What’s in Bloom

Bulbinella latifolia ssp. doleritica features long narrow leaves that grow in dense rosettes. The flowers are bright yellow-orange and appear in tall spikes. Doleritica refers to its preference for dolerite, a type of volcanic rock found in eastern regions of South Africa. This plant thrives in the nutrient-poor soils formed from these rocks, showing how plants can adapt to very specific ecological niches. Well-adapted to survive in drought conditions, it stores water in its fleshy roots, which helps it endure long dry spells common in its natural habitat. The bright tubular flowers are adapted for bird pollination, particularly for sunbirds that are attracted to their color and nectar.


 

Amaryllis is widely recognized as a classic holiday flowering plant, especially in winter and around Christmas. It belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is native to South Africa, where its natural growth cycle has made it well suited to winter blooming in cultivation. Grown from a large bulb, amaryllis is valued for its tall, upright stems and large, trumpet-shaped flowers, which provide vibrant color indoors when few other plants are in bloom. Botanically, most holiday “amaryllis” sold commercially are actually Hippeastrum, a closely related genus from South America, but the name amaryllis remains firmly associated with winter holidays and indoor flowering traditions.  After flowering, allow the leaves to grow, and continue watering and feeding the plant so the bulb can store energy, then let it rest for about 8–10 weeks in a cool, dry place before being replanted to trigger the next bloom.  Bulbs can last for years when stored correctly.  Enjoy a splendid variety of Amaryllis throughout the Conservatories! 

Clerodendrum schmidtii, commonly known as Chains of Glory, is a rare tropical shrub to small tree in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Native to Southeast Asia, it is multi-stemmed with a graceful, weeping habit and is seldom seen outside of botanical garden collections. Each winter, it produces long, pendent, dark red racemes, often up to eighteen inches that gradually fill with delicate white flowers. Fully open flowers resemble white butterflies, while unopened buds appear as small white pearls, creating multiple stages of interest along each raceme. The blooming period is relatively short-lived. These plants are grown as standards, meaning a single stem is trained to the desired height before the top growth is pinched to encourage branching and form the plant’s “head.” It takes almost three years of growth and training for plants to reach display size. Some may be reused for a second year, but a new crop is propagated annually in case previously displayed plants are not suitable.

Teucrium fruticans 'Azureum' grows as a three-foot silver mound and is considered smaller than the species. It has leaves that are gray green above and silver white beneath, which gives the whole plant a silvery appearance. Deep blue flowers bloom at branch tips in the summer-fall. It attracts pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, which are drawn to the plant’s nectar-rich blooms. The shrub’s dense growth also provides shelter for small birds and insects, making it a great addition to wildlife-friendly gardens. In addition to its beautiful flowers, the plant has aromatic grey green leaves that release a pleasant scent when brushed or crushed, adding a sensory element to your garden.

 

Narcissus is a genus of bulb-forming perennials in the amaryllis family that includes daffodils, jonquils, and paperwhites, many of which are valued for their sweet fragrance. They are native mainly to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia and generally bear spring flowers with six petal-like tepals surrounding a central cup or trumpet. The name Narcissus comes from ancient Greek and is tied to the myth of the youth Narkissos, whose self-adoration led to his transformation into the flower, making Narcissus a traditional symbol of vanity and the fleeting nature of beauty. In the garden, their blooms provide early-season nectar and pollen for insects such as bees and certain flies. 

Veronica speciosa is a broadleaf evergreen shrub reaching about four feet tall. Its stiff evergreen leaves are dark green, shiny, and quite thick. The inflorescence is up to 3 – 4 inches long and is densely packed with pale pink to bright magenta flowers. Two very long stamens protrude from the throat of each flower, giving the inflorescence a whiskery look. Due to its attractive appearance and hardiness, it's commonly used in as a hedge or border plant. It attracts bees, making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. 



 

The Protea flower of the family Proteaceae is the national flower of South Africa, symbolizing beauty and diversity. Leucadendron 'Bell's Sunrise' is a rounded shrub with bronzy-red foliage and bright yellow bracts, and lush foliage year-round. In late winter to spring, the bracts color from a lime green to a pinkish red, making it an excellent cut flower.

 

Aloe ‘Blue Elf’ is a compact hybrid aloe forming tight clumps of narrow blue‑gray leaves that can blush reddish in strong sun or cold. It usually stays around 1–2 feet tall and wide and sends up bright orange flower spikes from winter into early spring that attract hummingbirds and bees.  As a cross between Aloe glauca and Aloe humilis, 'Blue Elf' is a cultivar does not occur naturally in the wild. Its parent species are indigenous to arid regions of southern Africa. It is commonly grown in southern California cultivation. The vibrant flower stalks attract hummingbirds, adding value to any pollinator-friendly garden.
 

Jewel orchid is a common term that refers to a large grouping of diverse orchids that all share the trait of beautifully colored and often variegated or patterned leaves. Most are easily grown as houseplants and the most common is Ludisia discolor.

Euphorbia fulgens is a graceful, arching spurge native to the cloud-forest regions of southern Mexico, where it grows as a semi-woody shrub. Known for its long, wiry stems lined with coral, red, orange, yellow, or white, bracts, it’s a florist favorite, especially in Europe because its stems last an impressively long time in arrangements. Like all spurges, it produces a milky latex sap, which is both its natural defense and the reason florists sear the stem ends to improve vase life. With its delicate silhouette, vivid color, and surprisingly dramatic lineage (the Euphorbia family also includes poinsettias and cactus-like succulents), Euphorbia fulgens remains an excellent choice for borders, containers, or areas where a splash of color and texture is desired!

Monstera is a genus of tropical climbing plants in the arum family (Araceae), best known for species like Monstera deliciosa with its large, glossy green leaves that develop dramatic splits and oval holes, giving rise to the nickname “Swiss cheese plant.” Native to rainforests from southern Mexico through Central America, these evergreen vines use long aerial roots to anchor themselves as they climb trees toward brighter light in the forest canopy. Indoors, monsteras are grown primarily as foliage houseplants, where they usually stay much shorter than their wild counterparts but retain their bold, architectural leaves and tropical look.

Anthurium is a tropical genus in the arum family (Araceae), known for glossy, often heart-shaped leaves and striking inflorescences made of a colorful, waxy spathe wrapped around a finger-like spadix of tiny flowers. Many anthuriums grow as epiphytes or lithophytes in warm, humid forests of Central and South America, perching on trees or rocks and and are widely grown indoors for their bold foliage and long-lasting cut flowers. As a group, arums are visually unified by the spathe-and-spadix flower structure, frequently have broad, simple leaves that may be heart-shaped, arrowhead-shaped, or deeply cut, and include many plants with a lush, architectural look such as Monstera, Philodendron, and peace lily.  Scroll through What's in Bloom and discover other examples of plants in the Araceae family on display, and come visit in person to view the many fantastic varieties in the Conservatories and the Cascade Garden! 

This tender subshrub is one of the stars of our early spring Conservatory display.  Grown from cuttings, it takes a little more than a year to get a new cutting to the size of the plant you see on display. As the common name Pride of Madeira implies, this comes from and is endemic to the island of Madeira, where it grows on rocky cliffs and terraces. It is considered rare in its native habitat, possibly threatened because of wildfire potential, but it is in no danger of extinction. It is commonly found in California landscapes, and has naturalized in New Zealand and Australia. It is attractive to honeybees, hummingbirds and butterflies, but generally unpalatable to deer and other browsers.