Aphyllanthes monspeliensis Hardy Palms and Cycads Some leaves have saw-toothed edges

Some leaves have saw-toothed edges to the leaves

(aka: Dysosma pleiantha) Podophyllum pleianthum 'Sugar Daddy' is a variegated selection of the Chinese mayapple

Each tiny round leaf is dark green surrounded by a super-wide creamy border

Our 6' wide patch (10 years) is topped

with brilliant yellow flowers

Aphyllanthes monspeliensis Hardy Palms and Cycads Some leaves have saw-toothed edgesFew gardeners have ever run across the monotypic Aphyllanthes monspeliensis, unless you've spent time in the Mediterranean region south to Morocco. This solitary genus in the Asparagus family produces a small rock garden size plant that looks like Festuca glauca until it flowers, then it looks just like a sisyrinchium or other irid. The narrow wiry glaucous leaves form a tight clump, topped, starting for us in mid April with 1" medium blue flowers.