PHYGELIUS x rectus (often known as P. capensis). South Africa. I think of these as the South African equivalents of our penstemons. They are suckering shrubs, forming broad mounds, with stems up to 5’ (I have actually seen them well over 6’) high. The shoots are rather densely leafy, the leaves set in pairs below, scattered above. The leaves are up to 3" long, pointed-oval in outline and conspicuously toothed. During the warmer months, a continuous parade of long, tiered bud clusters rises from the shoot tips. Nodding tubular flowers with upturned “faces”open in lengthy succession. The flowers range in color from pale yellow to deep red, often marked with yellow and white within. There are by now many garden cultivars. ‘African Queen’, the first one known here, is a particularly robust plant with coral-red flowers, darker at the face. ‘Moonraker’ is similar in habit but has pale yellow flowers. ‘Winchester Fanfare’ has particularly broad, lush leaves and coral pink flowers with a brighter red face. These are useful plants for their sheer mass of foliage and will beautifully fill a neglected corner of the garden. With a little maintenance (mostly the removal of spent flower stems), they are attractive in tall borders and mixed shrubby plantings. They thrive in sun or light shade, with reasonably well drained soil and moderate watering. While ultimately hardy to 15^oF. or less, they will die back in hard freezes, returning mostly from the ground.