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Fremontodendron californica – Sterculiaceae (Cocoa Family) - ‘California Flannel Bush,' 'Fremontia.' – Native to the hot hillsides of Southern California, this beauty has amazing lush flowers on a drought-loving bush. Large waxy bright-yellow flowers cover it for a long flowering season. Exacting requirements of soil mean that it can sometimes be difficult to establish, but once established, this plant will be bulletproof and a long lived showy addition to the landscape. It is difficult to propagate as well, and this is my first success in many years of trying to propagate this plant in saleable quantities. Therefore, it is available in very limited numbers.

In California, it is widely adaptable to many different climate zones, but at the same time is very picky about soil type. Well-drained soil is a must, with rocky soils and sandy loams preferred above all else. Elevated beds can also provide this drainage on other types of soil, but they must be open-bottomed to allow the roots to range into deeper soil levels. Also, a summer break from watering is necessary to avoid root rots which are the main problem with this species. Even here on the rainy North Coast where we can get 100 inches of winter precipitation, they can do quite well because of our pronounced summer drought. Very light or no fertilization is also preferred. If those requirements can be provided, once established, these beauties will provide an excellent show with nearly no effort. Cold-hardiness varies in its reported values from 30ºF to 0ºF, and this can depend on many different factors. Plants around here have survived lows down below 20ºF with no visible damage. Fremontodendrons are shrubs or small trees with an eventual height of 10'-20'. 

I am fortunate to be able to offer seedlings from the northernmost stands in the state, from Shasta County, where the plants regularly receive snowfall, so these should be among the hardiest in cultivation.