Polianthes tuberosa, the tuberose, is a perennial plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, extracts of which are used as a note in perfumery. Now widely grown as an ornamental plant, the species is native to Mexico.
Etymology
The common name derives from the Latin tuberosa through French tubéreuse,
The double-flowered cultivar 'The Pearl' has broader and darker leaves, and shorter flower spikes, usually reaching only . Orange-flowered forms of the species have been reported.
Distribution
The tuberose is believed to be native to central and southern Mexico. It remains a popular floral note for perfumes, either in stand-alone Tuberose fragrances or mixed floral scents, but it generally must be used in moderation because the essence is overpowering and can become sickly to the wearer.
Others
In Indonesia, tuberose flowers are also used in cooking.
In Hawaii, they are one of the main flowers used in the construction of leis. Some others are plumerias, ginger, orchids, and pikake (jasmine).
Cultivation
thumb|Flowers of the double-flowered cultivar 'The Pearl'
thumb|Tuberose seeds
Tuberoses can be overwintered outdoors in hardiness zones 8-10. In colder zones, tuberoses are grown as summer annuals, in pots or mixed-flower borders where they can be enjoyed for their scent. To flower the plants require around 4 months of warm temperatures from the time the rhizome is planted. Gardeners usually start the rhizomes in pots in greenhouses beginning in late-winter or early spring, moving them outdoors in late spring once frost danger has passed.
The most popular variety is a double-flowered cultivar known as 'The Pearl' that grows to tall and features pale pink buds opening to cream. The more common variety is called 'Mexican Single', which, although not as decorative as 'The Pearl', makes for a longer lasting cut flower.
thumb|Tuberose bulbs taken out for seasonal replantation
thumb|New shoots emerging from the bulbs of tuberose
Cultural significance
In 1885, Oscar Wilde and the French poet Marc-André Raffalovich corresponded via letters in The Pall Mall Gazette on whether the name tuberose should be pronounced with two syllables (as 'tube rose') or three. Raffalovich stressed that its derivation from Latin tuberosa, meaning 'knobbly-rooted', meant the latter was correct. Wilde responded defending the flower's beauty: