Tour Talk – Portlandia
The species is native to Cuba and Jamaica, where it grows naturally in tropical woodland, often on rocky or limestone terrain. It is now cultivated in other warm regions for its remarkable flowers.
Portlandia usually develops as an evergreen shrub or small tree with a rounded, somewhat open crown. Its branches may begin close to the ground, giving a mature plant a full, spreading appearance.
The leaves are large, simple and glossy, with smooth edges and a prominent central vein. They grow in opposite pairs, a useful clue to the plant’s membership in the coffee family.
The flowers are the tree’s most spectacular feature. They are very large, white and trumpet-shaped, with an exceptionally long, narrow tube opening into several broad, pointed lobes.
A single flower can resemble a long white trumpet or an elegant lily. The name grandiflora means “large-flowered,” and in this case the name is entirely appropriate.
The blossoms are strongly and sweetly fragrant. Their perfume is often especially noticeable during the evening and early morning, although it may remain apparent through much of the day.
The pale color, long floral tube and powerful scent suggest adaptation to nighttime pollinators, particularly large moths. The flowers advertise themselves after dark through fragrance rather than bright color.
As a flower ages, its white petals may gradually become cream or pale yellow before the blossom falls.
After pollination, the tree produces a firm, rounded or oval capsule. The fruit is crowned by the remains of the flower’s calyx and contains numerous seeds.
Unlike the soft berries produced by many members of the coffee family, Portlandia develops a dry capsule that eventually opens to release its seeds.
The plant grows best in a warm, humid climate with good drainage. Its natural association with limestone habitats also allows it to tolerate alkaline soils better than many tropical ornamentals.
The genus Portlandia was named in honor of Margaret Cavendish Bentinck, Duchess of Portland, an eighteenth-century patron of natural history with an important collection of plants and natural specimens.
This tree may be attractive throughout the year, but it becomes unforgettable when in bloom. Its glossy leaves provide the setting for enormous white trumpets whose fragrance can fill the surrounding garden.
When presenting it to a group, the best feature to emphasize is the relationship between shape and scent: the flower’s long tube and powerful evening perfume are designed to attract pollinators that visit after daylight begins to fade.