About Galphimia glauca Cav.
Galphimia glauca Cav. is an evergreen, erect shrub with a branched taproot system, growing between 1.8 and 3 metres tall. Its alternate leaves are ovate or elongate, dark green on the upper surface and bluish green on the lower surface; leaves may turn bronze during cold weather. Even though it is generally evergreen, when grown near the lower limit of its cold tolerance, leaves develop a deep red-bronze color in winter. Its yellow, sweet-scented flowers measure 2 cm across, have 5 petals and 5 sepals, and are borne in flower racemes. Under suitable conditions and full sun, this plant can bloom in repeated cycles throughout the year, though its main blooming period runs from early spring to the first frost. Galphimia glauca can be distinguished from Galphimia gracilis by its petals: as Galphimia gracilis fruit matures, its petals fall off, while Galphimia glauca retains its petals even after fruit develops. This species is native to Mexico, Guatemala, and Panama, where it grows in semi-warm and temperate climates at elevations between 920 and 2600 metres above sea level. In Mexico, it is native to specific states in the country's central and northeastern regions: Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Nuevo Leon, Queretaro, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. It grows in open areas associated with disturbed vegetation of deciduous tropical forests, evergreen tropical forests, xeric scrub, oak forests, pine forests, and juniper forests. It can adapt to drier climates and withstand mild frosts as cold as -2 °C.
