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The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is a small, compact evergreen tree. The foliage is dull green with a downy reverse and tends to grow in bunches on the ends of the branches. The white flowers appear in late autumn and winter. The round to oval shaped fruit is plum...
Medlars: The French Alternative The medlar is an ancient fruit tree thought to have originated in the Middle East centuries ago. It was probably introduced to much of Europe by the Romans, and was a great favourite at the dinner table in Medieval England. The plant...
Two-layered tree The Western Australian willow myrtle (Agonis flexuosa) is a hardy evergreen tree with graceful weeping foliage, fibrous bark and lance-shaped leaves. It is native to Western Australia but will grow in most areas of Australia except for the mountains...
Wattles Australia’s official floral emblem is a wattle (Acacia pycnantha), which is not surprising when you consider that in this country we have more than 850 species, ranging from ground covers and shrubs to giant trees. Wattles are great colonisers or pioneer...
Witch Hazel The genus Hamamelis contains five species from North America and the Orient. They are highly prized for their fragrant flowers, which are borne on bare stems from mid winter to early spring, and also for their excellent yellow and orange autumn colour....
Yuccas Members of the Agave family, yuccas are native to southern USA and Mexico. There are around thirty species, and most have stout woody trunks, rosettes of spiky leaves and big clusters of creamy white flowers. In the wild these fascinating plants have a mutually...
If you live in the cooler parts of Australia, there are many wonderful plants you can grow that flower in winter and early spring. These are very useful to have in the garden, because they provide a welcome splash of colour and a little bit of cheer at an otherwise...
Winter Flowering Natives Nothing beats Australian native plants for colour all year round, and most importantly in winter when birds too will benefit from the nectar when food is scarce. Don looked at some of the plants in the garden that have been flowering during...
One of the most delightful things about life is the changing of the seasons. First the winter, with those hearty soups and the crackling and flaming of an open fire. In the spring life is renewed, with all the birds building their nests and fresh leaves appearing on...
Japonica camellias are the best known and most popular camellias grown in gardens today. Not only do they produce beautiful flowers in the depths of winter when everything else is bare, but they also have glossy evergreen foliage. With few pests or diseases to bother...