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Hebes Hebes are native to the Southern Hemisphere, principally New Zealand. They are mostly evergreen, low growing shrubs to around 1m (3′) tall. They have dense, handsome foliage (sometimes variegated) and attractive flower spikes in colours ranging from white...
Hibiscus Most people think of hibiscus as those lovely tropical looking flowers from the South Pacific that are tucked behind one ear or the other, depending on your availability! In fact several hibiscus species are native to China, and when it comes to...
Few plants equal hippeastrums when it comes to a cheerful, flamboyant display in the garden. They are big, bold and brassy, and they come in a dazzling range of colours. However, many gardeners make the mistake of planting just one hippie, or a few small clumps....
Japanese Iris These beautiful irises are not as popular in Australia as they deserve to be, probably because they have very particular cultural requirements. However, if you grow them in an acid soil and give them the right amount of water you’ll be rewarded...
Japanese Windflowers Japanese windflowers (Anemone x hybrida) are hardy perennials which grow to about 1m (3′) tall. The flowers come as singles or doubles in a wide range of colours including white, pink and rosy red with golden centres. They die down in...
Brunfelsias are evergreen shrubs from tropical America. There are about 30 species, all with tubular flowers which change colour over successive days. The most popular species in Australian gardens is Brunfelsia pauciflora, commonly called Yesterday, Today and...
Market Day Every month, wholesale nurserymen put together a selection of the most attractive and interesting plants they have for sale, and take them to market. The growers set to work displaying their plants at first light, ready to sell and take orders from retail...
Mexican sage Mexican sage (Salvia leucantha) is a cottage-style plant with beautiful silver green foliage, and furry white and purple flowers. It grows from creeping rhizomes under the ground, and forms a clump about 1m (3′) tall. Unlike other salvias, this one...
Monstera Up Tree Don came across a Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) growing in a turpentine tree. Turpentines (Syncarpia glomulifera) are related to gum trees. Their timber has a high silica content making it resistant to marine borers, and so it has...
Equatorial Foliage Plants Don and the Burke’s Backyard team travelled to Cairns to meet Dr. Arden Dearden, who has one of the most wonderful collections of tropical plants anywhere in Australia. Arden’s interest in plants started years ago when he was at...