Flowers of Zaluzianskya ovata
This delightful little plant has been producing this dramatic colour show for me each spring for four years now. I grew it from seed received as Zaluzianskya ovata. I was expecting the typical white-flowered form that I had grown previously–a form that had never survived the winter for me. I was thrilled with the bright orange-eyed flowers when they appeared. I did not expect the plants to thrive, but they have done well. In addition to their striking colouration, the flowers emit a wonderful perfume after sundown (a common name for the genus is night phlox), and bloom for several weeks in spring.
Zaluzianskya is endemic to southern Africa, with most species confined to South Africa. Although the African Plants Database lists ~93 taxa in the genus (Mabberley suggests 57 species in the genus), only a few are found in cultivation. Even those few are not well known. This taxon is offered for sale at various nurseries, either as Zaluzianskya ovata ‘Orange Eye’ or as the cultivar with no specific epithet. I am having difficulty tracking down definitive information on this taxon. Elsa Pooley describes Zaluzianskya ovata as “sometimes with a brilliant round orange ‘eye'”, in Mountain Flowers – A Field Guide to the Flora of the Drakensberg and Lesotho. My observation is that the plants I am growing are very similar to the typical Zaluzianskya ovata, but have a somewhat looser, trailing growth. More often, I’ve seen tight-mounded forms. Note that this seems to be the opposite of reports I have read online from other gardeners.
(Tamara adds): While editing this entry, I stumbled across an article (PDF) about Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden in South Africa. Written for Gardens Illustrated, the article features the stunning photographs of Claire Takacs. Seeing Claire’s photos of Zaluzianskya ovata and some of the other species at Kirstenbosch brings visiting this garden to the top of my bucket list. I would love to stroll through the garden in the evening, as the Zaluzianskya ovata begins to unfurl its flowers and emit its strong, spicy scent. For more photos taken by the talented Claire Takacs, visit her web site: Claire Takacs.
Beautiful!
I grew the all-white form of Zaluzianskya using seed from Thompson & Morgan many years ago. This was in planter boxes in Toronto, grown as an annual. It was a poor performers in my hands, probably due to the much higher heat in Toronto.
This would make sense if it is a plant best in cooler climes or spring bloom periods, like Nemesia, Schizanthus, and so many of the California annuals. Your post helped me understand this is likely to be the case.
Hello Eric—
where could I get some seed for this plant- i love fragrance! We are in the Kootenays (interior BC)- I realize it would be an annual…..
I have done a brief check online, but seeds are either in the uk, and I can’t seem to find the orange-eye one in seed. We have a small nursery / farm: http://www.beegladefarm.com
Really love these posts and pics!
thanks!
For anyone who’s interested, there’s no problem ordering seeds from abroad. I’ve ordered seeds from the UK, France, Australia, Italy, Malta, South Africa, USA, China, etc., and never run into any problems, either by mail, or declaring at the border (except that the automatic sorters can crush unpadded seeds). The CFIA regulations have an exemption for small lots of flower seed.
So far, I’ve only germinated Z. capensis ‘Midnight Candy’, from Thompson & Morgan, although I also have Z. ovata and Z. pulvinata to try this year. I bought my original seeds in 2001, but didn’t get around to growing them until 2011 (I have way too much seed), and they still had a high germination rate. Dry-stored at room temp, by the way.
T&M seem nearly defunct this side of the Atlantic, but one can get a packet of 250 seeds from the UK, if you have a British friend who can receive them and send them on to you.
Alison
While we are thinking of South Africa, the Cape region had some serious fires this past season. For images of what plants are sprouting post fire:
http://pix.andynix.co.za/-/galleries/blog/after-the-flames
(A photographer’s site… don’t have any personal connection. )