Shaving brush
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday December 7, 2008
Common name: Shaving brush
Light: Part sun
Height: 12 in.
Spread: 12-24 in.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 9
Origin: South Africa
Twenty-one species are included in the genus Haemanthus. These tender
herbaceous bulbous plants are close relatives to the common amaryllis. In
their native habitat, they are found growing in deep dappled shade under
forest trees, which is uncommon for most bulbs. The Shaving brush
(Haemanthus albiflos), also known as Paint brush or Elephant’s tongue, is
one of the more common species grown. It is often grown as a landscape
plant in Southern California and not so common in temperate climates. The
top of their bulbs are usually exposed and topped with 4-6 pubescent
strap-shaped leaves. Flowers appear on a tall sturdy stalks. Each flower
head is made of many white filaments topped with yellow anthers surrounded
by 2 white bracts. The flowers contain no petals and are pollinated by
butterflies and bees. In Latin, the species name albiflos translates to
“white flower”. After pollination, reddish orange berries develop each
containing a single white fleshy seed. Like most bulbous plants grown as
houseplants, they will flower more readily if pot bound. This species will
freely produce offsets that can be removed and potted up separately.
Shaving brushes flower annually in the Desert biome at the Franklin Park
Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
Variegated mahoe
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday December 14, 2008
Common name: Variegated mahoe
Light: Full sun
Height: 20-30 ft.
Spread: 20-30 ft.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 10
Origin: Old and New World Tropics
The Variegated mahoe (Talipariti tiliaceus, formerly Hibiscus tiliaceus) is
a tropical tree mainly grown for its ornamental value. Its large 6-8 inch
striking heart-shaped leaves are splashed with cream, pink, burgundy and
green. The hibiscus-like flowers open as lemon yellow in the morning and
fade to reddish bronze as the day passes. The Variegated mahoe naturally
occurs in coastal regions, where they are found growing on beaches and
amongst mangroves, thus having a high tolerance to salt. They are often
planted as street trees in the tropics. In temperate climates they make
ideal patio and houseplants or can be planted directly into the summer
garden. In Tahiti, the leaves are wrapped around food for cooking and used
as plates. The leaves are fed to cattle in SE Asia. The wood is used in
canoe making in Hawaii. The Variegated mahoe is located in the Pacific
Island Water Garden at the Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
String of hearts
Photo by Dave Brigner
Sunday December 21, 2008
Common name: String of hearts
Height: 3 ft.
Spread: vine
USDA Hardiness Zone:
Origin: Zimbabwe, S. Africa
The genus ceropegia includes nearly 200 species of both temperate and
tropical often succulent perennials. Many of the species grow a thickened
water-storing stem called a caudex. This reserve keeps the plant alive
during periods of drought. String of hearts (Ceropegia woodii), often
called Rosary vine, has thin wiry vining stems and rounded heart-shaped dark
green leaves heavily mottled with silver. Ceropegia flowers are unusual in
form and vary in size, often lantern shaped. This easy to grow succulent
does well in hanging baskets, prefers to be pot bound and likes a porous
mix. New plants can easily be started from stem cuttings as well as
removing aerial tubers that grow along the stem and potting them. This
plant is closely related to the more common Wax vine (Hoya carnosa) and
oddly enough to the native Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). The String
of hearts vine is located in the desert at the Franklin Park Conservatory.- Dave Brigner Franklin Park Conservatory
