physalis alkekengi var Frachetti--Chinese Lanterns OOPS!!

This is Salvia koyamae, not Chinese Lanterns!


Have you seen those bright orange Chinese Lanterns for sale in florists' shops this time of year? I have seen them and purchased them, but I had no idea that they started out as little yellow flowers. I love the mosaic of the leaves with the flowers held high. It is native to not only Japan, but also southern Asia and Europe. The orange lanterns are formed with the calyx matures into a papery seed cover. This plant is easy to grow and can even be invasive.

Aster pekinensis

This aster has many pale pink to white flowers on a low-growing plant. Blooming now at the UC Botanical Garden.

Ageratina ligustrina--Eupatorium-Asteraceae

Several honey bees were enjoying the flowers of this plant while I was snapping pictures at the UC Botanical Garden. Butterflies also like the white bunches of flowers. This shrub grows about 6-8' tall and flowers in late summer.

Dianthus chinensis--Chinese Pink

This widely cultivated ornamental is in bloom now at the UC Botanical Garden. It has a long bloom season (spring into fall) and is available in several colors (white, pink, red).

Hymenolepis parviflora--Golden Coulter Bush

Blooming now at the UC Botanical Garden and available from Annie's Annuals. In her words,

"From South Africa comes this rare, base-branching shrub with soft, textural, green-green, needle-like foliage topped by umbels of densely held, golden-yellow flowers. EASY & FAST, it likes average to rich, well-drained soil. It’s a big girl - 4’ tall and 3’ wide. Perfect on dry hillsides, Mediterranean gardens & mixed plantings."
I am impressed by how well behaved this aster-family plant is. Nice structure, healthy looking foliage, bright beautiful flowers.

Sedum rotundifolium

Lovely rich pink flowers and cute scalloped leaves. I could no information about this plant which is blooming now at the UC Botanical Garden.

Crassula hystrix

Bright orange-red flowers in bloom now at the UC Botanical Garden. I could find little info about his plant; only that it is related to jade plant. Much showier than jade plant. I wonder if it grows easily around here...