I think that might have been me on HMF. I did buy a body bagged 'Royal America'. I also had Cl. America. Growth habits were identical, but in my yard the flowers were not. Most likely explanation is that I had a mislabelled rose, a hazard of buying body bags, as we all know. (sigh). My whatever it was did have cupped shaped ivory colored flowers. I never did do a side by side comparison of leaves and stems, and I did not have the two bushes growing side by side. If you have a chance to obtain a Royal America, which I think has become quite rare, please don't let anything I say disuade you. Cl. America is so fine a cultivar, I think the sports must be very good also.

I had an America growing in one location for about 3 years with little success - one bloom, short stature...I had to move it this Spring and did so fully expecting to lose it in the process (not really caring because it never thrilled me). It grew several feet this season and is still blooming. I love it. I don't know what the difference is - seemingly same sun exposure and protection etc...I didn't fertilize since re-planting. Maybe better soil or maybe I planted it at a better depth??? In any case, I am very happy.

Here are some Pinus longaeva brooms of America. Pinus longaeva Bobo Roy Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 Jerry Morris # 4 Pinus longaeva Break Down Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 2006 Etzelstorfer & Kohout Pinus longaeva Break Up Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 2006 Etzelstorfer & Kohout Pinus longaeva Break Up Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 Pinus longaeva Coney Ball Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 2006 Etzelstorfer & Kohout Pinus longaeva Dwarf Tree Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 2006 Etzelstorfer & Kohout Pinus longaeva Gregor Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 2006 Etzelstorfer & Kohout Pinus longaeva Grovy Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 2006 Etzelstorfer & Kohout Pinus longaeva Hexenbesen 1 Horstmann Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 Horstmann GER in America Pinus longaeva Ice Baby Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 2006 Etzelstorfer & Kohout Pinus longaeva Ice Baby Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 Pinus longaeva Independence Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 2006 Etzelstorfer & Kohout Pinus longaeva Rockford Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 2006 Etzelstorfer & Kohout Pinus longaeva Sky Mountain Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 2006 Etzelstorfer & Kohout Pinus longaeva Sky Mountain Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 Pinus longaeva WB Mesterhazy & Malik photo 2012 Unknown origin Zsolt

Whenever someone gets confused about the hemisphere phenomenon, the following point is clear: If I planted a Japanese maple in the springtime in Australia (which is fall in the northern hemisphere) then what will happen?: A- the plant will be leafless by December in Australia because maples in the USA have already become deciduous, or B- the plant will be in full leaf because December is Australian summer. Much of S and SW Africa, where so many collectible succulents are found, receives precipitation and heavy fog during the African fall and winter months. Some plants (Conophytum, for example) will only grow at this time of year when the temps have cooled down. Most S African succulents, however, are opportunistic and take advantage of moisture whenever it comes because in habitat, it may be years before the rains return. But even opportunistic perennial species shut down during the hottest time of year, probably because they have evolved to survive the extended and predictable droughts. This behavior is characteristic of cultivated plants for the most part. In fact, if you overwater a dormant plant, you are putting the plant in harm's way because it will not use the water for growth, instead a wet, stagnant soil promotes fungal activity to which the plants have a low resistance. Another point to consider is that many S African succulents like light, frequent watering vs. A heavy weekly watering. Some species can be watered almost daily without harm when actively growing and flowering. So don't sit your plants in the hot baking sun because you think that is how they live in habitat. On the contrary, in habitat one will find healthy plants under a shrub or besides some large rocks where they are afforded some protection from the hot sun. Know your plants! X