grown commercially for perfume. A few stems will scent a whole room, so place them where the smell is welcome.
Can you grow tuberose in Melbourne?
You can, but it's hit and miss. Plant tubers in a pot in October or November once the nights are warm, using a rich, free-draining mix in full sun. In a cool summer it may not flower before autumn arrives. Move the pot under cover in winter and keep it dry, as the tubers rot in cold, wet soil.
Why is tuberose so expensive?
It's a specialist crop with a short season. Plants need months of warmth, each tuber gives a single flowering spike, and the waxy florets bruise easily, so growing and handling take care. Far fewer farms grow it than mainstream flowers like lilies. Being confirmed The upside is that one stem lasts well over a week and scents a whole room.
