May bush is one of the most spectacular white flowering shrubs you can have in the garden, but it is even more so when used as a hedge. The name can be confusing as it flowers profusely in September and October in the southern hemisphere but flowers in May in the...
There has been a tremendous renewal of interest in recent years in Australian native plants. However, most people think of shrubs like grevilleas, wattles and banksias when they think of native plants. There are a whole range of Australian native annuals from...
The native hibiscus is an Australian native plant which has a beautiful mauve purple hibiscus-like flower and forms a medium sized shrub. Plant Details Common Name: Native Hibiscus, Lilac Hibiscus Botanical name : Alyogyne huegelii Best Climate: It will grow...
A wonderful Australian native is the native iris which has beautiful, tiny flowers and soft foliage that would be suitable in a cottage garden. Plant details Common name: Native Iris, Purple Flag Botanic name: Patersonia occidentalis Climate: Will grow in all areas of...
Autumn colour is a wonderful sight, yet many associate this season’s colour with changes in tree foliage. Flowering plants do make an impact with autumn colour and Peter Valder recently looked at some autumn flowering bulbs which were named after Nereis, a sea...
Queensland grower Richard Tomkin has produced a spectacular new range of hybrid grevilleas. Although not available to the public for another two years, they promise to be the best grevillea varieties of the future. Grevillea ‘Billy Bonkers’, named after...
An ornamental grape is a great climber to go over a pergola or fence. It is the same species as the wine making grape but the ornamental variety aborts its fruit so that it doesn’t make a mess. Details Common name: Ornamental grape. Botanic name: Vitis vinifera....
[metaslider id=31329] Gardenias are an outstanding flowering shrub with an exquisite perfume that creates a magical, romantic atmosphere in the garden. They flower at their best in the warmer months of the year usually from November to May. Their large creamy...
Hostas are decorative plants grown for their attractive leaves more than their flowers. Features of the leaves for which hostas are admired include: colour (for example the blue hostas with their blue/green foliage) texture (for example leaves can be puckered or...
Orchids are lovely flowers that are widely admired but most orchids require very special orchid mixes for successful growth. Bletillas are a genus of perennial orchids that grow in soil (terrestrials) and die down to ground level during winter. Plant details Common...