The fascinating common name of this Brazilian shrub – yesterday, today, and tomorrow — comes from the coloration of the flowers, which open purple, change to violet, and finally turn white over a period of about three days. They are flat, five- lobed, often fragrant and up to 3 in. (7 cm) across, produced in clusters of up to 10.

Leaves are lance-shaped, leathery, but also glossy. Grown m the right conditions, brunfelsia can become a bushy plant, producing flowers throughout the year, but to achieve this it needs to be protected from sudden temperature changes.

Size: Height to 2 ft. (60 cm), spread 1 ft. (30 cm).

Light: Direct sunlight, except at noon in summer.

Temperature: Normal room all year to maintain flowering.

Moisture: Keep thoroughly moist at all times.

Feeding: Use standard liquid fertilizer every two weeks.

Propagation: Tip cuttings, 3—4 in. (7—10 cm) long, in spring and summer.

Special needs: High humidity is important, so place the pot on a tray of moist pebbles and mist regularly. Old plants can be pruned hard in spring, taking off up to half of the existing stems. The resultant new growth should be pinched to make the plant bush out.