Wachendorfia thyrsifolia -- Redroot -- a rather amazing member of the Bloodwort family, related to the Australian Kangaroo Paw. It's a tall evergreen geophyte (perennial plant with underground buds) with bright flourescent red roots, not that you would normally see the roots, but they're certainly interesting when you do. The leaves are 2" broad, 2' long, arched, longitudinally pleated, papery, and palm-like, making a very bold statement for 3' above the ground. The flower spikes may reach 6-8 feet, and the flowers are bright golden-yellow, making the patch visible from the horizon and possibly from space. Flowering is from spring until midsummer. It's a mystery how the plants are pollinated, since its copious nectar is easily available to collectors without getting anywhere near the pollen. Another mystery is why the plant has mirror-image flowers, with stamens in one bent sharply to the left, in another sharply to the right. This is a bog plant, which in its native South Africa grows only in permanent marshes and in streams. On the other hand, it will grow well in a non-marshy border as long as it is given ample water in winter and spring. This was introduced to us by Greg and Paul at Xera Plants, nearby wholesalers, who tell us it has been hardy in their zone 8 garden.

Watsonia wilmaniae -- Watsonias are grassy-leaved plants from mountain meadows of South Africa. They are evergreen or semi-evergreen in mild winters, or die down in freezing weather, to re-emerge in spring. This is a variable species, with flowers that may be red, orange, or purple, on 3' spikes. Zone 8.