The South African Section

The Southernmost tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope, is home to a multitude of endemic (meaning: unique to that one area) plants. The climate there is similar to ours: it recieves about 10-12 inches of rain a year in the wintertime when it is cold. This makes the area a great place to find plants that we can use as ornamentals. Freeway daisies, gazanias, aloes of all shapes and sizes are all common ornamentals here that were brought over from South Africa. This area is the most spectacular between the New Year and mid-spring. Right around Rose-bowl time you can find dozens of species of aloes and other spectacualr plants blooming in bright reds, oranges and yellows.