Plant Highlights By Date
Aloe branddraaiensis
February 2019
As with most aloe species, the flowers in each cluster open sequentially from lowest to topmost over a course of several weeks. Each flower has a rounded base, narrowing a little above this, and then increasing again in diameter toward the mouth.
Cephalophyllum aureorubrum
January 2019
At the Ruth Bancroft Garden, we have found this plant easy to grow if given excellent drainage and a sunny spot. Its bright yellow and orange blossoms are a welcome addition to the garden in winter, and lows in the upper 20’s F (to -3°C) have not harmed it.
Hakea verrucosa
December 2018
The flowers of Hakea species are held in clusters along the stems, and they resemble those of the relatives in the genus Grevillea. Hakea is a large genus of shrubs and small trees in the Protea Family (Proteaceae), with 150 species listed in Wikipedia.
Senecio decaryi
November 2018
Senecio is a large genus of about 1500 species in the Asteraceae, or Daisy Family, and it includes both succulent and non-succulent plants. The flowering time for Senecio decaryi is generally during the summer and fall months, and plants may go through more than one bout of flowering in a year.
Plectranthus argentatus
October 2018
Though it is native to a summer-rainfall area, Plectranthus argentatus grows quite well in The Ruth Bancroft Garden’s Mediterranean climate, needing only an occasional watering during the summer months to keep it happy.
Huernia thuretii var. primulina
September 2018
Stapeliads are succulent relatives of the milkweeds with striking 5-pointed flowers. Their flowers are beautiful, but in most cases they emit foul odors to attract pollinators.
Calibanus hookeri
August 2018
Calibanus hookeri is summer-flowering. The branched inflorescences are shorter than the leaves, and they arch to one side. The tiny off-white flowers, sometimes with a reddish or purplish tinge, are borne in small clusters along the main stalk and the side branches.
Cyrtanthus obliquus
July 2018
Cyrtanthus obliquus has teardrop-shaped bulbs to 4 inches in diameter (10 cm), and it typically produces a few offsets to form a small clump, though plants may sometimes be solitary. The top third of the bulb is normally visible above ground level.
Agave montana
June 2018
The floral branches and buds of Agave montana are a dark purplish-red color, but when the flowers open they show off their yellow interiors and stamens and pistils.
Doryanthes palmeri
May 2018
This Australian native begins life as a single large rosette, but when it comes into flower the growing tip elongates into a flower stalk, much like an Agave does.
