Apache Plume, Fallugia paradoxa, is October’s plant of the moment. Our is located in a pot by the Visitor Center.
An evergreen shrub native to the deserts, this member of the rose family displays lovely white flowers that look like a mini version of an old-fashioned single rose. Rather than developing a typical rose hip or even a fleshy fruit, this plant evolved a different seed dispersal method. Each feather flume is attached to a seed, and when the winds blow, the seed is plucked from the plant and borne aloft by the plume and set down where it may.
Other plants blooming in our Long Beach garden include:
Orange jasmine, Murraya paniculata, a fragrant compact evergreen that attracts birds, bees and butterflies.
Lycoris, nicknamed spider lily, whose bold blooms make for beautiful cut flowers.
Hedychium, commonly known as the ginger lily, is sought after for its tropical look. Pictured here is a white variety.
Calliandra haematocephala, nicknamed the powder puff for its showy, spherical flower heads.
You can see all the color our gardens have to offer by taking a garden tour. The free, one-hour tours are available every Saturday and Sunday, and on weekdays by request.