SHARING SECRETS: Early Bloomers
- 19 hours ago
- 5 min read
Edited by Cathy Tylka, for Let’s Talk Plants! March 2026.
This month’s question:
With all the rain and sunshine that we’ve had, blooms are out early. Do you have anything blooming that has not done so in the past? This includes all, as in bulbs, trees, shrubs, flowers or anything else, in your garden or somewhere else.
Vincent McGrath of 91941, shares…
… My yard is like a nursery with different plants blooming 365 days a year!!!
Grevillia Ned Kelly
Bilbergia nutans, Queen Tears
It is a rosette-forming, evergreen perennial, usually epiphytic, occasionally terrestrial or lithotypic in habit. They are mostly medium-sized species with small funnel diameters. Most species are epiphytes, some species grow on plants, on rocks, as well as directly on the ground. Water collects in the leaf funnels.
Charlotte Getz, of 92024, provided this answer…
… I have Leucospermums blooming. Almost every branch has one in bloom in shades of yellow and orange.
Leucospermums commonly known as pincushions, is a genus of evergreen upright, sometimes creeping shrubs that is assigned to the Proteaceae, with currently 48 known species.
The shrubs mostly have a single stem at their base, but some species sprout from an underground root.
I also have 1 or 2 grevilleas; just beginning to bloom. They are a favorite for the hummingbirds. Many animals rely on the pollen and nectar from grevilleas as a source of food, in particular, insects and birds. Generally, the insect-pollinated species tend to be white, whereas the bird-pollinated plants tend to be orange, red, and pink,
In Australia, many Aboriginal peoples utilize grevilleas for a wide variety of uses, including food, medicine, tools and ceremonial purposes.
Wendy Herider of 92075 says…
… Yes, I have pink jasmine that is blooming like it never has before. It is covered in flowers and the scent is fabulous.
A fast-growing vine prized for its glossy green foliage and spectacular display of pink buds that open to intensely fragrant. The presence of both bloom and bud throughout the flowering season gives it a wonderful bicolor effect. It can be grown as grown cover or can be trellised.
Julia Erickson reports…
…I’ve got roses and a canna plant in my natural pool blooming that were severely trimmed back for winter. Didn’t expect to see them for a couple more months!
Lisa Bellora, 92025, gives a shout out…
… Ceanothus is blooming early! The Californian species of Ceanothus are commonly known collectively as California lilacs, with individual species having more descriptive common names. Species native elsewhere have other common names such as New Jersey tea for C. americanus, as its leaves were used as a black tea substitute during the American Revolution.
Salvia 'Bee's Bliss' is a fast-growing low plant which is great for slope coverage or as a beautiful and inexpensive ground cover. It has a beautiful spreading form to a maximum of 2 feet high and 5 feet wide. The leaves are a gray green. Bee's Bliss Sage, a garden hybrid of California native species, this low-growing, spreading shrub makes an excellent large-scale ground cover, creating a carpet.
Sue says…
… My king palm is blooming for the first time; I planted it 25 years ago. I am very excited.
Lorie Jean of 92084 provides this answer…
… Quesnelia testudo is a very cold-hardy bromeliad that is great for landscaping. Individual plants start to bloom in early winter and large beds of them may not show color until late spring. Plants easily tolerate brief periods of 25°F and the foliage shows little damage from frost.
This Quesnelia will grow in full sun to full shade. They look best with morning or afternoon sun, and shade during the middle of the day. Plants grow about 18 inches tall, with solid green leaves that are tipped by a sharp spine. Long-lasting, cold-hardy, and beautiful! What more could you ask for?
I have numerous clumps in the ground which have rarely bloomed.
This potted version bloomed.
Vicki says…
… the Gardenia is full of blooms, and our kumquat is fruiting for the first time. It is 8 years old.
Gardenia species typically grow as shrubs or small trees. The flowers, particularly in the species most commonly grown in gardens, may be large and showy and white, cream or pale yellow in color, with a pleasant and strong, sometimes overpowering scent that may be more noticeable at night.
Oreet Herbst & John Knott of 92029 replied…
… With the recent unusual weather, we have many confused plants throughout the garden. Several early blooming trees currently showing off their colors include:
Karen England, 92084, states…
… I planted sweet violet, Viola odorata, in 2021 in anticipation of it being the Herb of the Year™ in 2022. Until recently, it has never bloomed! I may be able to make Crème de Violette liqueur from my own homegrown violets finally. (Note: For those of you with International Herb Association Herb of the Year™ books in your libraries, the violet liqueur recipe is in my chapter of the Viola Herb of the Year 2022 book.)
Cathy Tylka of 92026 relates….
… It’s Chasmanthus time in Escondido. Originally, Susan Morse gave me 30 bulbs.
Today I have like 5000, and I’ve given away as many as I could get folks to take.
Chasmanthium is a genus of North American plants in the grass family, commonly known as woodoats.
Additionally, my Coral tree is blooming!
Coral trees in California are celebrated for their vibrant orange and scarlet flowers, which are a hallmark of Southern California landscape. It is known for its ability to grow a massive tree or as a shrubby, thinly branched plant that only reaches several feet tall. With over 100 species of Coral trees available, this tree is a popular choice for landscape enthusiasts looking to add color and structure to their gardens and parks. I’m sure you are aware of them ringing portions of Balboa Park!
Sharing Secrets for next Month:
Are you using a new tool, implement, piece of hardware or structure to assist you to accommodate your garden? What is it and what does it do to assist you?
