Telanthophora grandifolia is located southern edge of the great meadow in the Meso-American Cloud Forest Garden (Bed 14).

Scientific Name Telanthophora grandifolia Family Asteraceae Plant Type Perennial shrub Environment Semi-shade inland, full sun near the coast. Moderate water. Bloom Blooms repeatedly throughout the year Uses Large screening plant with a tropical look. Attracts bees and butterflies. More Info Big Leaves for Exotic Effects, Stephen Griffith, Sterling 2003 The range of Telanthophora species in Central America Mesoamerican Plant Diversity and Conservation

In Guatemala and north to the neighboring province of Chiapas in Mexico, are tropical forests on 3000-5000 foot mountain tops, where elevation, high humidity, long days of daylight and mild temperatures combine to create a unique ecosystem. There, certain plants in their struggle for sunlight are transformed from small herbs to tree-like specimens, developing huge leaves, large flowers and woody trunks.

Giant Groundsel, in the Mesoamerican Cloud Forest Garden at the southern edge of the great meadow, is an example of the effects of this environment. The dinner plate size golden disc flowers, 15 inch oval–shaped leaves, and 12–foot trunks are a remarkable alteration of a familiar if inconspicuous wildflower. The common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) is found in sunny meadows worldwide, and grows 12 inches high at the most, with yellow flower heads and small leaves.

We have created our own cloud forests here in the Botanical Garden. With the help of fog and our mild Bay Area climate, we are able to approximate conditions for plants far away from their native homes.

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Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' January

Garrya elliptica January	Magnolia X soulangeana February	Senecio glastifolius March
Ribes spp. April	Oxalis oregana May	Calandrinia grandiflora June
Taxus baccata July	Romneya coulteri August	Passiflora parritae September
Malvaviscus arboreus October	Monterey Cypress November	Aloe arborescens December

Aloe plicatilis January	Banksia seminuda February	Zantedeschia aethiopica March
Magnolia laevifolia April	Araucaria heterophylla May	Toxicodendron diversilobum June
Clarkia sp. July	Agapanthus August	Brugmansia September
Cedrus spp. October	Protea repens November	Camellia sinensis December

Thujopsis dolabrata January	Gordonia longicarpa February	Rojasianthe superba March
Echium spp. April	Iris douglasiana May	Digitalis purpurea June
Felicia amelloides July	Ceroxylon quindiuense August	Amaryllis belladonna September
Ginkgo biloba October	Acer morrisonense November	Ilex aquifolium December

Picea sitchensis January	Telanthophora grandifolia February	Aeonium arboreum 'Schwartzkopf' March
Leptospermum April	Salvia gesneraeflora May	Lavandula spp. June
Pelargonium July	Fuchsia paniculata August	Luma apiculata September
Luculia October	Arbutus unedo November	Cycad December

Restionaceae January	Hellebores February	Ceanothus March
Rhododendron April	Psoralea pinnata May	Fremontodendron californicum June
Leucadendron argenteum July	Crocosmia August	Gunnera tinctoria September
Pellaea rotundifolia October	Fuchsia boliviana November	Erica canaliculata December

Magnolia campbelli January	Magnolia denudata February	Camellia March
Geranium maderense April	Acmena smithii May	Eschscholzia californica June
Dendromecon harfordii July	Romneya coulteri August	Eupatorium purpureum September
Epilobium canum sp. October	Grevillea spp. November	Drimys winteri December