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What's in Bloom - May 2008
Regardless of the time of year, this Garden is always a splash of color.  Trees, shrubs, annual and perennial flowers are in bloom seasonally.  By visiting this page, you will get an idea of what is currently in bloom and where it is located in the Garden.  From large and splashy to small and simple, come explore the world of blooms here.


Many thanks to Laurel Woodley for all her time spent contributing to this page. Unless otherwise noted, photo credit goes to Laurel Woodley.  Laurel volunteers a good portion of her time here at the Garden, identifying trees and shrubs for proper signage, as well as photo documenting the various seasonal changes.     
Hyperium canariense
var. platysepalum		  
  Canary Island St. John's Wort 




H. canariense is a native to the Western five of the Canary Islands and is common in  wetter areas.  Considered by some as a mildly invasive, it can grow 9 to 13 feet high.  This multi-stemmed perennial shrub flowers from late spring to mid summer with clusters of showy yellow blooms.  

**  This is a separate species from the common St. John's Wort used in herbal remedies and should not be eaten!!

   
Photo courtesy: Laurel Woodley
Photo courtesy Laurel Woodley
Pseudobombax ellepticum var. alba   
  Shaving Brush Tree 
Coveted for its large brush-like flowers in late winter, the leaves are an attraction as well, at first bright red turning to fine green as they mature.  The Shaving Brush tree is a native to Mexico.  Interestingly, this tree is suitable for bonsai treatment.   
Melaleuca pulchella
  Claw flower




This low spreading shrub forms mounds of decorative weeping foliage and in spring and early summer bears frilly mauve flowers, which just so happen to be the largest individual flowers of any melaleuca.  Grow in full to part sun in well-drained soil.

pulchella = pretty 
Photo courtesy: Laurel Woodley
Photo courtesy: Laurel Woodley
Cerciduim floridum  
  Blue Palo Verde
In Spanish, Palo Verde means green wood or stick and alludes to the plants greenish branches and trunk.  The Blue Palo Verde can top out at about 40 feet.  The young branches are bluish-green as are the leaves.  Grows best in washes and requires above average water.  It attracts numerous pollinators including beetles, flies, social and solitary bees. 
Other plants in bloom. . .
 Romneya coulteri  
   Matilija Poppy
The Matilija Poppy is a perennial shrub which can grow to 8ft and have a similar spread.  It likes sun and good drainage - no clay.  This plant is distinguished by large crepe papery white flowers with yellow centers.  They look reminiscent of a 'fried egg'.  Be advised:  if this plant is happy it will spread aggressively!  
Photo Courtesy: Laurel Woodley
Bauhinia x blakeana
Catalpa speciosa
Tecoma stans
Cenia (=Cotula) turbinata

Listed below are plants and trees that are blooming right now!


May 2008

This month's list is very extensive!  Make sure you plan a visit to the Garden soon.
  


Latin Name Common Name Family Name Place of Origin Location in Garden 
Abutilon X hybridum var. roseus Pink Flowering Maple Malvaceae Hort. Promenade
Acacia xanthophloea Fever Tree Fabaceae E. South Africa West of Lake on Creek Lane
Acanthus mollis Artist's Acantha Acanthacreae Mediterranean Region Across from Redwood grove, Perimeter Rd.
Aesculus californica California Buckeye Hippocastinaceae California Star Pine Rd.
Aesculus pavia Red Buckeye Hippocastinaceae SE USA Hawk's Meadow
Aloe aristata   Aloaceae South Africa Desert Garden
Aloe ciliaris Climbing Aloe Aloaceae South Africa Perimeter Rd. at N. Lakeview Rd.
Aloe davyana var. davyana   Aloaceae South Africa Perimeter Rd. at N. Lakeview Rd.
Alstroemeria hybrids Peruvian Lily Alstroemeriaceae South America Promenade
Alstroemeria psittacina Parrot Flower Alstroemeriaceae N. Brazil Volunteer Garden
Alyogyne hakeifolia Yellow Hibiscus Malvaceae S. & W. Australia Greenhouse area, Canyon Rd. at Lake Access
Alyogyne huegelii cv. Purple Delight Blue Hibiscus Malvaceae Australia, Hort. Canyon Rd.
Alyogyne huegelii cv. Santa Cruz Blue Hibiscus Malvaceae Australia, Hort. Perimeter Rd. nr. Desert Garden
Baccharis salicifolia Mule Fat Asteraceae California Weather Station Lawn
Bauhinia variegata Purple Orchid Tree Fabaceae India, China Volunteer Garden
Bauhinia X blakeana Hong Kong Orchid Tree Fabaceae South China Perimeter Rd. nr. Alpine Rd.
Beschorneria yuccoides Mexican Lily, Amole Agavaceae Mexico Perimeter Rd. nr. Old Service Road
Brachychiton discolor Lackbark Tree Sterculiaceae NE Australia Perimeter Rd. nr. Propagation
Brachychiton populneus Bottle Tree Sterculiaceae E. Australia Perimeter Rd. at Hawk's Meadow
Brahea edulis Guadalupe Palm Arecaceae Guadalupe Is., Mex. Perimeter Rd. at Old Entrance Road
Brugmansia cv. Charles Grimaldi Angel's Trumpet Solanaceae South America, Hort. Volunteer Garden
Brunfelsia pauciflora cv. Floribunda Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Solanaceae Brazil Perimeter Rd. opposite Gray Garden
Bulbine frutescens cv. Hallmark Hallmark Bulbine Liliaceae South Africa Ficus Road
Caesalpinia gilliesii Bird of Paradise Fabaceae South America Volunteer Garden, Perimeter at old entrance
Calliandra tweedi Mexican Flame Bush Fabaceae Brazil E. Alpine Road
Callistemum citrinus cv. Jeffers Purple Bottlebrush Myrtaceae Australia, Hort. Volunteer Garden, Perimeter at Acacia Loop
Callistemum citrinus cv. Mauve Mist Purple Bottlebrush Myrtaceae Australia, Hort. Perimeter Rd. at Weather Station
Callistemum cv. Little John Little John Bottlebrush Myrtaceae Australia, Hort. Volunteer Garden, Perimeter Rd. at Acacia Loop
Callistemum montanus Mountain Bottlebrush Myrtaceae E. Australia Phoebe's Meadow
Callistemum pallidus Lemon Bottlebrush Myrtaceae SE Australia Phoebe's Meadow
Callistemum viminalis cv. Hannah Ray Weeping Bottlebrush Myrtaceae Australia, Hort. Perimeter Rd. at S. Mesquite Lane
Callistemum viminalis cv. Red Cascade Weeping Bottlebrush Myrtaceae Australia, Hort. Perimeter at E. Alpine
Calodendrum capense Cape Chestnut Rutaceae S. & E. Africa Perimetert Rd. at Phoebe's Meadow
Caryopteris odorata Bluebird Verbenaceae E. Asia Perimeter Rd. at E. Mesquite Lane
Cassia didymobotrya Popcorn Flower Fabaceae Tropical Africa Perimeter Rd. at Palm G & Old Entrance
Catalpa speciosa Western Catalpa Bignoniaceae E. Central USA Perimeter Rd. at Arizona Crossing
Cenia (=Cotula) turbinata Bachelor's Buttons Asteraceae South Africa Garden of Senses
Centaurea cineraria Dusty Miller Asteraceae Italy Gray Leaf Section on Perimeter Rd.
Centranthus ruber Red Valerian Valerianaceae Europe, N. Africa Perimeter Rd. at S. Creek Ln.
Cerastium tomentosum Snow-in-summer Caryophyllaceae Europe and W. Asia Promenade
Ceratostigma willmottianum Chinese Plumbago Plumbaginaceae W. China, Tibet Perimeter Rd. across from Gray Leaf Sec.
Cercidium floridum Blue Palo Verde Fabaceae SW USA Desert Garden
Cestrum aurantiacum   Yellow Cestrum Solanaceae Guatamala Perimeter Rd. across from Propagation
Chaenomeles speciosa cv. Cameo Peach-color Flowering Quince Rosaceae Hort. Yarrow Trail
Cistus cv. Sunset Magenta Rock Rose Cistaceae Hort. E. Med. Grass Garden
Cistus incanus cv. LASCA Select Rock Rose Cistaceae Hort. Perimeter at E. Canyon Rd.
Cleistocactus strausii Silver Torch Cactaceae South America Desert Garden
Clerodendrum chinensis Chinese Glory Bower Verbenaceae China, Japan Waterwise Garden
Coronilla emerus Scorpion Senna Fabaceae Southern Europe S. Creek Lane
Cuphea cv. David Verity Cigar Flower Lythraceae Hort. Perimeter Rd. nr. Hawk's Meadow
Cuphea micropetala Candy Corn Plant Lythraceae Mexico Perimeter Rd. nr. Ginkgo Forest
Dicliptera suberecta King's Crown Acanthaceae Uruguay Perimeter Rd. at Old Entrance Road
Diospyros kaki Japanese Persimmon Ebenaceae Japan, China S. Lakeview Rd.
Diospyros lotus Date Plum Ebenaceae SW Asia, N. Iran S. Lakeview Rd.
Dombeya burgessiae Pink Dombeya Sterculiaceae Kenya to S. Africa Acacia Loop Road
Doryanthes palmeri Spear Lily Doryanthaceae Australia Perimeter Rd. at S. Canyon Rd.
Dudleya virens Alabaster Plant Crassulaceae California Desert Garden
Echinopsis terscheckii   Cactaceae N. Argentina Old Entrance
Echium candicans Pride of Madeira Boraginaceae Madeira, Canary Is. Perimeter Rd. nr. E. Alpine Rd.
Elaeocarpus decipiens   Elaeocarpaceae Asia Minor Canyon Rd. at Lake Access Rd.
Eremophila maculata Spotted Emu Bush Myoporaceae NE Australia Perimeter Rd. at N. Lakeview Rd.
Eremophila maculata cv. Aurea Emu Bush Myoporaceae NE Australia Creek Ln., Garden of Senses
Eremophila maculata cv. Winter Gold Winter Gold Emu Bush Myoporaceae NE Australia, Hort. Perimeter Rd. at N. Lakeview Rd.
Erythrina americana Coral Tree Fabaceae Mexico Waterwise Garden
Erythrina caffra Kaffirboom Coral Tree Fabaceae South Africa Promenade
Erythrina lysistemon Common Coral Tree Fabaceae E. South Africa Promenade
Erythrina X sykesi Coral Tree Fabaceae Hort. Promenade
Escallonia bifida White Escallonia Saxifragaceae Southern S. America Perimeter Rd. in Paulownia section
Eucalyptus sideroxylon cv. Rosea Red Ironbark Myrtaceae Australia E. Alpine Rd.
Euphorbia californica   Euphorbiaceae  Baja California, Mexico Greenhouse area
Euphorbia milii Crown of Thorns Euphorbiaceae  Madagascar Desert Garden, Promenade
Euryops pectinatus Bush Daisy Asteraceae S. Africa Ficus Lane, Volunteer Garden
Galvesia speciosa Island Snapdragon Scrophulariaceae Channel Is., California Greenhouse area
Grevillea robusta Silk Oak Proteaceae E. Australia Little Crenshaw Rd.
Hibiscus callyphyllus Polando Hibiscus Malvaceae S. Africa, Madagascar Mediterranean Garden
Hunnemannia fumariifolia Mexican Tulip Poppy Papaveraceae Mexico Volunteer Garden
Hymenosporum flavum  Sweetshade Pittosporaceae Australia Perimeter at N. service area
Hypericum canariense var. platysepalum   Hypericaceae