A taste of Jamaica in your living room

The Blue Mountains of Jamaica are famous for growing mild, non-bitter coffee that is one of the most expensive drinks in the world. The handpicked coffee beans with hints of cocoa and cream also flavor Tia Maria coffee liqueur.

These iconic mountains are also home to the largest butterfly in the Western hemisphere, the Jamaican swallowtail, with a wingspan of six inches. As if being home to the world's most expensive coffee and one of the largest butterflies known to man isn't enough, the Blue Mountains of Jamaica are home to the endangered Jamaican Lady of the Night (Brunfelsia jamaicensis), a plant with long, tubular, white blossoms that have an intense, almost otherworldly fragrance.

When fully open, the clusters of ruffled blooms contrast nicely with the dense green leaves. Jamaican Lady of the Night will often bloom several times each year, in the summer and fall, and often in the spring, for three seasons of fragrant blossoms. Most flowers appear on woody side branches.

You may have to have your local nursery special order genuine Jamaican Lady of the Night or find it online at specialty nurseries such as Logee's Greenhouse (860-774-8038). Just as there are several mountain ranges in the world named Blue Mountains, there are several plants with the nickname Lady of the Night, so be sure to ask for it by its scientific name: Brunfelsia jamaicensis.

It can grow up to three feet tall, so be sure to plant it in a large pot. Place your plant where it will get bright light in the morning but out of intense hot afternoon sun. It will grow best in temperatures above 60°F. Choose a potting soil that is rich and drains well. You can fertilize with any good organic houseplant fertilizer such as fish liquid seaweed fertilizer.

In spite of its rarity, this houseplant is actually quite easy to care for. Just an occasional watering is all it needs. Let the soil dry between waterings. It does best in clay pots which let the soil breathe and prevent water buildup. The plant grows best with 50 percent humidity, but can tolerate lower levels. You can increase humidity by setting the pot on a tray of pebbles with water just beneath the pot.

Jamaican Lady of the Night rarely has bug problems, although sometimes you will find mealybugs. Kill the bugs by dipping a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and gently dabbing the leaves.

The best way to propagate this rarity is from cuttings, although you can air layer it or plant seeds that you save after the blooms fade.

If you seem to be spending evenings at home, it makes sense to grow Jamaican Lady of the Night and enjoy its intoxicating fragrance, which is actually stronger in the evening. Take in the heady aroma of the blooms while you sip a cup of Blue Mountain coffee, and you will know the difference between feeling quarantined and feeling you are tucked away in luxury, far from the cares of the outside world.