Re: Calandrinia confusion

Looking up both C. grandiflora and C. spectabilis in
my copy of RHS Index of Garden Plants, there are some
very clear differences between the two.  C.
spectabilis is a smaller sized plant with spathulate
leaves and no red tinge to the flowering stems, while
C. grandiflora has elliptic, acute leaves with wide
petioles.  I have been growing C. grandiflora for
about 10 years now, ever since I first saw it in the
Chilean section of the gardens at Strybing Arboretum. 
It seems it is having its moment in the sun again, as
it has become locally popular with alot of wholesale
nurserymen in northern California after having been
first offered and then dropped.  I remember giving
some to Gary Hammer to trial, and he quickly
reintroduced it at his Desert to Jungle nursery, where
it is/was most popular.  It is interesting to note
that it seems to grow more compact and stay smaller
under southern California conditions than here in
Berkeley.  

I also suggested that the form I had was better than
the form that Annie Hayes of Annie's Annuals
originally had from English supplied seed, and she now
has it as C. grandiflora 'Mo Betta'. The form she
originally offered had fewer and less vividly colored
magenta blooms, and was not as vigorous a plant.  I
love this plant for its pure saturated magenta flowers
that seem to dance in the wind on 3 foot tall stalks
and simply cover the plant for at least 9 months of
bloom.  Each individual stem probably has at least 10
flowers on it, and will continue to bloom even without
being dead headed, yet gives viable seed as well.  

Although individual blooms may only last one day,(I
think this in fact is not the case, they probably last
several days here locally), the plant is a knockout
for color spring through late fall here. The
individual flowers do close up in the evening, to
reopen again in the morning. 

It is also very successful as a sprawling container
succulent to drape over very large urns , and if
located in a hot south facing spot against a building,
and protected from cold winter winds, will continue to
bloom all through the winter here.

I don't know about the Mexican Cistanthe Jason
mentioned, but another Calandrinia species which I
also love for the pure fun of the colorful blooms, is
the much dwarfer rock garden plant, C. umbellata 'Ruby
Slippers'.  I understand this can be a perennial in
the right spot, but it has always acted as an annual
for me, never to last through a winter in my own or
client's gardens.  Perhaps if I gave it perfect
drainage and full winter sun it would be perennial,
but I enjoy it just the same.

For those who like bright vivid colors that seem to go
on forever, I highly recommend Calandrinia(or
Cistanthe) grandiflora.  Just be very sure you really
like magenta...  You might find it entertaining to
combine with an equally long blooming succulent from
Annie's Annuals, the Echeveria spp from Queretero
state in Mexico, which sends up 18 inch tall rosy pink
stems, apricot colored flowers and apple green foliage
with red edges.  The two will bloom in unison all
summer and fall.  You could also add some Plectrantus
neochilus and Convolvulus mauritanicus to the mix if
you have full sun, low water, long bloom and extremely
easy care as your planting requirements.
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