Euphorbia makallensis

sausage plant, hamat kolkwal

Highlight Month:
April
Nativity:

E. makallensis is native to the Tigray Region of northern Ethiopia where it is found in only two locations. The first recording, near Igre Hariba, was documented in 1975, and a second population was later found in 2011, 75km north in Hawzen.

Growth Habit:

This compact euphorbia is easy to grow and makes a great statement plant as a potted specimen or in the ground. In the wild, E. makallensis can form tuffet-like mounds up to five feet wide, resembling large rocky outcrops from a distance. At first glance, it resembles a miniature version of Euphorbia resinifera from Morocco. The stems of this plant are usually four-sided, edged with grey spine shields along the entire length, and produce spines in pairs of two. Flowering occurs in the late spring/early summer with bright yellow floral parts arranged in a unique structure called a cyathium.

Growing Requirements:

Well-drained soils, full sun.

Features:

Although this species had been in cultivation for some time, it wasn’t officially described as a new species until 1981 by researchers at Kew Gardens. The local Tigrinya name for this species is “hamat kolkwal” meaning “the mother-in-law of kolkwal,” in reference to the larger Euphorbia candelabrum.

Where at Lotusland:

E. makallensis can be found on the euphorbia side of the Main Drive at Lotusland near the entrance to the Water Garden.

Aechmea recurvata v. benrathii

Highlight Month:
April
Nativity:

Santa Catarina, Brazil

Growth Habit:

This low-growing clumping bromeliad makes a great addition to a small area or rock garden. In habitat it grows on rocks near beaches.

Growing Requirements:

Most Aechmea grow easily in Santa Barbara and A. recurvata v. benrathii is no exception. It is not picky about soils and will grow epiphytically or in the ground. Water overhead once a week during dry periods. Hardy to 25°F.

Leaf size and color is highly variable, depending on light levels. When grown in full sun, plants are very compact (4” high) with black-spotted bulbous leaf bases and purple tips. When grown in shade, the leaves become lanky and dark green, but the plant will still flower.

Features:

When individual plants in the clump are ready to flower the inner leaf sheaths flush bright pink and hold a sunken inflorescence of pink flowers maturing to lavender. Flowering plants in the cluster eventually die but produce abundant offsets.

It was named and described by Carl Mez in 1919 as Aechmea benrathii in honor of Karl Benrath, a church historian from Königsberg, Germany, and later given varietal status in 1952. Aechmea comes from the Greek, aichme, meaning spear point, in reference to the pointy bracts and sepals of some species. The specific epithet, recurvata, refers to the backwards curving leaves.

Where at Lotusland:

Upper and Lower Bromeliad Gardens

Doryanthes palmeri

giant spear lily

Highlight Month:
April
Nativity:

Australia: McPherson Ranges of southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales. In habitat, it grows in evergreen forests on exposed rocky volcanic outcrops that experience frequent fires.

Growth Habit:

This species grows to large proportions with vertically furrowed 6-8’ tall leaves and makes for a dramatic feature in the garden. In the spring, plants produce large showy bent flower stalks, resembling large toothbrush heads, and display bright red cup-like flowers lined with white. Flowers later develop into a brown egg-shaped capsule filled with papery seeds. After flowering, the spent rosette dies but is replaced by numerous leaf rosettes emerging in the clump.

Growing Requirements:

D. palmeri thrives in full sun and will also grow in part shade where it may flower infrequently. It is drought tolerant once established and can handle nutrient-poor soils. Giant spear lilies do not require low-phosphorus fertilizers like many other Australian native plants. This species generally takes about ten years to flower when started from seed and is popular with birds seeking its abundant nectar.

Features:

The genus Doryanthes is endemic to eastern Australia and contains only two species in the family Doryanthaceae. The other species, D. excelsa, is similar in overall appearance but forms an erect inflorescence with a cluster of terminal red flowers. D. palmeri flower stalks and roots are a food source for Aboriginal Australians and the leaves are used to make ropes and woven products. The genus name comes from the Greek, doratos (spear) and anthos (flower), referencing the flowers found on the spear-like stalk. The specific epithet honors Sir Arthur Hunter Palmer (1819-1898), an Irish-Australian sheep farmer and politician.

Where at Lotusland:

Australian Garden and Main Lawn near entrance to the Lower Bromeliad Garden

Furcraea macdougallii

MacDougall’s century plant

Highlight Month:
April
Nativity:

This Mexican Agave relative is native to Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Puebla where it grows in dry forests at elevations of 2,600 to 3,300 feet.

Growth Habit:

Mature F. macdougallii form a swollen trunk up to 15 feet tall topped with a rosette of thick dark green leaves reaching 7’ in length with curved marginal teeth. This species is monocarpic and will die after flowering. However, the dramatic 20’ inflorescence produces hundreds of bulbils (small plantlets) that can be easily propagated as clones of the parent plant.

Growing Requirements:

This species prefers full sun and has very low water needs.

Features:

F. macdougallii was first described by Eizi Matuda, a Japanese-born Mexican botanist who named this plant in honor of his friend Thomas MacDougall, a Scottish naturalist who studied southern Mexican flora for almost 50 years. MacDougall is credited with discovering this plant in the wild near Tehuantepec in Oaxaca.

Where at Lotusland:

At Lotusland there are three specimens of F. macdougallii near the intersection of the Succulent Garden and Blue Garden. These plants were donated to Lotusland from the International Succulent Introductions (ISI) 1965 distribution via the UC Santa Barbara Greenhouses and planted in 1995.

Encephalartos lehmannii

Karoo cycad

Highlight Month:
April
Nativity:

This cycad hails from the Eastern Cape of South Africa where it grows on semi-arid sandstone slopes.

Growth Habit:

Mature plants can reach 4-6’ tall and form a clump with pleasing blue leaves with recurved tips.

Growing Requirements:

E. lehmannii can withstand dry conditions once established in the landscape, prefers full sun, and is frost tolerant (25-30°F).

Features:

The name honors Professor Johann Georg Christian Lehmann, a 19^th century German botanist, who published several papers on cycads and described the genus Encephalartos.

Where at Lotusland:

Cycad Garden

Dianella tasmanica

Australian iris, flax lily

Highlight Month:
April
Nativity:

D. tasmanica is native to SE Australia including Tasmania.

Growth Habit:

A clumping perennial with strap-shaped leaves growing 3-4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. It spreads rapidly by underground rhizomes.

Growing Requirements:

It will grow in sun to partial shade; it needs more shade in hot climates. It can be drought-tolerant but the foliage will look better with some additional water. Grows best in well-drained soil.

Features:

Clusters of small blue star-shaped flowers in spring are followed by bright blue berries which hang on their stems for over a month. There is a cultivar ‘Variegata’ that has white-striped leaves.

Where at Lotusland:

Flax lily is planted in many of the beds bordering the Visitor’s Center parking lot in the Australian Garden.