Flowers of southern Africa
In Part 1 of this blog series, we discussed the intriguing array of cactus plants, which are mostly native to the Americas. In this second part, we’ll take have a look closer to home at the wide variety of succulent flowers native to southern Africa!
Alluring Aloe
Aloe is one of the most well known families of ornamental plants in the world. Occurring naturally in much of Africa, Madagascar, and even in Saudi Arabia, these plants have been admired and cultivated all over the world. Their flowers can range from white and stout in the plants native to Madagascar, in contrast to the red and tube-shaped in the plants native to southern Africa. There are even yellow, orange and even green flowering Aloes!
Aloe arborescens preparing to bloom
Aloe arborescens in full bloom
Humble Haworthia
Haworthia is a South African endemic dwarf succulent. Specifically, this genus is prominent in the Western and Eastern Cape. There are some species in the northern provinces as well, such as Haworthia (Haworthiopsis) koelmaniorum. Haworthia have petite white flowers. However, some species can have pink, yellow or green tinges to their flower petals.
Haworthia hybrid ‘Quaint Urano’ flower
Gorgeous Gasteria
Much like Haworthia, this genus of plants is endemic to South Africa. Generally, they co-occur with Haworthia and Aloe and are widespread throughout the Eastern Cape province. The Latin word ‘gaster’ means ‘stomach’, and consequently, due to their stomach shaped flowers, these succulents earned the name Gasteria. In contrast, their common name is ‘ox tongue’ due to their leaf shape.
Gasteria hybrid flower
Classy Crassula
The genus Crassula occurs all over the globe, though South Africa is the origin country of most varieties that are now available in horticulture internationally. This genus has some of the smallest flowers of the succulent world, which can range from pink to pure white. Some species in this genus grow large bunches of flowers on the tip of the stem, whereas others grow an entirely new stem purely for the flowers.
Crassula ‘Morgan’s Beauty’
Crassula congesta
Crassula ‘Justus Corderoy’
Artful Avonia
Avonia is a genus of caudex plants native to southern Africa. They are closely related to Anacampseros, and were previously classified under that genus. Despite being the same species, Avonia quinaria can have either purple or white flowers, depending on the plant. The subspecies quinaria grows purple flowers, whereas the subspecies alstonii grows white flowers.
Avonia quinaria subsp. alstonii (left) and subsp. quinaria (right)
Written by Harry Lewis, succulent specialist & conservationist
