Dear All, Julian said in his introduction that Albuca altissima is an old name for A. maxima. Perhaps since he keeps up to date with all the changes he can tell us if there used to be a species by that previous name that is now included in A. maxima that came from a specific area or if Albuca maxima is just a new name. The Cape Encyclopedia describes A. maxima as being found in most of the different areas described. It sounds like Jim Shields has his growing on a different cycle if it is the same plant. Mary Sue