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Yesterday Today and Tomorrow Brunfelsia - 2 Gallon
SKU:
2102595
UPC:
014949442654
$49.99
- One of nature's most enchanting color-changing shrubs — blooms open deep violet, transition to light violet the next day, then fade to pure white by day three, creating a three-color simultaneous display
- Profuse bloomer heaviest in spring with intermittent flowering through summer; fragrant flowers attract butterflies and pollinators to the dappled shade garden
- Evergreen in frost-free areas, growing 3 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide across USDA Zones 9 through 11 as a star of shaded shrub borders and privacy screens
- Easy to prune for smaller spaces and containers; an exceptionally rare source of true blue-to-purple tones among tropical flowering shrubs
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora 'Floribunda') is one of the most enchanting and conversation-worthy flowering shrubs in existence, earning its evocative name from an extraordinary color-changing display in which individual blooms open as intense deep violet, transition through lighter violet the following day, and finally fade to pure white by day three — creating a plant that simultaneously displays three distinct colors at any given time during the blooming period. A profuse bloomer with its heaviest flowering in spring and intermittent blooms through summer, this fragrant, evergreen shrub grows 3 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide in USDA Zones 9 through 11, where it is easily pruned to fit smaller garden beds and containers. Its fragrant flowers attract butterflies and pollinators throughout the blooming season, and its unique blue-to-purple color palette — exceptionally rare among tropical flowering plants — makes it an irreplaceable accent for dappled shade gardens, shaded shrub borders, and private outdoor garden rooms in warm climates.
Plant Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Brunfelsia pauciflora 'Floribunda' |
| Plant Type | Evergreen Shrub (frost-free climates) |
| Flower Colors | Deep violet (new) → light violet (day 2) → white (day 3) |
| Fragrance | Fragrant |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Bloom Time | Heaviest in spring; intermittent through summer |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Growth Habit | Upright |
| Mature Size | 3-8 ft. tall, 4-6 ft. wide |
| USDA Zones | 9 - 11 |
| Light | Filtered sun, Partial shade, Partial sun |
| Water | Regularly; maintain semi-moist soil |
| Special Features | Attracts Butterflies, Easy Care, Ornamental Berries, Attracts Pollinators, Benefits Birds |
| Flower Attributes | Fragrant, Long Bloom Season, Showy Flowers |
| Landscape Use | Border, Container, Hedge, Privacy Screen |
| Toxicity Note | Berries are toxic if ingested (nightshade family) |
The Three-Color Simultaneous Display
The unique and captivating characteristic that sets Yesterday Today and Tomorrow apart from virtually every other flowering shrub is its progressive color change across three days. Each individual flower opens on day one as a deep, rich, saturated violet — a color that is already exceptionally rare among tropical flowering plants. By day two, the same flower has faded to a softer, lighter violet or lavender tone. By day three, the flower has become pure white. Because all three stages are present on the plant simultaneously throughout the peak bloom period, the shrub displays a remarkable three-color gradient that creates a visual complexity and fascination no single-color flowering shrub can match. The progression from violet to white over three days is the direct source of the plant's evocative common name.
Light Requirements
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow thrives in filtered sun, partial shade, or partial sun. It performs best with protection from harsh, direct afternoon sun, which can stress the foliage and shorten individual flower duration. An east-facing exposure with bright morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. It can also grow under the high, filtered light of a tree canopy that provides dappled shade throughout the day. This shade tolerance makes it valuable for filling shaded shrub borders and garden spaces that receive insufficient light for most flowering shrubs.
Watering
Water Yesterday Today and Tomorrow regularly to maintain semi-moist soil. During the first growing season, water regularly to establish an extensive root system. Once established, the plant still requires consistent moisture and does not tolerate prolonged drought. Like citrus and gardenias, the foliage can fade to yellow when faced with an element deficiency, particularly in alkaline soil conditions; supplement regular feeding with a micronutrient fertilizer such as Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) if yellowing occurs. Mulch generously to conserve moisture and provide acidity at the root zone.
Soil Requirements
Provide enriched, slightly acidic soil for best results. Native to the subtropics of South America, brunfelsia prefers summer rainfall or consistent irrigation and acidic soil. Mulch with pine needles, peat moss, coco coir, or azalea and camellia compost around the plant base to conserve moisture and provide ongoing soil acidity. Supplement regular fertilization with a microelement fertilizer if yellowing occurs, as this plant is sensitive to iron and magnesium deficiencies in alkaline conditions. Avoid alkaline soils or alkaline water without pH correction.
Care and Maintenance
- Pruning: Prune annually after the main spring flowering flush ends to control size, maintain shape, and encourage vigorous new growth for the following bloom season. Can easily be kept at 3 to 4 feet tall.
- Fertilizing: Feed with an acid-forming fertilizer before new growth begins in spring; supplement with Epsom salts for magnesium if yellowing occurs.
- Mulching: Apply acidifying organic mulch (pine needles, peat, coco coir) at the base to retain moisture and maintain soil acidity.
- Sun protection: Shelter from harsh afternoon sun in hot summer areas; best in filtered light or morning sun with afternoon shade.
- Toxicity caution: The berries and other plant parts are toxic if ingested; keep away from children and pets and wear gloves when handling.
Landscape Uses
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow can grow to rather large proportions in the shade, simultaneously bearing flowers in white, lavender, and purple. It is a rare source of blue-purple tones among tropical plants and a reliable performer in all but the hottest climates. Grow as a foundation planting between windows and along walls on north or east exposures. Group plants as a background for a shaded fountain or small pocket garden. Use next to doorways or at gates where the fragrant, color-changing flowers can be appreciated up close by visitors. This shrub grows remarkably well under the canopies of large conifers and in conditions that many other flowering shrubs find too shaded to perform adequately.
Companion Plants
| Plant | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Lilyturf (Liriope) | Low-growing evergreen groundcover that thrives in similar partially shaded conditions and extends year-round interest |
| Elephant Ear (Colocasia) | Bold, dramatic tropical foliage provides strong structural contrast alongside the fine-textured flowering brunfelsia |
| Fern (Asplenium) | Delicate, textured fern fronds provide an elegant foil for the vibrant violet-to-white color-changing flowers |
| Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum) | Fragrant evergreen vine with white flowers harmonizes beautifully and shares the partially shaded habitat preference |
| Princess Flower (Tibouchina) | Deep purple-flowered tropical shrub creates a harmonious rich-purple planting scheme that reinforces the brunfelsia color |
Toxicity Warning
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow belongs to the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, and like many members of this family, the berries and other plant parts are toxic if ingested. Symptoms of ingestion can include nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal distress. Keep this plant out of reach of children and pets, and avoid planting in areas where toddlers or pets might be unsupervised. Wear gloves when pruning or handling the plant as the sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. If ingestion is suspected, contact poison control or seek medical attention promptly.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow is rated for USDA Zones 9 through 11 as an evergreen shrub. In frost-free zones, it maintains its evergreen foliage year-round and blooms most heavily in spring with intermittent flowers through summer. In Zone 8, it may survive with significant cold protection in sheltered locations but is generally not reliably hardy at its coldest temperatures. In cooler climates, it can be grown as a container plant that is overwintered indoors in a bright, warm location. Its preference for subtropical conditions reflects its native origin in the humid subtropics of South America.
History and Background
Brunfelsia pauciflora is native to the humid subtropics of South America, particularly Brazil. The genus was named in honor of Otto Brunfels (1488-1534), a German theologian and botanist who is considered one of the "founding fathers of botany" for his detailed observations and illustrations of plant life. The species has been cultivated as an ornamental for centuries for its unique color-changing flowers, which are unlike those of virtually any other cultivated flowering shrub. The common name "Yesterday Today and Tomorrow" perfectly captures the three-day color progression that makes this plant so distinctive and beloved. In Brazil and other parts of tropical America, brunfelsia has traditional folk medicine uses, though all parts of the plant are considered toxic in the western botanical understanding and should not be consumed.
- One of nature's most enchanting color-changing shrubs — blooms open deep violet, transition to light violet the next day, then fade to pure white by day three, creating a three-color simultaneous display
- Profuse bloomer heaviest in spring with intermittent flowering through summer; fragrant flowers attract butterflies and pollinators to the dappled shade garden
- Evergreen in frost-free areas, growing 3 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide across USDA Zones 9 through 11 as a star of shaded shrub borders and privacy screens
- Easy to prune for smaller spaces and containers; an exceptionally rare source of true blue-to-purple tones among tropical flowering shrubs
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora 'Floribunda') is one of the most enchanting and conversation-worthy flowering shrubs in existence, earning its evocative name from an extraordinary color-changing display in which individual blooms open as intense deep violet, transition through lighter violet the following day, and finally fade to pure white by day three — creating a plant that simultaneously displays three distinct colors at any given time during the blooming period. A profuse bloomer with its heaviest flowering in spring and intermittent blooms through summer, this fragrant, evergreen shrub grows 3 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide in USDA Zones 9 through 11, where it is easily pruned to fit smaller garden beds and containers. Its fragrant flowers attract butterflies and pollinators throughout the blooming season, and its unique blue-to-purple color palette — exceptionally rare among tropical flowering plants — makes it an irreplaceable accent for dappled shade gardens, shaded shrub borders, and private outdoor garden rooms in warm climates.
Plant Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Brunfelsia pauciflora 'Floribunda' |
| Plant Type | Evergreen Shrub (frost-free climates) |
| Flower Colors | Deep violet (new) → light violet (day 2) → white (day 3) |
| Fragrance | Fragrant |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Bloom Time | Heaviest in spring; intermittent through summer |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Growth Habit | Upright |
| Mature Size | 3-8 ft. tall, 4-6 ft. wide |
| USDA Zones | 9 - 11 |
| Light | Filtered sun, Partial shade, Partial sun |
| Water | Regularly; maintain semi-moist soil |
| Special Features | Attracts Butterflies, Easy Care, Ornamental Berries, Attracts Pollinators, Benefits Birds |
| Flower Attributes | Fragrant, Long Bloom Season, Showy Flowers |
| Landscape Use | Border, Container, Hedge, Privacy Screen |
| Toxicity Note | Berries are toxic if ingested (nightshade family) |
The Three-Color Simultaneous Display
The unique and captivating characteristic that sets Yesterday Today and Tomorrow apart from virtually every other flowering shrub is its progressive color change across three days. Each individual flower opens on day one as a deep, rich, saturated violet — a color that is already exceptionally rare among tropical flowering plants. By day two, the same flower has faded to a softer, lighter violet or lavender tone. By day three, the flower has become pure white. Because all three stages are present on the plant simultaneously throughout the peak bloom period, the shrub displays a remarkable three-color gradient that creates a visual complexity and fascination no single-color flowering shrub can match. The progression from violet to white over three days is the direct source of the plant's evocative common name.
Light Requirements
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow thrives in filtered sun, partial shade, or partial sun. It performs best with protection from harsh, direct afternoon sun, which can stress the foliage and shorten individual flower duration. An east-facing exposure with bright morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. It can also grow under the high, filtered light of a tree canopy that provides dappled shade throughout the day. This shade tolerance makes it valuable for filling shaded shrub borders and garden spaces that receive insufficient light for most flowering shrubs.
Watering
Water Yesterday Today and Tomorrow regularly to maintain semi-moist soil. During the first growing season, water regularly to establish an extensive root system. Once established, the plant still requires consistent moisture and does not tolerate prolonged drought. Like citrus and gardenias, the foliage can fade to yellow when faced with an element deficiency, particularly in alkaline soil conditions; supplement regular feeding with a micronutrient fertilizer such as Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) if yellowing occurs. Mulch generously to conserve moisture and provide acidity at the root zone.
Soil Requirements
Provide enriched, slightly acidic soil for best results. Native to the subtropics of South America, brunfelsia prefers summer rainfall or consistent irrigation and acidic soil. Mulch with pine needles, peat moss, coco coir, or azalea and camellia compost around the plant base to conserve moisture and provide ongoing soil acidity. Supplement regular fertilization with a microelement fertilizer if yellowing occurs, as this plant is sensitive to iron and magnesium deficiencies in alkaline conditions. Avoid alkaline soils or alkaline water without pH correction.
Care and Maintenance
- Pruning: Prune annually after the main spring flowering flush ends to control size, maintain shape, and encourage vigorous new growth for the following bloom season. Can easily be kept at 3 to 4 feet tall.
- Fertilizing: Feed with an acid-forming fertilizer before new growth begins in spring; supplement with Epsom salts for magnesium if yellowing occurs.
- Mulching: Apply acidifying organic mulch (pine needles, peat, coco coir) at the base to retain moisture and maintain soil acidity.
- Sun protection: Shelter from harsh afternoon sun in hot summer areas; best in filtered light or morning sun with afternoon shade.
- Toxicity caution: The berries and other plant parts are toxic if ingested; keep away from children and pets and wear gloves when handling.
Landscape Uses
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow can grow to rather large proportions in the shade, simultaneously bearing flowers in white, lavender, and purple. It is a rare source of blue-purple tones among tropical plants and a reliable performer in all but the hottest climates. Grow as a foundation planting between windows and along walls on north or east exposures. Group plants as a background for a shaded fountain or small pocket garden. Use next to doorways or at gates where the fragrant, color-changing flowers can be appreciated up close by visitors. This shrub grows remarkably well under the canopies of large conifers and in conditions that many other flowering shrubs find too shaded to perform adequately.
Companion Plants
| Plant | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Lilyturf (Liriope) | Low-growing evergreen groundcover that thrives in similar partially shaded conditions and extends year-round interest |
| Elephant Ear (Colocasia) | Bold, dramatic tropical foliage provides strong structural contrast alongside the fine-textured flowering brunfelsia |
| Fern (Asplenium) | Delicate, textured fern fronds provide an elegant foil for the vibrant violet-to-white color-changing flowers |
| Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum) | Fragrant evergreen vine with white flowers harmonizes beautifully and shares the partially shaded habitat preference |
| Princess Flower (Tibouchina) | Deep purple-flowered tropical shrub creates a harmonious rich-purple planting scheme that reinforces the brunfelsia color |
Toxicity Warning
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow belongs to the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, and like many members of this family, the berries and other plant parts are toxic if ingested. Symptoms of ingestion can include nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal distress. Keep this plant out of reach of children and pets, and avoid planting in areas where toddlers or pets might be unsupervised. Wear gloves when pruning or handling the plant as the sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. If ingestion is suspected, contact poison control or seek medical attention promptly.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow is rated for USDA Zones 9 through 11 as an evergreen shrub. In frost-free zones, it maintains its evergreen foliage year-round and blooms most heavily in spring with intermittent flowers through summer. In Zone 8, it may survive with significant cold protection in sheltered locations but is generally not reliably hardy at its coldest temperatures. In cooler climates, it can be grown as a container plant that is overwintered indoors in a bright, warm location. Its preference for subtropical conditions reflects its native origin in the humid subtropics of South America.
History and Background
Brunfelsia pauciflora is native to the humid subtropics of South America, particularly Brazil. The genus was named in honor of Otto Brunfels (1488-1534), a German theologian and botanist who is considered one of the "founding fathers of botany" for his detailed observations and illustrations of plant life. The species has been cultivated as an ornamental for centuries for its unique color-changing flowers, which are unlike those of virtually any other cultivated flowering shrub. The common name "Yesterday Today and Tomorrow" perfectly captures the three-day color progression that makes this plant so distinctive and beloved. In Brazil and other parts of tropical America, brunfelsia has traditional folk medicine uses, though all parts of the plant are considered toxic in the western botanical understanding and should not be consumed.
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