Jubaea chilensis

Jubaea chilensis

Chilean Wine Palm

This slow growing palm, the only extant species of this genus named after Juba II, a Berber king and botanist, can reach up to 50-60' in height and 25' in width. It needs mild winters, but will tolerate frosts down to about −15 °C (5.0 °F) as well as relatively cool summers, making it one of the hardiest of pinnate-leaved palms; this is because it grows up to 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) above sea level in its natural habitat. In the wild, the tree lives almost exclusively on the steep slopes of ravines. The base of the trunk can reach 3' in width tapering toward the top. The trunk is smooth and scarred with the leaf patterning. The Chilean Wine Palm prefers full sun with little to no water.

The common name refers to the past use of the sap from the trunk of this palm to produce a fermented beverage. The sap is also boiled down into a syrup and sold locally as mile de palma. The tree also produces small round fruits that are about 2-3 cm (1 inch) in diameter. The fruit has a very hard outer shell and has a whitish meat on the inside.

Euphorbia cotinifolia

Euphorbia cotinifolia

Caribbean Copper Tree

This is a deciduous tropical shrub that will grow to 15 feet tall and can be trained as a small tree. The flexible purplish stems hold coppery-purple thin-fleshy broad leaves and a shiny smooth bark. Loose flower clusters have small white to pale yellow bracts in the spring. As this plant is not frost tolerant, it should only be planted outdoors in areas that are protected from frost. It does its best in sun with moderate water and good drainage.

Chondropetalum elephantinum

Chondropetalum elephantinum and Chondropetalum tectorum

Cape Rush (or Roof Reed)

This South African plant forms dense tufted clumps from which arise 4 feet tall dark green unbranched stems. The dark brown sheaths at the joints drop off in summer leaving a dark band at each node. Late in the season the stems arch gracefully from the weight of clusters of small brown flowers at the tips. Male and female plants have remarkably similar flowers but the female flowers are held tighter and clustered toward the tip of the stems. Plant in full to part sun. It is drought tolerant, but appreciates supplemental water in spring. It is hardy to about 20-25 degrees F and tolerates a wide soil pH range. In its natural habitat Chondropetalum elephantinum grows close to the coast from Clanwilliam to Grahamstown, often preferring marshy habitat. It can be successfully planted in seaside gardens, used in relatively dry landscapes or as a plant in the shallows of a water garden.

The large population of Chondropetalum that grows along the west coast near Cape Town, South Africa is taxonomically different from another small population of plants found further from Cape Town. The name Chondropetalum elephantinum has been assigned to the population that is closer to Cape Town as it is typically a larger plant, growing to 2 meters tall. The name Chondropetalum tectorum was retained for the other population that only grows to 1 meter tall.