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Hellebores are a perennial plant which have long held appeal for the hobbyist, but are now becoming more widely available and accessible to the average gardener. Many Helleborus species are easy to grow, and produce a spectacular display, especially when planted in a...
Hyacinths are highly scented bulbs which can also add colour to our gardens and homes in spring. Details Common name: Hyacinth Botanical name: Hyacinthus spp. Most commonly known – H. orientalis. Description: Spring flowering bulbs with spikes of heavily...
Indian Hawthorn – Qantas Amazing Australia Recently on the show Don featured an enormous Indian Hawthorn (about 5m or 15′ tall). He issued the challenge to find a larger one. This specimen, from Wallsend on the central coast of New South Wales, was an...
Camellias are wonderful flowering garden plants for all but the hot and tropical parts of Australia (see climate map). ‘Burke’s Backyard’ visited Camellia Lodge Nursery at Dandenong North in Victoria to look at camellias flowering towards the...
Many species of agave plant are native to Mexico and have played an important role in life in Mexico. One, Agave tequilana or blue agave, is fermented and distilled to produce the alcoholic drink tequila. Several Mexican agaves are called maguey and their leaves and...
There is one climber which, when it flowers, seems to attract more interest than just about any other. It’s commonly known as the orange trumpet creeper or Pyrostegia venusta. Common name: Orange trumpet creeper or venusta vine (Queensland name). Botanic name:...
The common orchid (Orchidaceae) most people identify with tend to be the Cymbidium orchids, which are grown for their flamboyant and colourful flowers. The climate in most capital cities is suited to growing cymbidium orchids in a sheltered and shady area.
Ornamental Tobacco Due to our excise laws, ordinary tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) can not be grown by the home gardener as the production of a tobacco crop invites the payment of excise. The good news is that there are ornamental varieties of tobacco with attractive...
Wonga-wonga Vine The Wonga-wonga vine, (Pandorea pandorana), is a fast-growing Australian native climbing plant. It can be found in eastern Australia from Queensland to Tasmania growing vigorously over tall trees. It is also a spectacular garden plant. Details Common...
New Varieties of Osmanthus One of the most fragrant of all flowering shrubs is osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans ), which flowers in winter or early spring. Its insignificant flowers have the delightful scent of apricots. There are now two new varieties of Osmanthus...