Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Albuca bracteata (syn. Ornithogalum longibracteatum)

Family: (Asparagaceae)

Tender bulb to 3′.  Pregnant Onion.  South Africa.  Beautiful spikes of white striped green, star-shaped flowers.  The smooth, green bulb becomes very large and produces many bulbils attached to the sides of the mother bulb.  These bulbils become flowering size very quickly.  The foliage is two inches wide and a smooth, glossy green.  An easy and fascinating houseplant.  Sun.  3 & T3, then may need 40º for 2-3 months.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Narcissus serotinus

Family: (Amaryllidaceae)

Tender bulb to 10″. An autumn-flowering Mediterranean species with a white perianth and a minuscule, golden yellow corona. Light citrus scent. We grow it in our Pit House where it blooms for Thanksgiving. Charming and easy to raise from seed. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Melasphaerula ramosa

Family: (Iridaceae)

Tender corm to 12″. Fairy Bells. South Africa. Slender, loosely branched flower stalks with many delicate, long-lasting blooms on threadlike pedicels give the plant an airy appearance. Blooms are pale yellow with a fine, darker line along the centre of the pointed tepals. Fans of delicate, Iris-like foliage disappear during summer dormancy. Grows well on a warm window ledge out of direct sun. So easy to grow and incredibly adorable. April to June. Well-drained soil. Partial shade. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Lepechinia hastata

Family: (Lamiaceae)

Tender subshrub to 6′. Americas. The specific epithet hastata is descriptive of the large, arrow-shaped, velvety grey-green leaves for which this tender subshrub is grown. Of equal value are the ten-inch long flower spikes adorned with numerous, one-inch long, rosy purple flowers of classic “Lamium-esque” form, sitting upon smoky purple pedicels. A striking specimen for a sunny spot in your home. Blooms on and off throughout the year. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Heimia salicifolia

Family: (Lythraceae)

Tender shrub to 10′.  Willow-leaved Heimia, Elixir of the Sun.  South US, C & S America.  This unusual plant has many slender, woody stems that are densely covered in mostly opposite, narrow, linear, green leaves.  Small flowers have six, bright yellow, somewhat wrinkled, roundly obovate petals.  The petals are attached to the rim of the tube-shaped floral cup with 12 stamens inserted low in the cup.  The flowers arise from the leaf axils and bloom in profusion all summer.  This plant is very accommodating – in the spring we plant it in our Flower Garden and Order Beds then dig it up in the fall.  It never skips a beat.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Habranthus robustus

Family: (Amaryllidaceae)

Tender bulb to 8″. Rain Lily. A native of Argentina and South Brazil. The three-inch, Lily-like flowers, two per stem, are a blushed pink with darker veining and a green throat. Narrow, strap-like foliage. Grow Habranthus on a cool windowsill in well-drained soil. Easy. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dregea sinensis

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(TP to 9′).  We grow this fabulous vine in a pot in our Pit House.  Here, it twines around upright supports and runs along the eaves.  In June, sweetly scented, waxy, white-blushed, pale pink clusters of flowers hang down from above.  Native of China and used to be known as Wattakaka sinensis.  Shame about the name change.  What a treasure.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'

Family: (Sapindaceae)

Tender Shrub to 10′. Hopbush. New Zealand. An attractive, evergreen shrub with elliptical, wavy margined, aromatic, purple-bronze leaves. The flowers, though small, produce an abundance of winged, papery, hop-like fruits. Grown widely throughout the tropics and was used for brewing beer by early European settlers. Foliage may turn lighter green in winter or if not grown in full sun. Makes a striking conservatory plant. 3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Corydalis wilsonii

Family: (Papaveraceae)

(TP) to 12”. A rosette of glaucous, blue-green, pinnate leaves, holding upright racemes of green-tipped, yellow flowers. Fantastic and an easy pot plant. Sun. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Chasmanthe bicolor

Family: (Iridaceae)

Tender bulb to 3′. Two Colour Cobra Lily. A choice South African bulb to cheer your winter blues. Emerging from dormancy in late fall, the silky, sword-shaped leaves arranged in a fan, precede the hot-coloured blooms in mid-winter. The blooms are alternately arranged on a long raceme, which is laden with the eye-catching, six-petalled, tubular flowers that are up to 3 inches long and feature orange-scarlet upper and lateral tepals. The three, greenish yellow, lower tepals are fused forming a cylindrical perianth tube containing valuable nectar. Sun. 3 & T2