Galvezia speciosa

Galvezia or Gambelia speciosa is often called Bush Island Snapdragon or Island Snapdragon. It is indeed an evergreen shrub with a variable appearance, resembling a large snapdragon, both in its small bright green leaves and its small pink-red flowers similar to the small mouths of our perennial snapdragons. It is capable of forming a large bush of over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in all directions in a sheltered position, while adopting a prostrate or even creeping habit if exposed to strong winds and sea spray. It is an original plant, remarkably floriferous and a great source of nectar, not demanding in terms of water and highly decorative for a coastal garden. If it is still little known and little used, it is undoubtedly due to its (very) low hardiness which does not exceed -6 °C (21.2 °F). It also grows very well in a large pot, which allows it to be protected from severe frost.

Galvezia speciosa is an evergreen shrub from the Scrophulariaceae family, just like buddleias, Paulownia or digitalis. In its country of origin, the Channel Islands off the southern coast of California, it is found anchored in the rocky walls of the canyons, facing the Pacific Ocean. This evergreen shrub will reach, depending on its environment, 40 cm (15.7 in) to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in height and 1 to 2 m (3 ft 4 in to 6 ft 7 in) in spread. Its vegetation is very ramified, dense and composed of numerous thin stems, with small oval to rounded leaves, bright green in colour, and covered with hairs. If the plant grows by the sea, its foliage will trap the salt in the air, taking on a more grey or white colour. It grows quite rapidly and flowers continuously from May to September-October in a well-watered oceanic climate or in moist soil. In milder climates or in a greenhouse, it can flower all year round! Its small, tubular, bright red-pink flowers attract many pollinating insects.

Galvezia speciosa is not difficult to grow: it is not demanding in terms of soil type and will thrive in sandy soil by the sea as well as in rocky or clayey soil inland. It withstands summer drought well, but its flowering will be more abundant and its appearance improved with some watering in summer. It naturally fits into a raised bed or rockery, alongside rosemary, Westringia fruticosa, cistus, lavender or blue shrubby salvias for colour contrast. In soil that is not too dry, it can be combined with Gomphostigma virgatum White Candy and Leptospermum Martinii, for example. While it prefers a very sunny exposure on milder coasts, this shrub seems to prefer partial shade in hot and dry climates. It is not difficult to grow in pots, as long as the drainage at the bottom of the pot is well taken care of and watering is monitored in summer. Its spikes of small bright red flowers are wonderful in country bouquets!