Berzelia, a genus of the Bruniaceae family, is one of the few plants endemic to the Cape floral kingdom and the Western Cape of South Africa. Berzelia or also called ‘Buttonbush’ is typically harvested when the clusters of round flower heads are still closed and green or cream in color, looking like masses of colorful peas attached to a sturdy stem. Below the flowering heads are wispy side shoots of small needle-like foliage which are grouped in whorls going up the long, woody stems.
This gorgeous and other-worldly botanical muse of plant lovers and floral designers around the world, is a longtime favorite of ours here on the farm. For all the visual impact these bobbles offer, their unique element of texture not only appeals to the sense of sight, but also to the tactile senses as well. Whether it’s Berzelia Lanuginosa or Red Jelly, these small, round buttons are engaging, making you want to reach out, touch and feel them.
Berzelia Lanuginosa
Berzelia Red Jelly
Grevillea johnsonii is a beautiful, slightly weeping evergreen shrub with long needle-like, dark green leaves. However, there’s no doubt this amazing Grevillea truly ‘comes to life’ when flowering - as it does profusely. The loose clusters of extremely showy spidery pinkish-red flowers produced from late winter through the spring months make a strong but elegant contrast with the foliage.
These showy blossoms are very popular among pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds - especially the hummingbirds! Another name for Johnsonii should be - Hummingbird Magnet! Herds of hummingbirds happily feast on the sweet nectar! They are beautiful as they dart around from flower to flower and the dance they perform is unlike any other bird. Their bright, shimmering colors, rapid flight and the ability to hover are a few of the traits that make them so unique. Such high-energy movement requires that they feed every ten to fifteen minutes. Hummingbirds are most attracted to flowers in shades of red like Grevillea johnsonii, of course!
