SafePlants

Brunfelsia: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

The genus Brunfelsia offers a captivating display of color and fragrance in the garden. Known for its flowers that transition through shades of purple, blue, and white, it's a plant that embodies the passage of time in its very blooms.

Considerations for Pets

• Brunfelsia spp produce berries containing toxic alkaloids.
• Veterinarians warn dog owners about the dangers of Brunfelsia.
• "This article describes the clinical signs and treatment of Brunfelsia species toxicosis in dogs."

Considerations for Children

• Brunfelsia produces fleshy berrylike fruits.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

• Scientific Name: Brunfelsia L.
• Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
• Major Group: Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
• Synonyms/Related Species:
  • Brunfelsia americana
  • Brunfelsia australis
  • Brunfelsia bonodora
  • Brunfelsia densifolia
  • Brunfelsia grandiflora
  • Brunfelsia latifolia
  • Brunfelsia nitida
  • Brunfelsia pauciflora
  • Brunfelsia uniflorus (Manaca)

Common Names

• Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow
• Morning-Noon-and-Night
• Brazil Raintree
• Kiss-Me-Quick
• Lady of the Night
• Royal Purple Brunfelsia
• Shady Lady
• Puerto Rico Raintree

Distribution and Habitat

• Brunfelsia is native to the New World Tropics, with a significant presence in South America.
• Brunfelsia grandiflora is indigenous to the tropical regions of South America, ranging from Venezuela to Bolivia.
• Brunfelsia pauciflora is endemic to Brazil.
• Brunfelsia pauciflora is found in light woodland and thickets.

Morphology and Growth Habits

• Brunfelsia are evergreen shrubs or small to medium sized trees.
• They have simple leaves.
• They produce showy, salver-shaped flowers, sometimes fragrant.
• Brunfelsia grandiflora is described as a tree-like shrub or a large shrub (5-10 ft).
• Brunfelsia pauciflora is a semi-deciduous shrub.
• Has a tendancy to sucker from the roots.

Ecological Role

• Major Threat: Its restriction to altitudes above 1,400 m has led to the species escaping much of the disturbance at lower elevations, although soil erosion and &nbsp&*!

Quirky Facts

• Linnaeus named the genus for the&nbsp&*!
• The genus name Brunfelsia commemorates sixteenth-century German monk, Otto Brunfels.

Cultivation and Uses

• Brunfelsia pauciflora is grown in cultivation.
• The plant may be one of the most beautiful groups of plants grown in Florida landscapes.
• Brunfelsia has been used as an admixture in ayahuasca brews.

Further Resources

• San Marcos Growers
• Logees.com
• ARKive
• Raintree's rainforest Tropical Plant database
• Philippine herbal medicine - An illustrated compilation of Philippine medicinal plants by Dr Godofredo Stuart