Bloom Day - January 2026 (Late Edition)

There's evidence that we're in for an early spring.  I consider my ornamental pear tree (Pyrus calleryana), featured in my Wordless Wednesday post earlier this week, a harbinger of spring but even it's remarkably early by comparison to the last five years.  The ample rain we got from October through December, recently followed by higher than usual temperatures, may be moving things along.  Still, although my January garden is more floriferous than many in the Northern Hemisphere, it's less so than in later months of the year.

I'll begin with the high achievers, starting with the Aloes.

My 'Moonglow' Aloes become more impressive each year

These tiny noID Aloes growing in a pot bloom reliably a couple of times each year (and they're quite photogenic)

This Aloe striata x vanbalenii wants more room and more sun

Aloe vanbalenii x ferox is the splashiest of my relatively small, but growing, Aloe collection

Some of the earliest bulb blooms are making an appearance, including these Anemone coronaria 'Bordeaux', featuring splashes of blue against a burgundy background

I love Anemone 'Lord Lieutenant' even more but there are 3-4 other varieties that have yet to appear

Narcissus tazetta 'Geranium' are off to an early start too

The snapdragon plugs (Antirrhinum majus) I planted in late November are off and running

The flowers of Gomphrena decumbens 'Itsy Bitsy' may be tiny but their sheer numbers are impressive

Last year's Salvia 'Mystic Spires' returned in force following a series of rainstorms.  The bluer ones on the right more accurately reflect their true color.

The Mexican Abelia (now classified as Vesalea floribunda) on my back slope is producing a large number of fragrant flower sprays.  This is a cultivar known as 'Chiapas', which produces purple flowers.

I can't ignore the Aeonium arboreum bloom stalks either, much as I wish they kept a lower profile.  They're still coming on like gangbusters.

There are so many in bloom that I find them overwhelming.  I've already started cutting those dunce cap bloom stalks back but will probably get more serious about that soon.

There are also a host of heavy-lifters including multiple cultivars with longer-than-average flowering seasons, which include the following:

Clockwise from the top left, the Argyranthemum frutescens (aka Marguerite daisies) include: 'Aramis Apricot', 'Beauty Yellow', 'Grandaisy Dark Pink', and 'Mount Everest'

The Grevilleas include, top row: G. alpina x rosmarinifolia, G. 'Peaches & Cream', and G. 'Poorinda Leane'
Middle: G. lavandulcea 'Penola', G. rosmarinifolia, and G. sericea
Bottom: G. 'Scarlet Sprite' and my enduring star, G. 'Superb'

The Leucadendrons are also showing off their colorful bracts.  Clockwise from the upper left: L. salignum 'Summer Red', L. 'Safari Sunset', and 2 L. 'Wilson's Wonder'

When temperatures fall, the Osteospermums return.  They're short-live perennials here.  Clockwise from the upper left are cultivars '4D Silver', a noID purple variety, 'Serenity Pink', and 'Violet Ice'

A few new bloomers are worth mentioning:

Camellia williamsii 'Taylor's Perfection' is living up to its name

The first of the hellebores made an early appearance.  I think this is Helleborus 'Anna's Red'.

Rhodanthemum hosmariense (aka Moroccan daisy) has popped into bloom here and there

Meanwhile, other prized flowers are on their way out:

This includes the Camellia sasanquas 'Early Wonder' and 'October Magic Rose'

Protea 'Claire' still has a couple of buds but most have faded, like the one on the right here

I've thrown the remaining flowers I photographed into color-related collages:

Top row: Aristea inaequalis, Echium handiense, and Geranium 'Rozanne' (with a pansy)
Middle: Hebe 'Grace Kelly', Lantana montevidensis, and Limonium perezii
Bottom: Pelargonium peltatum, Polygala myrtifolia, and noID Viola

Top row: noID Alstroemeria, Boronia crenulata 'Shark Bay', and noID Dianthus
Middle: Hebe 'Wiri Blush', Leptospermum scoparium 'Pink Pearl', and Persicaria capitata
Bottom: noID Pericallis, Ruschia 'Nana', and noID Xerochrysum bracteatum

Left to right: Hemerocallis 'Spanish Harlem', noID Primula vulgaris, and Ribes viburnifolium

Top row: Correa 'Ivory Bells', noID Cyclamen, and Daucus carota
Middle: Fuchsia 'Windchimes White', Chrysocephalum apiculatum, and Gazania 'Gold Flame'
Bottom: noID Gazania, Oxalis pes-caprae, and Rudbeckia 'Juliana'

I've noticed buds developing on all five of my Leucospermums already so I'm counting that at least some will be in my February line-up.  For now, check in with Carol at May Dreams Gardens to find other Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts.

All material © 2012-2026 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party