h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I had to do a Google Image search to be sure I was talking about the organism.

In California, this plant grows outdoors, likes lots of water, and sets out huge cloudy panicles of softly pink colored bloom that smother the plant, starting in mid-winter and lasting for about 5 months. It'll survive in full-shade and in full-sun, but likes a combination best.

When we were kids, we'd use the leaves to write and draw on the suburban pavement.

Hi! I live in South Africa, and actually grow these plants. They do very well outdoors here, we have several large specimens in our garden. This plant can actually grow up to 5 m tall over here! We have a nice and big one standing next to our mail box, about 2 m tall and 3 m broad.