Plant Highlights By Date
Iris unguicularis
January 2023
Many irises are spring-flowering, but Iris unguicularis, popularly known as the Algerian iris, is especially early-flowering, usually commencing even before the winter solstice.
Hakea petiolaris
December 2022
Though Hakea species may be found in various parts of Australia, the winter-rainfall region in the continent’s southwest has the most species. One of these is Hakea petiolaris, from near Perth and up to about 300 km east and northeast of there.
Pelargonium reniforme
November 2022
Various species of Pelargonium can be found in both summer-rainfall and winter-rainfall parts of southern Africa, and one delightful species in the summer-rainfall area is Pelargonium reniforme.
Salvia chamaedryoides
October 2022
Salvia is a large genus in the Mint Family (Lamiaceae) containing over 900 species of herbs and shrubs found around the world. Mexico is home to many species, including Salvia chamaedryoides.
Euphorbia echinus
September 2022
Euphorbia is a very large and diverse genus containing both succulent and non-succulent plants.
Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii
August 2022
The genus Mammillaria is a large one, with most of the species native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, but with some species extending south and west into Central America, the Caribbean islands, and northern South America. An example of is Mammillaria muehlenpfordtii, native to central Mexico in the states of San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato and Queretaro.
Eucalyptus macrocarpa
July 2022
Eucalyptus is a large genus of more than 700 species in the Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae). While some species are tall trees, others have a multi-stemmed shrubby habit. Plants of the latter sort are referred to in Australia as “mallees,” and an example is Eucalyptus macrocarpa.
Agave ovatifolia
June 2022
Agave ovatifolia is related to the widely grown Agave parryi, and its attractive rosettes of blue-gray leaves are reminiscent of that species.
Pachyphytum bracteosum
May 2022
The genus Pachyphytum belongs to the Crassulaceae, or Stonecrop Family, with the various species notable for their balloon-like chubby leaves, including Pachyphytum bracteosum.
Gasteria acinacifolia
April 2022
The genus Gasteria belongs to the family Asphodelaceae, and it is closely related to the larger genus Aloe. Gasteria acinacifolia is a species found along South Africa’s southern coast.
