8 Backyard Plants That Smell Better At Night

Tip #8: Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)

The tuberose produces a scent so legendary and complex that the global perfume industry has relied on its essential oils for centuries. This elegant plant grows from a tough rhizome, sending up a slender, grass-like clump of foliage followed by a tall, striking flower spike adorned with waxy, pristine white blossoms.

When these flowers open on warm summer evenings, they project a heavy, creamy floral fragrance with distinct, intoxicating hints of gardenia and coconut. Planting a cluster of tuberose bulbs near your bedroom window or patio swing guarantees a luxurious, sensory experience during the hottest months of the year.

Achieving a successful tuberose bloom requires patience and plenty of heat, as these Mexican natives demand roughly ninety to one hundred twenty days of warm weather to produce their flower spikes. If you garden in zones colder than USDA Zone 8, you must start your bulbs indoors in warm, sunny windows at least a month before your last spring frost.

Once outdoor temperatures stabilize, transplant them into a spot with full, baking sun and rich, well-draining soil. Feed them monthly with a high-phosphorus fertilizer to support their energy-intensive flowering process. In northern regions, you will need to dig up the rhizomes in the fall before the ground freezes and store them in a dry, cool location to replant the following year.