Brunfelsia americana (Lady of the night)

Botanical name

Brunfelsia americana

Other names

Lady of the night, Lady of the Knight

Genus

Brunfelsia Brunfelsia

Species

B. americana - B. americana is a tender evergreen shrub. It has mid-green, glossy, ovate leaves and in spring and summer, bears white salver-shaped flowers that age to pale yellow.

Foliage

Evergreen

Fragrance

Flowers are fragrant at night

Habit

Upright

Toxicity

Ingestion may cause severe discomfort.

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Colour

Flower

White, Pale-yellow in Spring; White, Pale-yellow in Summer

Foliage

Green in All seasons

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Glasshouse whitefly , Mealybugs

General care

Pruning

No pruning required but removal of the stem tips during the growing season will encourage branching.

Propagation methods

Semi-ripe cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Brunfelsia americana (Lady of the night) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.6m after 5-10 years.

Suggested uses

Conservatory, Containers, Greenhouse, Indoor

Cultivation

Plant in humus-rich, free draining soil. If grown outdoors, best planted in a container and over-wintered indoors. Water moderately and apply a balanced liquid feed during the growing season.

Soil type

Loamy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, East, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Indoor heated (H1), Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 11, Zone 10

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Brunfelsia americana (Lady of the night)

Common pest name

; Black wood of grapevine; Female sterility of tobacco; Fruit woodiness of tomato; Maize Redness; Mal azul of tomato; Metabolbur; Metastolbur; Parastolbur; Purple top of potato; Stolbur of potato; Stolbur of tobacco; Stolbur of tomato

Scientific pest name

Candidatus Phytoplasma solani

Type

Phytoplasma

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Phytoplasma which potentially affects a wide host range; determined by the feeding behaviour of vectors. First UK outbreak in 2014; on strawberry; a host not specifically regulated in EU legislation. This legislation should be reviewed to take account of this and other developments.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Brunfelsia americana (Lady of the night)

Common pest name

Lance nematode; Nematode; Lance

Scientific pest name

Hoplolaimus spp.

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Nematode species potentially affecting a wide variety of crops; prohibition of soil likely to mitigate risk substantially; keep under review in light of interceptions or findings should they occur in the EU.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Brunfelsia americana (Lady of the night)

Common pest name

Scientific pest name

Xiphinema bakeri

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Nematode pest; could potentially affect trees and other species if introduced but many pathways regulated. No evidence of interceptions or findings to date.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/