Last year was an eye-opening year for me, when it comes to Jamesbrittenia. I’m sure you are like Microsoft Word, and underlining in red already and asking, "Who is Jamesbrittenia?" I still struggle with it too.

Jamesbrittenia is a genus with about 83 species of plants, mostly from South Africa, Sudan and Egypt. James Briton, for whom the plant was named in 1807, was the keeper of botany at the British Museum of Natural History.

So, the plant that first caught my eye a couple of years ago when I grew it came with a couple of shots of excitement. The first came courtesy of the Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour in Auburn, Alabama.

The second one and perhaps the most exciting one came from Andrea Owens Schnapp, a master gardener from Florida’s Walton County. It’s not just any old Jamesbrittenia but the new and growing Safari series. You must admit that a plant called Safari Dawn just sounds perfect for a plant from South Africa. Shoot, it sounds like a movie. There are two other selections in the series: Safari Sky and Safari Dusk, which made its debut last year.

Jamesbrittenia finds itself in the Scrophulariaceae family and has a common name of South African phlox. No relationship to the phlox other than the likeness of the little blooms.

The plants reach about 12 inches tall with a spread of 2 feet. In the South those numbers may be more. They make an ideal filler, and in my hanging baskets they certainly could be classified as spillers too. As seen at the Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour, they are magical component plants in designer recipes like one called Surfin Safari.

Surfin Safari features Safari Dawn Jamesbrittenia, Superbells Double Amber calibrachoa and Supertunia Royal Magenta petunia. The color mix is simply amazing and reminiscent of a display of fine jewels.

Then there was another large container mix featuring the new Safari Dusk Jamesbrittenia, with Goldilocks Rocks bidens and Superbells Cherry Red calibrachoa. You might never consider partnering cherry red and lavender rose together, but these two will steal your heart.

Safari Dawn is a rose with yellow center while the Safari Dusk is lavender with a hint of rose but stands out as being different with little whiskers like a pansy. Safari Sky reminds me of lavender blue with a white center with a dot of orange.

The strongest shout out may go to Owens Schnapp, in Walton County, Florida. Her planter with Safari Dusk Jamesbrittenia, ColorBlaze Lime Time coleus, Ladybird Sunglow Texas primrose, White Cora Cascade vinca and a Summer Wave trailing torenia was stunning.

The fact that it was rocking in mid-summer was another testament to the Safari Jamesbrittenia. Andrea and Proven Winners recommend doing a late summer trim like many of us do with Supertunias to stimulate new growth and blooms through fall.

All three selections in the Safari series have won awards, from Florida to Michigan State. Fertilize containers that you water daily though the long growing season with a dilute water-soluble mix every two to three weeks.

The Safari Jamesbrittenia varieties are also recommended for fertile landscape beds with good drainage. Incorporate controlled release granules at planting and side dress again in mid-summer.

Jamesbrittenia is a funny sounding name for beautiful flowers, but the Safari series will make you a believer and your mixed containers will start to dazzle.

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)

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