South Africa

Little bulbous plant from the Drakensberg Mts in South Africa. This is a good rock garden subject in that it likes good drainage in the winter. When growing, keep it watered reasonably and it will bloom its tail off with loads of small reddish flowers. Mulch if bitter cold in winter. This is one of smallest species in the genus and the word "statuesque" will likely never be used in conjunction with Rhodohypoxis. This was simply descriptive and not in the least pejorative. Those little bulbs can be so sensitive about their size.

In the interest of full disclosure, we received this as Rhodohypoxis rubella from a reputable Dutch specialty bulb grower years back and we are having our doubts as to its veracity. Images of R. rubella in the wild suggest it is lighter pink, but then plants can have tremendous variability in the wild or none at all depending on the species. This has smaller flowers than typical R. baurii or its hybrids and smothers itself in rich deep dark pink flowers. Rhodohypoxis grow in South Africa at higher elevations on granitic cliffs where they inhabit little soil-filled pockets. They like good drainage and moisture while in growth and need the good drainage in winter to keep from rotting. Traditionally a classic bulb for small containers or pans as they they quickly fill out a pot and put on quite the display and then when they are going dormant it is easy to bring them into the garage or cool greenhouse over the winter. Here in the PNW, these are excellent rock garden subjects requiring only a bit of covering if winter temps plummet.

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.

Fantastic little plant from South Africa which used to be Aster natalensis but is now in the genus Felicia. We got this from a Scottish alpine nursery in Scotland and know of a rock gardener in northern Norway who raves about it. Tight clumps with blue flowers with a yellow button in June-July. Very hardy. First introduced to the US by Far Reaches Farm.