Burke’s Backyard list of the top 10 best pot plants for shade. Don has listed plants to suit a variety of climates. To find out which ones grow best in your area, check with your local nursery. Note: not all shade-tolerant plants do well in a pot, but these ones do!
Bottlebrushes ( Callistemon spp.) are among the hardiest of Australian native plants. They are long lived, require minimal maintenance and are almost impossible to kill. The flowers attract native birds, especially honey eaters, and reward the gardener with...
There are a number of different plants throughout the world that are referred to under the name of lotus (family Nelumbonaceae) but in Australia there are principally two varieties available. They are the American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) and the sacred lotus (Nelumbo...
There are two autumn-flowering plants with the common name of naked ladies. Amaryllis Amaryllis (Amaryllis belladonna) are closely related to clivias and hippeastrums. These large, pear-shaped bulbs flower in autumn. The flowering stems, which may be up to 1m...
Don looked at some of the plants that produce their perfume through the summer months. Perfume adds atmosphere and a wonderful feeling of romance to any garden. The next time you visit your local nursery, think about buying some fragrant plants. STAR JASMINE...
The orchid qualifies as a strong contender for being the weirdest plant in the world. Their seed is like dust; it floats in the air & is the smallest seed of all plants, taking more than 1.25 million seeds to weigh a single gram. A specific fungus allows orchid...
These plants are wonderful plants for semi-shaded areas. Commonly known as Dendrobiums although there has been a recent name change to Thelychitons (which is being largely ignore). Sadly, while the more common orchids such as cymbidiums are very well known, the...
Grevillea buxifolia is quite different to the general run of grevilleas. Its silvery/grey 5cm diameter spider flower heads stud the top of this 1-2m tall shrub most of the year. Leaves are dull green, about 2cm long x 7mm wide. Reasonably frost hardy, this species...
Wattles, also called acacias, are wonderful native plants. More than 850 species of wattle grow in Australia, ranging from ground covers and charming shrubs to giant trees that provide fine timber and screening. With this number of species and many cultivars there is...
The most often used name for the white magnolia is Magnolia denudata. Deciduous magnolias produce their spectacular winter and early spring blooms on naked branches (hence the name denudata – denuded of leaves). Although expensive plants to buy they are long-lived,...