Veltheimia bracteata

[Dr. George]

Came across this in a specialty nursery in San Juan Capistrano. Had not seen them before and thought they were kinda neat.

Little more info here: Veltheimia bracteata

gmp

[Geoff]

You should go by the Huntington Gardens this time of year... have lots of these growing in their succulent section and have some great mass plantings. I have had this plant for several years and recently moved it up to the high desert where I was pretty sure it was going to croak... but surprisingly took 24F without any problems, as well as our 110F summers, 2% humidity and endless arid winds, and it has been absolutely perfect looking... even the rabbits don't eat it, and they eat almost everything. Probably one of the most adaptable and attractive plants in my yard right now. Good choice! Veltheimia capensis is a lot wimpier, though personally I cannot tell it apart from this one.

[The Silent Seed]

They are nice plants - I always have some here and there - growing out a yellow one as well.

V. capensis definitely is wimpier, but it is often blue leaved - I have a bunch of those too, but the leaves are UBER floppy.

The two species do not look similar at all once you've seen both. The capensis leaves are almost like a gray blue tulip leaf/stem while the bracteata is nice, sturdy, dark shiny wavy green.

[David in Berkeley]

Does very well up here in milder parts of the Bay Area also, blooming as early as December and often into March. No way would I recommend it where it drops much below 28°F at night, blooms are especially frost sensitive here, similar to Clivia. It will even take full sun here in fogbelt areas, and in my Berkeley garden. Also great in containers.

[Geoff]

Here is shot of my plant on a day when temps are 29F... but flower was coming up when it was 25F. Amazing hardiness!

[Dr. George]

Here is shot of my plant on a day when temps are 29F... but flower was coming up when it was 25F. Amazing hardiness!

That is amazing - flowering in temps below freezing! - gmp