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Camellia reticulata, introduced in Australia 30 years ago, is less commonly known in the camellia family. Yet as the largest flowering of the entire camellia group, it is spectacular. Reticulata refers to the strong veining or reticulated pattern in the leaves. Plant...
Palms and ferns are often associated with tropical climates but ‘Burke’s Backyard’ recently looked at some palms and ferns which can grow in colder areas. Palms for cool climates Dwarf sugar palm (Arenga engleri): A small growing, clump-forming palm...
Imagine someone turning up with a living Tyrannosaurus Rex. Peter Valder discussed how this has happened more than once during the last century. The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) was known through its fossils to have existed up to 225 million years ago...
Peter Valder recently visited the garden of Merry Garth at Mount Wilson, NSW and found snowdrops and snowflakes in bloom in the middle of winter. The true snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is a cold climate plant and is sometimes confused with snowflake (Leucojum aestivum)...
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....