Artwork by

Gomphocarpus physocarpus​

One of the common names of this plant is Bishops Balls, which was how the stalks were labeled in the floral section of my local grocery store.  This native of South Africa has many names, incuding "umbababa" which can be loosely translated "father of fathers."  It is a species within the dogbane family.

This painting was chosen for exhibition in the prestigious American Society of Botanical Artists 28th Annual International Exhibit, where it won the  2025 Eleanor Wunderlich Award for Exceptional Artwork.  The criteria for the award is:  

  • Significance: The artwork must represent a meaningful development or expression within botanical art.
  • Courage: The work should show a bold or innovative approach to the subject matter or technique.
  • Influence: The art should have the potential to inspire or impact other artists and the future of botanical art. 


Featured Piece - ASBA 2025 Eleanor Wunderlich Award Winner