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Most spring-flowering bulbs are practically mug proof as the leaves and flowers are already formed and in the bulb. How well you succeed with bulbs depends on your climate and the types of bulbs you select. Daffodils – There are many colours, shapes and forms...
Cotton Thistle With their architectural shapes and feathery flower heads, thistles are easily recognisable to gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Although native to Europe, Mediterranean and Western Asia, they have found a niche in some gardens where they are grown for...
Many gardeners love searching for those plants which soldier on no matter what. Agapanthus and hydrangea fit into this no-fuss category as does the lesser known Serbian bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana), a ground cover plant. Details Botanical name: Campanula...
Canna lilies have been much grown in Australian gardens, particularly when they were all the rage for boggy areas in the garden.Most are tall growing with bold orange or red gladiolus-like flowers. Some have contrasting burgundy leaves. There is a new variety being...
Clivias are wonderful, almost unkillable plants, which brighten the garden during late winter and early spring with clusters of vibrant yellow throated, orange or salmon trumpet flowers.
Cobra Plant Peter Valder recently visited some gardens in Mount Wilson, NSW and found an unusual and quirky plant known as the Cobra Plant. So if you’re into weird and bizarre plants in the garden, the Cobra Plant is an easy one to grow. Plant details Common...
Dampieras are attractive Australian native plants. The best known are from Western Australia and can be difficult to grow in the eastern states. Don Burke recently looked at a hardy cultivar which is native to the Glasshouse Mountains of Queensland and will grow in...
An interesting new plant is the dwarf Alstroemeria ‘Peruvian Princess’ which has ruby red flowers with yellow throats. Plant details Common name: Dwarf Alstroemeria Botanic name: Alstroemeria ‘Peruvian Princess’ Description: A compact, dense...
In spring, many gardens are filled with azaleas in colours such as pink, white, mauve or red. However, a wider range of colours can be found in some cool climate gardens. Peter Valder explores several different colours. Colourful Azaleas The ‘Mollis’...
Burke’s Backyard receives letters about confusing flowering plants that have two different coloured flowers on the one bush. For example an azalea may have magenta purple flowers with one branch of whitish flowers with a magenta purple edge. The different...