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Cotton Thistle With their architectural shapes and feathery flower heads, thistles are easily recognisable to gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Although native to Europe, Mediterranean and Western Asia, they have found a niche in some gardens where they are grown...

FireweedRecently on 'Burke's Backyard' Don explained the dangers of fireweed, a pretty yet poisonous yellow flowering weed that is often found in paddocks and pastures. This plant is poisonous to both horses and donkeys, and...

If you live anywhere along the east coast of Australia you might have noticed that the leaves of your frangipani look brown and rusty. There is a new disease attacking frangipanis in Australia called frangipani or plumeria rust (Coleosporium domingense...

Gall gallery One of the rather worrying things for many gardeners is the strange things you see on your plants. Leaves, branches and even fruit can develop pimples, lumps, bumps and all sorts of horrible things which can be...

Invasive BambooDon and the Burke's Backyard team visited a garden that was being invaded by golden bamboo. This vigorous, running bamboo spreads by means of long, underground stems (or rhizomes). Every year new rhizomes are...

Lilly Pilly PsyllidsLilly pillies are tremendously popular in Australian gardens, particularly for hedging and topiary. In fact, these Australian natives are often planted as hedges instead of box. However, there is one thing you should be aware of before...

This South African native was once a very popular ornamental plant, but it's now a serious bushland weed in some areas of Australia. Common name: Mickey Mouse bush or...

Mundulla YellowsIn south-east South Australia a mysterious disease is posing a major threat to a wide range of native plants. The condition was discovered twenty years ago by beekeeper Geoff Cotton, who noticed conspicuous patches of...

One of the banksias (Banksia serrata) in Don's garden has died. In recent months high humidity and heavy rainfall in many areas of Australia have made plants in the protea family, such as banksias, proteas...

Root Rot Root rot is a disease that can affect a range of plants in your garden and which can spread through the soil. It can kill plants in a very short space of time and can be difficult...