Portulacaria afra

P. afra in full bloom in early summer



Full size image here.



And the entire plant pictured here.

What a delicate flower produced in such torrid weather conditions. The miracle of Nature. Very interesting banner, I learn something new every time you display one of your Baja California specials.

My sentiments are similar to Fleur's. The miracle of nature indeed! Outstanding!

I agree with both Fleur and Leon. Beautiful banner and beautiful pink color of the flowers.

Thank you. To me it's even more of a miracle because those flowers are not something I normally expect, and have never seen in such quantity. The potted one of these I have on the patio made absolutely zero flowers this year:



So yes, I celebrate those most fertile moments (as do small flying insects galore).

I've seen a number of fairly large plants, and none have ever been blooming! What a great show, and a great photo!

Maybe it's too hot there? We're actually very mild in early summer. Lots of fog. Could be that. But the temperamental aspect of it still eludes me.

Some local news from South Africa where this plant is being touted as a tree of life, for the curious...

https://www.timeslive.co.za/ne...

Here it's pretty universally used as a hedge plant, because it is infinitely prunable and shapeable. The one in the picture above would have been as wide as it is tall, had I not taken a pair of shears to it fairly regularly.

Your climate must fit it perfectly. In AZ it only grows well in the shade, and I've ended up with horrible mealy bugs in every planting I've ever had. I had to give up on it. It didn't even like my greenhouse.

So interesting! We have a plant here in the south of France that I think may be the same. I have never known what it is called, and never seen it bloom. I'll take a photo and add it here - perhaps Baja can give me an expert opinion?

with Fleur and Leon about those delicate flowers coming from such a harsh environment. Mother nature never fails to amaze!

Simply put...Beautiful!!!

Remarkable banner, and flowers in such an unforgiving climate. The wonder of nature indeed.

Spectacular banner Baja!

Thank you all very much for the kind words and the acorns!

Beautiful banner Baja