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Cosmos ‘Bright Eyes’ Yates has just released a beautiful new summer annual in their packet seed range called Cosmos ‘Bright Eyes’. The seeds can be started in trays of seed raising mix or sown directly into the garden. The semi-double flowers...
Cranebrook Native Nursery Australian native plants are undergoing a tremendous wave of popularity with gardeners at the moment, mainly due to the release of so many new and improved varieties. A question we’re often asked is “Where do you get...
Many plants have flowers, seed capsules or fruit which look surprisingly like animals or birds. For example, the flowers of heliconias look like the claws of a lobster, while the beautiful blue and orange flowers of the bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) look just...
Most gardeners think of cyclamen as delicate indoor plants. However they can be grown outside, and in fact occur naturally in harsh, rocky areas in the Mediterranean and Europe. The miniature wild Italian cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium), will thrive and multiply in a...
Dwarf Diosma Coleonema pulchrum and its various forms are very popular garden shrubs, with their aromatic foliage and starry flowers. The old fashioned green dwarf form ‘Compactum’ is often overlooked these days in favour of its sport ‘Sunset...
English Roses Many of the old fashioned or heritage roses have a colour, form and scent that’s unrivalled by most of the modern varieties. The Centifolia group of roses is wonderful in hot climates and includes Fantin-Latour, a vigorous plant with pale pink...
Eremophila nivea Don looked at Eremophila nivea, an emu bush with silvery leaves covered with fine hairs which trap moisture. Although perfectly adapted to survive in the drier parts of Australia, in humid coastal zones this plant is not easy to grow and is...
One of the best things about bulbs is that they’re a great investment! They’re practically guaranteed to perform, at least in the first year, because each bulb comes complete with everything it needs to flower, stored inside. You may only buy, say twenty,...
When discussing colour in the garden black plants usually don’t rate a mention, although there are quite a few available which have either very dark, blackish leaves or black flowers. They can look very stylish used in bright areas particularly as a border, and...
Don looked at some bushland infested with lantana (Lantana camara). He pointed out that the weeds did well in this area because it was very moist and rich in nutrients. Simply removing the lantana would be a complete waste of time, because birds would deposit more...