Immediately’s column, following our latest overview of South African succulent vegetation, presents South African geophytes, one other giant class of vegetation on this botanical scorching spot.
For evaluate, geophytes are perennial vegetation with an underground meals storage organ, e.g., a bulb, tuber, corm, or rhizome. Succulent plant specialists don't regard geophytes as succulents as a result of succulents retailer moisture whereas geophytes retailer meals.
An distinctive guide, “The Coloration Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs” (Timber Press, 2002) lists 83 genera of those vegetation, which embody some 1,200 species, three-quarters of that are endemic to South Africa.
This column incorporates a small pattern of those vegetation rising in my backyard, as examples of the big and numerous South African geophytes.
We embody two arbitrary groupings of those vegetation: my sense of the extra and fewer acquainted varieties. You may group them otherwise.
As a heads-up observe, a number of of those vegetation embody “Lily” of their widespread names however are literally not members of the Lily plant household (Liliaceae). Such misnomers could possibly be based mostly on their resemblance to the acquainted type of blossoms of true lilies.
Acquainted South African geophytes
African Lily (Agapanthus praecox ssp orientalis Getty White’). This South African plant is a member of the Amaryllis plant household. Its widespread names embody Lily of the Nile, regardless that it's not native to the River Nile area. The genus consists of seven species, together with the acquainted A. africanus with purple-red blossoms, and the much less widespread A. praecox, which is featured right here. The foliage grows from rhizomes to 2 toes tall by 4 toes extensive; the flower stalks rise in the summertime to 4-feet excessive. These vegetation are simple to develop in solar or shade and are sometimes seen in personal gardens and neighborhood areas.
Montbretia (Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’). This plant is a broadly grown plant amongst greater than 400 hybrid cultivars. They develop from small corms and, in the summertime, produce racemes of flame-red flowers. Its small corms are simply separated, making them simple to propagate and probably invasive, though they've a horny look. They're member of the Iris plant household.
Fortnight Lily (Dietes iridioides). One other member of the Iris plant household, this plant grows from rhizomes to develop 2-4 ft. excessive clumps of slender, sword-shaped, stiff evergreen leaves, and quite a few white blossoms marked with yellow and violet. The blossoms seem over an extended season in two-week intervals (therefore the widespread title), however final for under a day.
Flowering Grass (Freesia laxa var. alba). Recognized for its highly effective candy scent, this creamy-white flowering hybrid is broadly in style in gardens. Different cultivars can be found a spread of colours, with each combined and single-color varieties. They develop simply from corms, develop stems as much as 18 inches tall, and, within the spring, produce 2-inch lengthy, tubular flowers.
Purple-hot Poker (Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’). Though there are over 73 species of this genus, virtually all vegetation grown in residential gardens are hybrids of two or extra species. They develop from rhizomes and develop clumps of slender, grass-like leaves starting from 18-inch dwarfs to 6-ft. giants. They produce tall spikes of upright, brightly coloured flowers in shade of crimson, orange, or yellow, typically bi-colored. Members of the Lily plant household, they've an extended blooming season, largely beginning in the summertime. They develop in full solar or partial shade, relying on the range, however all require average moisture.
Calla (Zantedeschia aethiopica). Typically known as “Calla Lily,” this plant is a member of the Arum plant household (Araceae). They develop from rhizomes, can rise to three toes tall, and wish year-round moisture to supply their enticing white bracts (or spathes) that encompass a spike (or spadix) of tiny true flowers. Hybrid cultivars can be found in a variety of spathe colours.
Much less acquainted South African geophytes
Blue Sceptre (Aristea capitata). This plant, a member of the Iris plant household, grows from rhizomes to kind linear leaves in clumps 3-ft. tall and extensive, with taller stalks of true-blue flowers with yellow stamens. The extra widespread selection, A. ecklonii ‘Blue Stars’, may be very related.
Snake Flower (Bulbine Frutescens). This plant has bulb-shaped tubers (not likely bulbs), from which develop a 2-ft. clumps of succulent leaves and, within the spring, 2-3 foot spikes of small yellow flowers. They're members of the Asphodelaceae plant household and associated to Haworthias and Aloes. They develop readily and will be propagated simply from stem cuttings. I acquired a handful of cuttings from a latest backyard change, and I have to get them within the floor.
Bush Lily (Clivia miniata). One more member of the Amaryllis household. These have been very fashionable vegetation in California since shortly after they arrived in England from South Africa. The generally griownb C. miniata has orange-red or yellow blossoms and (hardly ever) practically white flowers which are pure mutations. They've enticing darkish inexperienced, strap-shaped leaves. A number of hybrid cultivars have been produced by numerous mixtures of the 4 species of the genus.
Natal Lily (Crinum moorei). One other Amaryllis plant member of the family, the Natal Lily develops bulbs that may be 8-inches in diameter, a flowering stalk as much as 4 toes tall, and clusters of 5 to 10 giant, open, white to pale pink flowers. In nature, it grows in damp, marshy areas, but it surely thrives with minimal irrigation in my backyard. A latest on-line interview with Jenks Farmer, the writer of “Crinum: Unearthing the Historical past and Cultivation of the World’s Greatest Bulb,” described this plant as a favourite of gardens within the southeastern United States, but it surely additionally grows properly within the Monterey Bay space.
Blood Lily/Paintbrush Lily (Haemanthus coccineus). There are 22 species inside this genus, a member of the Amaryllis plant household. H. coccineus, among the many earliest species recognized, has blood-red blossoms, therefore the widespread title; a number of different species have white flowers. The plant has paintbrush-shaped blossoms, which seem in late summer time, adopted by strikingly enticing broad leaves.
Guernsey Lily (Nerine sarniensis). One other Amaryllis plant member of the family, the Guernsey Lily is a summer-dormant, winter-growing species that develops clusters of funnel-shaped flowers with recurved petals, in colours starting from crimson to scarlet, and from pale pink to deep rose-pink. There may be additionally a horny pure white kind. The plant has clusters of strap-shaped, linear leaves that observe the flowers.
Advance your information
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Enrich your gardening days
Discover the botanical riches of South Africa, notably the succulent vegetation described in a latest column and the geophytes sampled in right now’s column. As already famous, some South African geophytes are broadly grown in California gardens, however different much less widespread varieties supply uncommon enticing varieties and a welcome change of tempo in comparison with on a regular basis backyard nursery choices. They're well-suited to the Monterey Bay space’s rising situations, in order that they gained’t require distinctive cultivation expertise.
Take pleasure in your backyard and embody a little bit of exploration!
Tom Karwin is previous president of Associates of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, Monterey Bay Space Cactus & Succulent Society, and Monterey Bay Iris Society, and a Lifetime UC Grasp Gardener.