Pansies Pansies are short-lived perennials that are grown as annuals. They were developed in the late 19th century when the small-flowered heartsease (Viola tricolor) was crossed with other species. It’s hard to imagine that these appealing little flowers with...
Great Perfumed Plants of Spring Perfume adds atmosphere and a wonderful feeling of romance to any garden. The next time you visit your local nursery, think about buying some spring flowering, fragrant plants. There are many to choose from, including port wine...
Rosemary Peter Valder looked at rosemary, an evergreen, perennial shrub belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae). An important herb throughout the history of folklore and medicine, rosemary is native to the Mediterranean coastal region. Remembrance The Ancient Greeks...
Smelly Succulents John Dengate looked at three unusual succulents. These plants are grown for their novelty value, not for their attractive appearance or sweet smelling flowers. In fact, the members of this trio look peculiar and they each emit a foul odour! While...
Ugly Bottlebrush Bottlebrushes (Callistemon spp.) are wonderful plants for the garden. They are long-lived, require little maintenance and are almost impossible to kill. They make good screens, hedges, feature plants and street trees, and they are attractive to...
Victor Chang Roses Don looked at ‘Sister Bernice’ and ‘Fiona’s Wish’, two outstanding roses that come with an added bonus – $1 from each sale will be donated to support the work of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute....
Winter Flowering Plants Don looked at some of the beautiful native plants that flower in winter. Native hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii) A fast growing, open shrub to about 2m (6′) tall, grown mainly for its mauve, hibiscus-like flowers. It is long flowering, hardy,...
Yellow Camellia Don travelled to Kulnura, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, to meet leading camellia hybridist, Bob Cherry. Don asked Bob about his work on the development of new varieties of yellow-flowering camellias. Background Although camellias are...
Scientists at Kings Park Botanic Garden in Perth have discovered some mysteries about the Australian bush orchids. They’ve had so much success with growing them that they have put together a kit so you can grow your own, and they say it’s as easy as...
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...