Lessertia montana

Silvered stems & leaves make a pleasing background for the shocking red flowers that appear in Summer. Oh, that color! Inflated seed pods follow the flowers & add interest & ornamental value to an already drool-worthy package of horticultural hotness. This little (3'x3') shrub is not the world's easiest to cultivate, but is totally worth the trouble to grow. Here's what it needs to thrive: good drainage & average water. Can you handle it? For us Bay Area folks, the greatest challenge will be protecting the plant from too much Winter wet. Planting it in a large pot with well drained potting mix or in a raised bed should do the trick. Cold is less of an issue - some sources list it as hardy even below USDA Zone 7, but most put it at 7b or maybe 8. From the Drakensberg mountains in South Africa.