Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Francoa sonchifolia

Family: Melianthaceae

(TP) to 2-½’.  Wedding Flower.  Chile.  In mid-summer, graceful, long-lasting, unbranched stems bear compact racemes of dark pink buds.  The buds open into soft pink flowers with darker pink markings.  Deeply lobed, spoon-shaped leaves form attractive, evergreen rosettes.  Best grown in pots for outdoor display and overwintered in a cool greenhouse.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Francoa ramosa

Family: (Melianthaceae)

(TP) to 3′.  Bridal Wreath.  A native plant of Chile that Miss Jekyll loved to grow in pots to enhance her summer display on the terrace.  Many slender spikes of sessile flowers rise above scalloped, deep green basal foliage.  The four petalled flowers are of the palest pink flushed white.  Early summer bloomer.  Follow Miss Jekyll’s lead, grow it in a pot, display outdoors and overwinter in a cool greenhouse.  Moist, well-drained soil.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Eucomis zambesiaca

Family: Asparagaceae

Tender bulb to 12″.  South Africa.  Narrow racemes of open, creamy white flowers.  The first Eucomis to bloom, producing flower spikes as early as late spring.  Easy to grow.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Bouvardia ternifolia

Family: (Rubiaceae)

Tender shrub to 4′.  Firecracker Bush.  Mexico, southwest United States.   A colourful, shrub with small linear leaves usually in whorls of three.  Bugle-shaped, brilliant orange-red flowers are arranged in loose clusters at the ends of the numerous erect branches. Each flower is up to two inches long, tubular and flare at the rim into four rounded, point-tipped lobes. The Spanish name, Trompetilla, meaning little trumpet, refers to the flower’s shape.  Great for attracting and providing nectar for hummingbirds.  A long, long bloomer.  Tolerates dry soil and partial shade.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Limonium minutum

Family: (Plumbaginaceae)

(TP) to 6″.  Miniature Statice.  Southeastern France.  A small, tufted, woody species from the Mediterranean regions.  The red-tinged, slender leaves are obovate to spathulate, with recurved margins and form a dull green, cushion-like mass of rosettes.  Sprays of small, lavender, five-lobed, trumpet-shaped, “everlasting” flowers are held in bunches on wiry branched stems.  Endearing.  June.  This mini-gem turns a bright plum-purple in fall.  Sun.  3 & T2, cover and keep dark.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cneorum tricoccon

Family: (Rutaceae)

Tender shrub to 2′.  Spurge Olive.  This attractive and rare evergreen shrub with glossy, dark green leaves blooms in early summer.  Clusters of deep, four-petalled, yellow flowers are followed by red fruits that age to black.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Tagetes lemmonii

Family: (Asteraceae)

TP to 5′.  Mexican Marigold.  Arizona and Northern Mexico.  The finely divided, olive-green leaves of this very tall and unusual Marigold emit the classic Marigold scent tinged with lemon and mint.  Orange-yellow, daisy-like flowers are up to 1-½ inches wide and have a slightly darker disc in the centre.  In its native habitat it grows as an evergreen shrub in lean, dry soils.  As a container plant at Stonecrop, it does well in full sun or partial shade.  Blooms mid-spring to early summer with sporadic flowers again in autumn.  Well-drained soil.  3 & T2.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Veltheimia bracteata

Family: (Asparagaceae)

Tender bulb to 2′.  Cape Lily.  This South African native has shiny strap-like leaves with crisp, undulating margins.  Purplish stems support spikes of pale green, upright buds which open to pendulous, pale pink, tubular flowers.  Flower spikes resemble those of the Red Hot Poker.  These regal bulbs add a presence to our Conservatory in March.  Sun.  3 & T3, then they may need 40º for 2-3 months.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Puya mirabilis

Family: (Bromeliaceae)

(TP) to 5′. Argentina and Bolivia. Silvery-brown, finely toothed leaves. Delicate, three petalled, chartreuse-green flowers with golden anthers appear intermittently on stalks up to five feet tall. A very distinct looking Puya. Choice. Sun. 4 & T2, keep moist

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Habranthus tubispathus (syn. Habranthus texanus)

Family: (Amaryllidaceae)

Tender bulb to 8″.  Rio Grande Copper Lily.  Argentina and Uruguay.  Flowers have a copper-coloured exterior and are golden yellow within.  The solitary, upward facing blooms are 1½ inches in length and about the same diameter when open.  Blooms in the spring, but often, there is another flush in the fall.  Leaves appear after flowering.  Sun.  3 & T2