Another uncommon South African plant

12 years ago

I'm posting this photo of my Mackaya bella shrub as it has just come into bloom in my Berkeley garden. It is a lovely evergreen shrub which blooms for up to 2 months in late spring/early summer, with unusual pale lavender blooms. When it isn't in bloom, it is mostly unremarkable, but is somewhat drought tolerant once established, and blooms well in full sun here in cooler coastal conditions or in fairly deep shade. An evergreen shrub which can get to 8 feet tall by across, and lends itself to being grown as an espalier against a wall or fence, rather inconspicuous when not in bloom, in the Acanthaceae family. It comes from forest woodlands in the Eastern Cape Region of South Africa.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mackaya bella in bloom

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Comments (4)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
12 years ago
The bloom is quite showy but your picture had me looking for the rotate right button. Al
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
12 years ago
David, do you think this lovely plant would do well in my understory shade in Vista? It's pretty cool down there, and I do have Acanthus (Bear's Breeches) down there, already that is doing very well and behaving itself (for now). I have an area up against my crib wall that could use a little more cover next to a small Budda Belly Bamboo stand. I really like the color of the flower. And of course, the hunt would be on in trying to find this unusual plant, of course ;-)

Patty S.
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bahia
Original Author
12 years ago
Grows well enough in southern California near the coast, and not really that hard to find either, San Marcos Growers grows it, so it should be available in San Diego County's better nurseries. I'm not sure how it responds to more summer heat, it thrives in fogbelt gardens here, and is totally undemanding here in the SF East Bay. For whatever reasons it just isn't seen that often in gardens, although it has been listed in Sunset Western Gardenbook for decades. And Al, that shot is not improperly rotated, the flower buds do stick straight up before they open, perhaps a peculiarity of the genus.

I could see this as being a great understory plant below Jacaranda trees, with similar blooms at the same time of year, although Jacarandas are probably another month away from blooming here, maybe even longer with how strange the spring weather has been.
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
12 years ago
Great, I did find it on San Marco's web site when I was searching around for it, so I should easily be able to find it in my area. I have several large Empress Trees which are covered with lovely, fragrant purple flowers, so I thought this could be a nice compliment to my understory. It isn't quite as foggy where I am, but we do get our "May Grey" and "June Gloom" marine layer, and this would be in the colder part of my yard, too. Good to know. Have to stop by Green Thumb for a few Talavera pots, so I'll check to see if they have this nice plant. If not, they can order it from San Marco's Growers for me.

Patty S.