Plant Highlights By Date
Banksia integrifolia
November 2021
The Protea Family, Proteaceae, has many representatives in Australia, including about 170 species in the large genus Banksia. The great majority of the plants come from the winter-rainfall region in the southwestern part of Australia, but there are some notable eastern species as well, and one of these is Banksia integrifolia.
Mariosousa heterophylla (Acacia willardiana)
October 2021
The genus Acacia, as it has been traditionally defined, is a large group from around the world, with the greatest concentration found in Australia. In 2006, when the genus Mariosousa was created, Acacia willardiana was renamed as Mariosousa willardiana.
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.
