Luculia is located in the Entry Garden (Bed 5A), the Asia Discovery Garden (Beds 7A & 10A) and the Camellia Garden (Bed 58E).

Scientific Name Luculia Family Rubiaceae Plant Type Shrub Environment Grows best in acidic well-drained soil, requires some shade. Keep watered during California's dry summers. Bloom September and October Uses If left alone, Luculia can get up to 20' depending on species. Can also be treated more like a shrub and cut back each year after flowering. Flowers are quite fragrant and would be nice to have near a sidewalk or window to enjoy. More Info The Rubiaceae family is also home to coffee (Coffea), quinine (Cinchona) and the popular fragrant flower gardenia

In September and October the perfume of the shrub, Luculia, drifts through the garden with a delicate scent reminiscent of gardenias, both of which belong to the same family of plants. Panicles of fragrant pale pink or white, tubular flowers cover the plants in autumn when blooming shrubs are few. The leaves are long, glossy, serrated, and end in a graceful drip tip, a modification which allows water to flow quickly off of the leaf surface.

An evergreen native of the Himalayas, Luculia grows at altitudes of 5000 feet in the companionship of rhododendrons and camellias. There are only 5 known species of Luculia which can be found native in China, Nepal, Vietnam, India, and Bhutan. They grow splendidly here with our mild climate and in lightly acidic well-drained soil. They can reach a height of 20 feet if grown in the shade of high trees and given summer watering. Blooms appear only on new wood; severe pruning of the old shoots after blooming is necessary.

Luculia was introduced to Europe in the 19th century during a time of intense explorations and discoveries by English plant hunters. A fine example, Luculia pinceana, (Bed 58e) is now in full bloom just opposite the Moon Viewing Garden.

IN BLOOM CONTRIBUTORS:

Docents Joanne Taylor and Kathy McNeil

Profile Contributor: David Kruse, Associate Curator

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Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' January

Magnolia campbellii 'Darjeeling' February

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