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Tuberose Wikimedia Commons
Asparagaceae

Tuberose

Agave amica

Sensuality, dangerous pleasure, forbidden love.

Family
Asparagaceae
Genus
Agave
Native to
Mexico
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
Perennial bulb
Height
75–120 cm
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Rich, well-drained, sandy loam
Water
Moderate during growth; reduce after flowering
Hardiness
8–10
Lifespan
Perennial; bulbs multiply yearly

Did you know

  • Tuberose has one of the most prized scents in perfumery — heady, creamy, narcotic — and is a key note in Fracas, Chloé, and countless others.
  • The Aztecs called it omixochitl ('bone flower') and grew it long before European contact.
  • In Victorian times, young women were forbidden from walking through tuberose gardens at dusk because the scent was thought to be dangerously alluring.
  • It takes about 3,600 kilograms of tuberose flowers to produce just one kilogram of absolute oil.
  • Despite the name, it's not a rose and not particularly tuberous — it's actually a relative of the agave.

Color meanings

White

Voluptuousness and intoxication

Uses

  • Perfumery
  • Cut flowers
  • Wedding garlands
  • Religious ceremonies