Virgilia

Virgilia is a genus of Southern African trees in the family Fabaceae, having shiny to hairy pinnate leaves and attractive mauve to pink pea-shaped flowers followed by leathery pods. They are valued as useful ornamental trees by gardeners, particularly the well-known species Virgilia divaricata ('Tree in a Hurry', 'Cape Lilac', 'Blossom Tree') and Virgilia capensis syn. Virgiliaoroboides ('Pink Blossom Tree'), despite having a comparatively short life (15 years).

They prefer well drained soils; some species will then grow 2 m in the first season. They will tolerate wind and have dense foliage growing close to the ground, so they are useful as pioneer species for privacy and wind protection. The common name in South Africa (in Afrikaans) is keurboom, meaning 'choice tree'. Most botanists feel that the various species are simply forms and should be lumped under one taxon.

Nemophila

Nemophila is a genus found in the flowering plant family Hydrophyllaceae.

Most of the species in Nemophila contain the phrase "baby blue-eyes" in their common names. N. menziesii has the common name of "Baby... more >>>

Liatris

Liatris (common names: Blazing-star, Gay-feather or Button snakeroot) is a genus of ornamental plants in the Asteraceae family. These plants are used as a popular summer flowers for bouquets.


Speciesmore >>>

Kunzea

Kunzea is a genus of 36-40 species of shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. They are endemic to Australia with one species extending to New Zealand. They are found throughout the Australian continent with most species occurring in southwestern... more >>>

Kerria japonica

Kerria japonica, the sole species in the genus Kerria, is a deciduous shrub in the rose family Rosaceae, native to eastern Asia, in China, Japan and Korea. It is named after William Kerr, who introduced the cultivar 'Pleniflora'. The... more >>>

Gaillardia - Blanket Flower

Gaillardia (Blanket flower) is a genus of drought-tolerant annual and perennial plants from the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to North America. It was named after M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th-century French magistrate who was... more >>>