FREMONTODENDRON. Flannel bush. Showy native shrubs and small trees, generally too large for the home garden, but amenable to some restraint through pruning. They have stout, sometimes gawky branches, fuzzy lobed leaves, and beautiful 2-4" blossoms varying in color from lemon yellow to burnt orange. They demand sun, very well drained soil, and little or no watering when established. They are highly susceptible to a canker-like disease favored by moist conditions. Hardy to 15oF or less.
'California Glory'. The most popular of a trio of hybrids introduced by Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (others are'Pacific Sunset' and 'San Gabriel', listed below). It grows in a broad V to 20-30' if unpruned, though it can be restrained by early and frequent pruning. The leaves are large, with broad, rounded lobes. In spring and early summer it bears a wealth of cupped, lemon yellow blossoms about 3" broad. It is spectacular alone or in combination with the larger ceanothus.
californicum. We are growing seedlings of this species, just to see what may turn up. The plants are generally arching in habit, with nearly horizontal side branches and pale greyish bark. The leaf blades are mostly around 2" long, furry on both surfaces. Flowers are smaller than those of the more familiar hybrids, but quite showy. Most are colored bright yellow. They tend to be borne in a short, intense burst. 10oF. or less.
mexicanum. This is the second species used in the spectacular Rancho Santa Ana hybrids, barely entering California in southern San Diego County. It grows generally more erect than F. californicum, to 10-20'. The leaves are up to 3" long and often deeply lobed, deep green above and covered with reddish brown hairs beneath. The flowers are up to 3" broad, usually darker than those of californicum and often shaded with orange on the backs of the segments. They are scattered over several weeks in spring and summer, rather than in one great burst. It is decidedly more tender to cold than californicum.
'Pacific Sunset'. An outstanding hybrid by the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Like 'California Glory', above, is grows upright to as much as 30'. The leaf lobes are deeper and more angular than those of 'California Glory'. It carries deep golden yellow 3-4" blossoms, shaded with orange, all along the stems in spring, or well into summer on actively growing plants. It seems to be the most resistant to disease of the Rancho Santa Ana hybrid trio.
'San Gabriel'. This is perhaps the least known of the trio, though it has its own charm. It is similar in size and habit to 'Pacific Sunset' but has more narrowly lobed leaves, closer to those of the F. mexicanum parent, and broadly cupped, brilliant yellow 3" flowers.