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Tropical bulbous geophyte
Asparagaceae
Ornamental bulbs
Yellow Tuberose
Polianthes
Product code : VAN-325-977-01
Yellow tuberose produces a fragrant late-summer spike approximately 70 cm tall above strap-shaped green foliage. The package contains one No. 1 size bulb for spring planting after frost in a warm position with full sun or very light shade. Fertile, loose, freely drained soil supports growth. Keep the soil lightly moist without standing water. In colder Canadian regions, this tender perennial must be lifted before frost or moved indoors in its container, then stored dry and frost free through winter. Its scented yellow flowers suit summer borders, substantial pots, patios, and cut arrangements where their evening fragrance can be enjoyed. Its upright habit is easy to position beside a patio.
- Quantity
- 1 bulb
- Exposure
- Full sun to partial shade
- Life cycle
- Tender perennial grown as an annual in colder Canadian regions
- Hardiness
- Zone 9
Discover the plant
Common nameYellow tuberose
FamilyAsparagaceae
GenusPolianthes
TypeTropical bulbous geophyte
Botanical namePolianthes
Yellow Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) produces an upright spike of yellow, richly fragrant flowers in late summer. The stem reaches approximately 70 cm above long, strap-shaped green leaves. This package contains one No. 1 size bulb. Its elegant vertical form suits a warm border, a patio planting, or a substantial container, while the scented flowers are excellent for cutting. In colder Canadian regions, tuberose is treated as a tender perennial: it enjoys the warm season outdoors, but its bulb must remain free from frost. Position it where the evening fragrance can be appreciated from a doorway, seating area, or frequently used path.
Plant in spring after every risk of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Choose full sun or very light partial shade, ideally beside a wall or in a sheltered position that gathers heat. Set the bulb growing point upward, 10 cm deep, in fertile, loose, freely drained soil. Leave approximately 20 cm around the plant. Water after planting, then keep the soil lightly moist during active growth without saturating it. A thin mulch moderates moisture changes but should never cover the crown. Growth may begin slowly in cool weather, so patience and sustained warmth are more helpful than excessive watering.
Feed lightly after leaves lengthen and again as the flower spike begins to form. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes foliage at the expense of flowers. Remove faded blooms, but retain green leaves so they can recharge the bulb. Before the first frost, lift the bulb, allow it to dry briefly, and store it in a dry, dark, frost-free place, ideally above 10 °C. With a container, move the entire pot indoors and greatly reduce watering during dormancy. Keep bulbs and discarded plant parts away from children and pets. Replant only after warm spring conditions return, using fresh, freely draining soil if the previous mix has compacted.
Planting guide
Plant well.Grow beautifully.
Spacing / density
space about 20 cm (8 in.)
Best planting time
After soil and air have warmed, generally from late May to early June in colder Canadian regions
Propagation
Separation of offsets during dormancy
Growing method
After the last frost, select a warm, sheltered, brightly lit position. Loosen the soil to at least 25 cm and incorporate mature compost plus drainage material if the ground holds water. Set the No. 1 size bulb growing point upward, 10 cm deep, leaving approximately 20 cm of open space. Water to settle the soil. Maintain light, even moisture during growth, but do not water again while the surface remains saturated. Emergence may be slow when nights are cool. After leaves lengthen, apply a balanced fertilizer at low strength and repeat when the flower spike begins forming. Stake only in an exposed site. Remove faded flowers but retain every green leaf. Before the first frost, lift the bulb, allow it to dry for several days in shade, and store it dry, dark, and ideally above 10 °C until warm spring conditions return. Inspect stored material periodically and discard any soft, rotting sections. The following spring, inspect the bulb and replant only firm, healthy material. Renew surface compost, wait for the soil to warm, and resume watering gradually. Keep a label with the stored bulb so its identity is preserved through dormancy and it is not confused with other tender species. When several bulbs are grown together, maintain the same spacing rather than crowding them for an immediate effect.
Soil and care
The right care,at the right time.
Soil pH
Neutral, approximately 6.5 to 7.5
Minimum temperature
Not frost tolerant; lift the bulb before the first frost
Care level
Moderate
Watering
Water after planting, then wait until the surface begins to dry before watering again. During active growth, maintain even moisture without leaving the bulb in saturated soil. Reduce watering as foliage yellows. During winter storage, keep the bulb nearly dry because persistent moisture encourages rot. Container plants need more frequent checks, especially during hot weather, but drainage holes must always remain open.
Soil type
Choose fertile, loose, freely drained soil that warms quickly in spring. Compost-enriched loam works well. In clay ground, improve the entire planting volume with compost and coarse drainage material, or use a raised bed. Avoid low hollows where water stands because this tropical bulb rots readily in cold, saturated soil. A neutral reaction and steady summer warmth encourage strong roots and a well-developed flower spike.
Fertilization
Incorporate a modest amount of mature compost before planting. Once leaves are well developed, apply balanced or bulb fertilizer at low strength, then repeat when the flower spike begins forming. Avoid products very high in nitrogen because they encourage abundant foliage at the expense of flowers and produce softer stems. Stop feeding as foliage begins to yellow and dormancy approaches.
Moisture
Even moisture during growth without standing water
Seasonal care
In spring, wait until frost has ended and the soil has warmed before planting. Set the bulb 10 cm deep in a warm, freely drained position, then water. In early summer, maintain even moisture, weed by hand, and apply a low-strength balanced fertilizer after leaves establish. Watch for slugs and snails around new shoots. Through midsummer, provide steady warmth while avoiding both prolonged drought and saturated soil. Support the flower spike only in an exposed location. In late summer, enjoy the fragrance near a patio and cut selected stems as their first flowers open. Remove faded blooms but retain green leaves. In fall, reduce watering gradually as foliage yellows. Before the first frost, lift the bulb or move its pot indoors. Allow the bulb to dry briefly in shade, brush away loose soil, and store it in a dry, dark, ventilated place, ideally above 10 °C. During winter, inspect it monthly, remove soft tissue, and avoid significant watering. Replant only after reliably warm conditions return. This seasonal routine protects the tender bulb while preserving the reserves formed by healthy foliage. Clean tools used for cutting or division and wear gloves if your skin is sensitive. Store dormant bulbs beyond the reach of children and pets. Label every stored bulb with its name and lifting date so monthly inspection and spring replanting remain straightforward. If offsets have formed, separate only firm material and allow cut surfaces to dry before storage. Do not force growth in midwinter; the bulb benefits from a distinct dry rest before warmth and watering resume.
Container growing
A garden,within reach.
Recommended pot size
pot at least 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in.) deep, with drainage
Choose a stable container at least 25 to 30 cm deep with several unobstructed holes. Fill it with fertile potting mix amended with perlite or another drainage material. Set the bulb growing point upward, 10 cm deep, then water to moisten the mix evenly. Position the pot in a warm, sheltered place with full sun. Water when the top few centimetres begin drying, without leaving water in a saucer. Apply diluted balanced fertilizer after leaves develop and again as the flower spike begins forming. Rotate the container occasionally to maintain straight growth. A stem exposed to wind may need a discreet stake. Before frost, move the pot into a bright, cool place until foliage yellows. Remove only fully dry leaves, then keep the mix nearly dry in a dark, ventilated, frost-free space. The following spring, replace the top layer of mix, check every drainage hole, and resume watering after warmth returns. Moving the entire pot simplifies winter protection and avoids disturbing the bulb. Label the container during dormancy and check monthly that the bulb remains firm. If offsets have formed, separate them only during repotting and allow any wound to dry before replacing the mix. Keep stored pots beyond the reach of curious pets. When moving the plant outside, acclimate it over several days so tender leaves are not scorched by sudden intense sunlight or damaged by a cold night.
Bloom and dimensions
Its place,in your garden.
Mature height
70 cm (28 in.)
Width / spread
50 cm (20 in.)
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Deciduous foliage that becomes dormant after flowering
Growth rate
Moderate
Growth habit
Upright
Fragrance
Fragrant
Bloom period
Yellow flowers open along an upright spike in late summer after a long period of warmth. Their rich floral fragrance is often strongest in the evening. A stem reaches approximately 70 cm. For arrangements, cut when the first flowers open and place the spike immediately in clean water. Retaining uncut green leaves helps the bulb restore its reserves before dormancy.
Garden associations
In goodcompany.
Companion plants
Zinnias, annual salvias, verbenas, blanket flowers, celosias, and compact grasses also appreciate warmth, sun, and freely drained soil. Choose companions low enough to reveal the flower spike and preserve light on the strap-shaped leaves. In a container, trailing lobelia or calibrachoa can soften the rim. Avoid very vigorous plants, dense groundcovers, and species requiring constantly saturated soil because they compete with or endanger the bulb. Keep an open area around the crown so moisture can be monitored and rot risk reduced. Neighbouring containers also allow the colour combination to change without disturbing the bulb. Select companions with moderate feeding needs so fertilizer levels remain appropriate for flower production rather than excessive foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions,answered.
When and how should the yellow tuberose bulb be planted?
Plant the bulb in spring after the final frost, once the soil has warmed. Choose a warm, sheltered position with full sun or very light partial shade. Loosen fertile, freely drained soil, then set the bulb growing point upward approximately 10 cm deep. Leave 20 cm of space around the plant. Water to settle the soil, then maintain light moisture without standing water. Growth may appear slow while nights remain cool. In a container, use a pot 25 to 30 cm deep with several open drainage holes and potting mix amended with perlite. Sustained warmth is more helpful than excessive watering during emergence.
Can yellow tuberose survive a cold Canadian regions winter outdoors?
No. The supplier lists Zone 9 hardiness, so in colder Canadian regions the plant is treated as a tender perennial or annual. Before the first frost, lift the bulb or move its container indoors. Allow the bulb to dry briefly in shade, brush away loose soil, and store it in a dry, dark, ventilated place, ideally above 10 °C. Keep it almost dry during dormancy and inspect it monthly. Remove any soft or rotting tissue. Replant only after frost has ended and the soil is sufficiently warm. This protection preserves the bulb for another season without exposing it to freezing soil or repeated winter moisture.
Which exposure encourages fragrant flowers?
Choose full sun in a warm, sheltered position. Very light partial shade can work, but insufficient heat may delay or reduce flowering. A south-facing wall, sunny patio, or substantial container that warms readily often provides suitable conditions. Protect a pot from severe root overheating, however, and maintain even moisture. Avoid areas shaded by dense trees, corridors of cold wind, and low spots where water stands. Tuberose needs a long warm season to produce its fragrant late-summer spike. Keeping competing plants low also preserves light on the strap-shaped leaves that feed the developing bulb. A thin mulch can steady moisture without keeping the bulb zone excessively cool or wet.
How should yellow tuberose be watered and fed?
Water after planting, then allow the top few centimetres of soil to begin drying before the next application. During active growth, maintain even moisture without saturating the bulb. A container needs more frequent checks, but it should never stand in a saucer of water. Incorporate a little mature compost at planting. After leaves develop, apply balanced or bulb fertilizer at low strength, then repeat when the flower spike begins forming. Avoid excessive nitrogen because it promotes leaves rather than flowers. Reduce water and stop feeding as foliage yellows. Keep the bulb almost dry after it enters winter dormancy. This gradual reduction helps the bulb enter dormancy in healthy condition and limits storage rot.
Is yellow tuberose safe for pets?
No. This plant is sold for ornamental use and should not be eaten by people or animals. Position containers beyond the reach of pets that chew foliage and store dormant bulbs in an inaccessible container. Wear gloves if your skin is sensitive and wash hands after planting, cutting, or cleanup. Do not leave vase water where animals can drink it. Collect any bulbs that have been dug up and dispose of damaged plant material securely. If ingestion or symptoms are suspected, contact a veterinarian or healthcare professional promptly. These precautions also apply when moving pots indoors for winter, where curious pets may encounter the plant more easily.
Wildlife and pets