Greyia sutherlandii - South African Bottlebrush

That's a pretty bloom

Yes, it's a really bright scarlet.

Very nice!
Slow growing from seed, mine is just starting to speed up after a year. So I reckon it's a year or two more before it'll bloom.

Meanie:

Thanks!

I'm not too familiar with this plant. I know this red species and a white species. They're both pretty common in California.

Good luck with your shrub blooming. I know both species bloom in winter here in California.

"I'm not too familiar with this plant."

Neither am I!!!!

I'm guessing you'll be getting familiar with it soon, right? :>)

Hope so!

I'm sure you'll be an expert soon.

They can get a bit rangy. UC Berkeley does a good job of keeping them as bushes. The flowers are showstoppers.

Mine certainly got a romp on this summer, so maybe flowers next year if I'm lucky.

Stan510:

I know they are commonly cut back after they bloom. This keeps them more compact.

I love the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens! I used to go there all the time when I lived in the SF Bay Area (it used to be free and the parking was free, also). It's one of the best scientific botanical gardens in the world. They collect everything from the wild and catalog every plant.

Meanie:

Maybe this winter. It's a winter-flowering shrub.