Plant Highlights By Date
Russelia equisetiformis
September 2021
Russelia equisetiformis is a shrub native to Mexico and Guatemala, with stems that grow upward, then arch over and cascade downward at the tips.
Opuntia sulphurea
August 2021
Opuntia is one of the largest groups in the entire Cactus Family, and it has the largest geographical range as well: from Canada in the north to Argentina in the south. A good example is Opuntia sulphurea, which is a common species in its native South America, but not often seen in U.S. gardens.
Aloe lavranosii
July 2021
Some groups of plants, such as the kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos species), commonly have hairy or fuzzy flowers, but there are a few Aloe species with this trait, and these are found in northeastern Africa and across the Red Sea on the Arabian Peninsula. One such species is Aloe lavranosii, from Yemen.
Puya spathacea
June 2021
The genus Puya is a large group of South American bromeliads, with 168 species listed in a 1974 monograph. Many species of Puya have showy inflorescences and unusual flower colors, and Puya spathacea, from north-central Argentina, is an excellent example.
Graptopetalum mendozae
May 2021
The name Graptopetalum means “marked petals”, referring to the red lines or splotches found on the petals of most of the species. However, an exception to this rule is Graptopetalum mendozae, with pure white petals. This delightful little species is found only on 3 old volcanic plugs* in the state of Veracruz, not far inland from Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
Euphorbia polygona var. nivea
April 2021
Euphorbia is a very large genus, including many succulents as well as many non-succulent plants, from tiny annuals to large trees. Among the succulent species, there are spineless ones and also many spiny ones that look a great deal like cactus plants, including the Euphorbia polygona var. nivea.
Deuterocohnia brevifolia
March 2021
Plants in the Bromeliaceae, or Bromeliad Family, are found in North America, the islands of the Caribbean, and South America, but the greatest number of them are from South America, like Deuterocohnia brevifolia.
Salvia spathacea
February 2021
Though Salvia (sage) plants occur around the world, the majority are from the Americas, including 18 species native to California. One of the latter is Salvia spathacea, commonly known as hummingbird sage.
Odontophorus marlothii
January 2021
The genus Odontophorus is a small one, with 4 or 5 species (plus an additional subspecies) native to the northwestern corner of South Africa. These plants belong to the family Aizoaceae, also known as the Ice Plant Family, one of the most species-rich groups of succulents in the world.
Agave dasylirioides
December 2020
Agave dasylirioides is single-headed, and when a plant flowers one must start over again from seed, since this is the end of its life-span. 2020 marks the first year we have ever had A. dasylirioides come into bloom, so this makes it a special occasion for us.
