Forest & Kim Starr · CC BY 3.0Paraguayan jasmine (yesterday-today-and-tomorrow)
Brunfelsia australis
A fragrant shrub whose flowers fade from violet to white: the flower chosen in 1936.
What it is
A shrub 2 to 4 m tall, native to Paraguay and neighboring regions, widely grown in gardens for its intense perfume. Its flowers change color over the days: they open violet, turn lilac and end up white, so all three shades appear on the same plant at once. It is also known as azucena or diamelo.
Did you know…?
On November 9, 1936, a committee meeting at the Ateneo Paraguayo chose it as the national flower to be sent to the Garden of Peace in Argentina; at the same meeting the pink lapacho was chosen as the tree. No law ever made it official, and the mburucuyá remains the popular favorite.
Season
Blooms mainly in spring (September to November) and sometimes again in summer.
Where
Gardens in Asunción and country towns, forest edges in the Eastern Region and the Asunción Botanical Garden.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.