How about we liven up this forum with some beautiful plants from the region of Southern Africa that grow so well on the Pacific Coast?
Here is a rarity: Alberta magna.
This handsome shrub needs warmer climes (but not desert heat), plenty of moisture, and a richer soil. The foliage is smooth and glossy, and as you can see, the flowers are showy if not large. It is native to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. It is a relative of Ixora and Gardenia.
Does anyone grow it?

That is a beauty! I'm sure I have many South African plants, but I don't think I have any rare ones.

I know this one's South African:

Don't have Alberta but, now that I know it exists, I MUST HAVE IT!
We have lots of Southern African plants, more than Aloes, and I'll have get some pics this week.

I have lots of South African bulbs, but I think I prefer Sparaxis to all the rest.

Strelitzia reginae juncifolia. Less common than the broadleaf form, but more interesting to me.




Afrocarpus henkelii, Long-leaf Yellowwood. Something about the way the leaves sort of wrap around the stem looks so cool.

Nice selection John!
That BoP has been a fave of mine for 50 years after seeing one in the San Diego Zoo, but it doesn't grow well here. A buddy has one in a warmer Bay Area city and his is thriving and flowering.

Here is a pretty thing that is not quite South African, although it grows in the adjacent countries: Senna didymobotrya.
It is always mentioned as tropical, but this one is in a San Francisco yard facing a street that is a wind-tunnel. SF is cool all the time and rarely has days in the 70's (21-26 c.); it gets cold every night. This one blooms at least 8 months of the year.
I suppose like many of its clan this one may be invasive in other climates.
Anyone else have experience with this?

This Protea relative is a beauty, but a temperamental one.
Serruria florida comes from a remote valley in the Cape; it was discovered once, then lost and thought extinct for 90 years and when it was rediscovered the population was reduced to a small number. Those plants were not reproducing and eventually they dwindled out. Extinct again. Then a fire went through the area and new Serruria came up like a lawn.
In our area it has been very fickle and short-lived. It wants very fast-draining soil and pure water regularly. Very few people can keep this one going. It is not easy to propagate from cuttings, but does sometimes set seed. Seed need the smoke treatment, as you may have guessed.
This is "the Blushing Bride":

Oh great, ANOTHER thing I MUST have!

You're killing me, Hort!

Here is a plant at the botanical garden that is not really seen in the cut-flower trade: Protea lepidocarpodendron. That name doesn't easily roll off the tongue, but the common name is "blackbeard sugarbush". It is easy and fast growing near the coast (and can tolerate ocean spray), but does not take much frost.

Hortica
I really adore proteas. They also make really nice wreaths and are long lasting in floral arrangements.

Several of the Hippeastrum aka Amaryllis bulbs in my collection are from
South Africa. They always re-bloom in summer. They are from the southern Hemisphere.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Dutch Bulbs from the northern hemisphere re-bloom November thru February.

Amaryllis bulbs are not hardy in my zone from both the northern and southern hemispheres.

More history and hybrids/subhybrids
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Here is Serruria 'Pretty in Pink'

Ooo ah ah ah … luv Serruria 'Pretty in Pink'.
Do you save seeds? Does it set seed?

bumplbea said: Ooo ah ah ah … luv Serruria 'Pretty in Pink'.
Do you save seeds? Does it set seed?

That one is a hybrid, and it has never set seed. It may be sterile. The plant in the pic is long-gone, so I may never know.
I do see it as a cut flower so you might be able to start one from a stem you get from a florist.

Hortica said: That one is a hybrid, and it has never set seed. It may be sterile. The plant in the pic is long-gone, so I may never know.
I do see it as a cut flower so you might be able to start one from a stem you get from a florist.

Thank you I will check for more info in Hawaii . My son lives there and if anyone has a selection of proteas they will.

California is where to look for this. Hawaii grows a small number of species, and not much for export. Your local florist will be a better bet.

This strange Protea relative is Leucodendron 'Ebony'. It is supposedly a sport from 'Safari Sunset', but unlike that cv. this one is a bit touchy. It seems to need full sun, and sharp drainage, yet regular water.
I am kind of a fan of dark foliage, but this one has flummoxed me (several times).

More Protea:
"Mini-King"





White king Protea

Leucospermum cordifolium 'Don's Red' from Monterey Bay Nursery. This was a Landscape Industry Show booth plant that we picked up after the show. I thought it would go well with the blue fescue if it managed to survive. I needn't have worried.

Nice one!

Here is an unknown variety of Leuco at the Legion of Honor museum: