Gymea lilies are spectacular Australian native plants with large, compact heads of nectar filled red flowers atop tall, thick stems. Most Australian natives resent being transplanted, but Gymea lilies can be dug up, moved and planted bare rooted. Don looked at a...
Hebes Hebes are native to the Southern Hemisphere, principally New Zealand. They are mostly evergreen, low growing shrubs to around 1m (3′) tall. They have dense, handsome foliage (sometimes variegated) and attractive flower spikes in colours ranging from white...
Hibiscus Most people think of hibiscus as those lovely tropical looking flowers from the South Pacific that are tucked behind one ear or the other, depending on your availability! In fact several hibiscus species are native to China, and when it comes to...
Cosmos ‘Bright Eyes’ Cosmos ‘Bright Eyes’ is a beautiful summer annual in the Yates packet seed range. The semi-double flowers are all in warm colours, from scarlet through to orange and yellow. The seeds can be started in trays of seed raising...
Cuphea Cupheas are native to Mexico and Brazil. There are around two hundred and sixty species and they are mostly low growing annuals, perennials or shrubs with tubular flowers and small leaves. Don looked at two new varieties, ‘Starfire’ and ‘Tiny...
Daphne This large genus of evergreen and deciduous shrubs was named after a nymph in Greek mythology called Daphne. After being chased by the sun god Apollo, Daphne prayed to her father, who was a river god, to save her. The river god changed her into a bay tree!...
This curious Mexican succulent makes an ideal hanging basket specimen for a hot, sunny balcony. It will thrive on neglect, even if you go on holidays or forget to water it for weeks at a time. Hanging baskets of Donkey’s Tails, each with a cover like a Chinese...
Dwarf Murraya Murrayas are evergreen shrubs from south-east Asia and Australia. They produce fragrant, creamy white flowers in abundance in spring then again in late summer or early autumn, and also after heavy rain. They have glossy green foliage and a dense,...
Dwarf Sacred Bamboo This plant is not a bamboo but a dwarf form of Nandina domestica, which grows naturally in Japan, China and south-east Asia through to eastern India. This little shrub is very tough and hardy – it almost seems to thrive on neglect! Plant...
Edgeworthia This unusual and interesting plant is closely related to the daphne, and has clusters of perfumed flowers which look similar except they’re yellow. Its tough bark is used in Japan for making Washi, a fine quality hand-made paper, and an insecticide...