Yesterday Today and Tomorrow Brunfelsia pauciflora
ABOUT
Brunfelsia pauciflora, commonly known as Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, is a captivating flowering plant known for its unique blossoming pattern. The plant features lush, glossy, green leaves that create a dense backdrop for the enchanting flowers it bears. The blooms of the Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow plant undergo a remarkable transition in color as they age, which is the trait that brings about its common name. When buds first appear, they are a rich purple or violet color. As the flowers open and mature, they fade to a lighter shade of lavender and then to almost white, showcasing the past, present, and then imminent future in a single floral display. This spectrum of color change happens over a few days, with multiple flowers at different stages of the lifecycle often present at the same time. The flowers themselves are tubular at the base, opening into a flat or slightly flared five-petaled star, and can be quite fragrant, releasing a sweet scent especially in the early morning or evening. The striking contrast between the dark green foliage and the varying hues of the blooms makes the Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow plant a visually fascinating and aromatic addition to any space where they are grown. Although the precise dimensions of the plant are not the focus of this description, the appearance is such that it often forms a well-rounded, bushy aesthetic. It should be noted that while beautiful, all parts of this plant are toxic if ingested, and care should be taken around pets and children. The overall visual appeal of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow lies in its ever-changing blooms and the continual showcase of multiple colors in a singular living display.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Solanaceae
Synonyms
Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow, Morning-Noon-and-Night, Kiss Me Quick, Brazil Raintree
Common names
Brunfelsia calycina, Brunfelsia eximia, Brunfelsia latifolia, Franciscea calycina, Franciscea eximia, Franciscea latifolia, Franciscea pauciflora.
ToxicityTo humans
The common name of Brunfelsia pauciflora is Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow. All parts of the Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow plant are toxic to humans if ingested. The plant contains toxic alkaloids such as brunfelsamidine, hopeanine, and scopoletin. Symptoms of poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, headache, dizziness, and in severe cases, seizures, muscle spasms, and even death due to respiratory failure. It is important to avoid ingesting any part of the plant and to keep it out of reach of children who might inadvertently consume the plant parts.
To pets
The Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow plant is toxic to pets, with all parts of the plant, including flowers, leaves, and berries, being poisonous if ingested. The plant contains alkaloids which can be harmful to animals. Symptoms of poisoning in pets can include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, seizures, loss of balance, difficulty breathing, and potentially even death. Pet owners should keep this plant away from animals, especially dogs and cats, to prevent accidental ingestion and ensure their pets' safety.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Purple
Height
3-6 feet (0.91-1.83 meters)
Spread
3-6 feet (0.91-1.83 meters)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
9
Native area
South America
Benefits
General Benefits- Ornamental Value: Brunfelsia pauciflora, commonly known as Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow, adds aesthetic appeal to gardens with its beautiful flowers that change colors.
- Wildlife Attraction: The flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, promoting biodiversity.
- Fragrance: The blooms of Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow emit a pleasant fragrance, which can be enjoyable in a garden setting.
- Shade Tolerance: The plant can grow in partial shade, making it versatile for different lighting conditions in landscaping.
- Ease of Care: Brunfelsia pauciflora is known for being relatively easy to maintain, requiring minimal pruning.
- Cultural Significance: The plant has cultural importance in some regions, where it's used in traditional garden designs.
Medical Properties- Analgesic: Some components of Brunfelsia pauciflora have been used traditionally to alleviate pain.
- Anti-inflammatory: The plant has been used to reduce inflammation in traditional medicine settings.
- Sedative: There are anecdotal references to its use as a sedative to help with sleep disorders or anxiety.
- Anticonvulsant: Brunfelsia pauciflora may have effects on the central nervous system that could theoretically help with convulsive disorders.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Brunfelsia pauciflora, commonly known as Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, can be used for educational purposes, serving as a living example to teach botany and plant life cycles due to its unique color-changing flowers.
- The plant is often utilized in landscaping for its aesthetic appeal and ability to provide a continuous display of flowers that change color over several days.
- Its dense foliage and growth habit make it suitable for use as a privacy hedge or screen in residential gardens.
- Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow may be grown as a container plant, which allows it to be moved to different settings or indoors during harsh weather conditions.
- This plant can also be used in perfumery, as its flowers emit a light, pleasing fragrance that varies with the color change.
- In cultural ceremonies or events, the flowers of Brunfelsia pauciflora can be used as natural decorations or in floral arrangements due to their distinct and changing hues.
- The blossoms can serve as an inspiration for artists and designers, who may replicate the color transitions in their work, such as fabric patterns or color schemes.
- Brunfelsia pauciflora's vibrant and color-changing blooms can be used for photography projects, learning about color in nature, or simply as a subject for amateur and professional photographers alike.
- The plant can act as a source of nectar for certain pollinators in the garden, such as butterflies and bees, contributing to the local ecosystem's health.
- Some cultures might use the distinctive, tri-colored flowers in storytelling to symbolize change, transformation, or the passage of time.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiYesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityYesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Hope: Commonly known as "Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow," Brunfelsia pauciflora's flowers change color over time, symbolizing the evolution of feelings and the hope for what is yet to come.
- Transition: Reflecting its common name, the plant represents changes and transitions in life, as its blooms transition from purple to lavender to white.
- Memory: The triple-stage of the flower color is also said to symbolize memory, with each stage representing past, present, and future.
- Ephemeral Nature of Life: Brunfelsia pauciflora's changing flowers are a reminder of life's impermanence and the fleeting beauty of moments that quickly pass.
WaterThe Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow plant should be watered regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. During the growing season, typically spring and summer, watering once a week with about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water should suffice. In cooler months, reduce watering to every other week, ensuring the top inch of soil has dried out before adding more water. Always water deeply at the soil level, avoiding wetting the foliage to prevent fungal diseases. Overhead watering is not recommended; instead, use a watering can or drip irrigation near the base of the plant.
LightYesterday, Today and Tomorrow plants thrive best under partial shade to full sun conditions. They should be placed in a spot where they can receive morning sunlight and afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. Avoid direct, harsh afternoon sun in the peak of summer to prevent leaf scorch. An eastern or northern exposure with bright, indirect light is ideal for this plant, ensuring it gets the light it needs without overexposure.
TemperatureYesterday, Today and Tomorrow plants prefer warm temperatures, with optimal growth occurring between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They should not be exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, as they are not frost-tolerant and can be damaged by cold. These plants appreciate a consistent temperature, away from drafts and extreme fluctuations, which can stress the plant.
PruningPruning of the Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow plant is usually done to shape the plant, remove dead or diseased wood, and encourage bushier growth. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring, just before the new growth starts. Pruning should be done sparingly, removing only necessary parts, and not more than one-third of the plant at any time. Deadheading spent flowers can also stimulate further blooming during the growing season.
CleaningAs needed
SoilYesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora) thrives in well-draining, fertile soil with a pH range of 6 to 7.5. A good soil mix for this plant would be a blend of two parts peat, one part perlite, and one part pine bark fines to ensure proper drainage and aeration.
RepottingYesterday, Today and Tomorrow should be repotted every 2-3 years or when it becomes root-bound. Use a slightly larger pot and fresh soil mix to encourage continued growth and bloom.
Humidity & MistingYesterday, Today and Tomorrow prefers high humidity levels, around 60-70%. Maintaining such humidity around the plant will contribute to its healthy growth but avoid overwatering.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow in bright, indirect light inside.
Outdoor
Grow in partial shade and shelter Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow from direct sun.
Hardiness zone
9-11 USDA
Life cycleBrunfelsia pauciflora, commonly known as Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow, begins its life cycle as a seed that germinates in warm, moist soil. Seedlings emerge with characteristic simple leaves and, as they mature into young plants, they develop a bushy form with more complex leaves. As an adult plant, Brunfelsia pauciflora produces fragrant, tubular flowers that change color, starting as purple (yesterday), fading to lavender (today), and then turning white (tomorrow) before wilting, demonstrating a unique tri-color display. After pollination, the flowers develop into small, inconspicuous fruit that contains seeds, completing the reproductive stage. The plant then enters a period of dormancy, especially in cooler climates, where growth slows down or stops until conditions are favorable again. Throughout its lifetime, which can span several years, the plant will repeatedly go through these growth and reproductive phases, with pruning and proper care enhancing its longevity and blooming.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Summer
Brunfelsia pauciflora, commonly known as Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow, is often propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings. This popular method involves taking cuttings from the plant's current year's growth during the late summer or early fall. The cuttings, typically about 4 to 6 inches (approximately 10 to 15 centimeters) long, should have several leaf nodes. After cutting, it's important to remove the lower leaves and possibly dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone to encourage root growth. The prepared cuttings are then inserted into a potting medium that is kept moist and well-drained. A greenhouse or any humid environment can favor rooting. Roots usually develop within a few weeks, after which the new plants can eventually be transplanted.
