South Africa

A likely Gladiolus papilio hybrid with some saying it is a form of papilio, our mama plant when in bloom with its 5 foot stems of red-mauve flowers sporting dark eye patches, has frequently caused plant geeks to start speaking in tongues other than Latin binomials and to offer creative enticements in exchange for "just a small start". We have had to say "Sorry" until now although if those enticements are still on the table, we're listening. Perfectly hardy in the ground here.

An ornamental Society Garlic that made its way here to the Far Reaches from England lo those many years ago.  Rather than continue to admire what had developed into a most attractive clump, we succumbed to the baser instincts of the merchant and divided away!  Fine grassy chive-ish leaves with stems bearing charming white/pink flowers, and while you might think this an onion or garlic relative, it is actually in the Amaryllis family.  Flowers and leaves are edible, should be deer/rabbit resistant and tolerant of some dry if need be but better with moderate water levels.

Small but rapidly clumping bulb from South Africa with dense grassy leaves and small white flowers, produced with some say reckless abandon during summer. Named after Ruth McConnell who was one of the foremost growers and hybridizers of the genus in the UK. These have been easy in the garden here.

This natural hybrid of one of the classic South African bulb genera is endemic to Cape Province, and you'd be hard pressed to find it much further than that native range even in cultivation, luckily we have excellent connections like Michael Wickenden who generously shared it with us. Bladelike foliage, while nice, is unlikely to wow. The flowers however can grow in great spikes of up to 6 1/2 ft tall! Individual florets can come in red or pink and look rather similar to a more trumpeted Hesperantha, corollas flaring out to a star shaped opening. Prefers a Mediterranean climate and very well draining soil, can be pot-grown in a similarly draining mixture for those not living the riviera lifestyle.

A superior red seedling that arose here and one that is a bit larger than the other large red selections we grow. It was fun to lay out a table of flowers of all the cultivars and our seedlings for comparative evaluation. It was quickly apparent that it is hard not to love red and might as well go big. Just add water, food and sun. The name refers to Anna Massena, Princess d'Esseling and Duchess of Rivoli of France. Her husband was a serious amateur ornithologist with 12,500 bird specimens including an unidentified hummingbird which he had collected along the west coast of North America. This was later named Calypte anna - Anna's Hummingbird. This is a favorite resident here all year and loves the winter flowers in our greenhouses during spates of freezing weather. The males are little emerald green Jack Russell's, flashing a conspicuous Rivoli Red throat patch.

Flower power is the smallest of packages, this little but mighty rhizomatous yet bulbous Iris family member from South Africa brings a degree of satisfaction far beyond it's size when its short grassy foliage becomes completely obscured for weeks in late spring by rose red flowers literally cheek to cheek. Good increaser, hardy in zones 7-8.

Presumed hybrid between Rhodohypoxis and Hypoxis from a collection on the Hebron Farm property in South Africa. Some prefer to see this as a form of Rhodohypoxis parvula var. albiflora but given the red color, we lean towards the hybrid. Great little rock garden plant provided it doesn't get too dry.

Angel's Fishing Rod. As the specific epithet infers, this does have grand flowers! Widely flared big medium pink flowers dangle in mad abandon on 4'-5 stems. If actually used by angels for fishing, then it is the rod Hemingway would use in his Marlin quest. This assumes he got his wings which seems unlikely.

A super hybrid out of the UK from crossing the two related genera, Hypoxis and Rhodohypoxis. These genera occur in South Africa and are small bulbous members of the Iris family. While just a few inches tall, these are showy beyond the implied limits of their size and can cover themselves for weeks in large red flowers. Easy to grow and a fast increaser, this will become a favorite. Cold climates can be overwintered inside where cool.

Big pink flowers of substance on this densely clumping South African bulb. Hardy outside here given good drainage in winter (and mulch if a bad winter) and a choice candidate for the rock garden provided it gets ample water when in growth. Easy to grow in pots and overwinter in the garage.

aka Schizostylis. This selection of the Southern African bulb was selected by plantsman Eric Smith and sports flowers of a deep salmon pink that even the best of sunrises would find a welcome addition the palette. Said by some British sources to often be found still blooming at Christmas, good tidings indeed for those Northwesterners desperate for a little Winter sunshine.

Grassy little clumping rhizomatous bulb from South Africa which is easily grown here provided it has good drainage and moisture while in growth and a bit of mulch in winter. Dawn is a broad-petaled fairly large flowered selection in which the white flowers are just touched with pink.

Easy and hardy little bulbous plant from South Africa and a good pink in this selection. This makes dense tuffets of grassy foliage in spring and summer and covers itself in May/June with pink flowers. Increases well but never a problem making an easy to divide clump when dormant.

Infrequently encountered species of Fairy Wand Flower, these are from wild collected seed from South Africa. Wide flares of bell-shaped flowers in rosy pink to lilac. I personally am hoping for lilac as we have the pink well represented. Either color is quite showy. Mulch if real cold.

Great little frothy mound of silver foliage that deserves a place in the plant petting zoo. The yellow button-like flowers dance on wiry stems in late spring and early summer. Too cute. On the dry side. Thanks to David Mason and Susie Grimm of Hedgerows Nursery for sharing it with us.

A good hardy form of this Sedum-like species from Rick Lupp of Mt Tahoma Alpines who has grown this in his sand beds for over 20 years where it has taken single digits in the winter. Low, fleshy green leaves are a perfect backdrop for the salmon-red 3"-4" flower stems with nice heads of small white flowers accented by a small salmon-pink eye. Perfect in our crevice garden.

One of the hardier Aloes or former Aloe. This will survive winters in warmer Zone 8 gardens making a multi-stemmed shrub with terminal spires of orange-yellow showy flowers. If a cold freeze occurs, this will be cut to the base but will rapidly regrow come spring. Best to mulch prior to such an event.

aka Schizostylis. A later blooming selection of perhaps more stoutness in stem and flower than some other clones. A good rounded pink flower on comparatively stout stems that holds the flowers nicely. And it is true that we enjoy the flowers here in November assuming we don't get an early cold snap. A good increaser and for those of you who have to be dragged kicking and screaming into winter refusing to let go of the last vestiges of summer then this is the plant for you.

Unlike the common folk of Tulbaghias this "society garlic" got the white-tie message and is rather the more fetching for it. Blushing pink buds opening to pure white or pale-pink flowers making for a picturesque plant I'd be happy to ask for a dance at the next gala, if only it wasn't for that impolite garlicky smell....well beggars for hardy South African bulbs can't be choosers I guess.

An unusual color form of a hardy, perennial, evergreen, deer-resistant South African bulb? No florid adjectives needed, just the bare bones make this appetizing enough (not to mention that garlicky odor). Soft pinkish-brown strap-like petals surrounding a burnt orange center make for a subtle and yet distinct flower. This is one society garlic whose parlor I would definitely drink an aristocratic cuppa in.