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Grevillea leptobotrys Don looked at a form of Grevillea leptobotrys, a low growing native shrub with lovely mauve-pink flowers. Plant details Common name: none Botanic name: Grevillea leptobotrys Description: A low growing and sprawling Australian native shrub with...
Clivia in Deep Shade Don discovered a clivia growing underneath a camellia in a shady part of a garden. Although this plant probably doesn’t flower very well in such a dark position, it still looks lush and healthy. Clivias (Clivia miniata) are being more widely...
Cordylines in Hawaii Last year the Burke’s Backyard team visited Hawaii, and filmed some spectacular foliage plants which the locals call ti. In Australia we know them as cordylines. The starchy roots (or rhizomes) of these plants were highly valued as food by...
Daylilies Modern daylily hybrids have bright, cheerful flowers which come in a wide range of colours, including yellows, buffs, oranges, reds and other shades towards plum-purple and deep reddish violet. They are called daylilies because individual flowers come out in...
Dwarf Lilly Pilly ‘Hedgemaster’ In a courtyard or small garden, Don recommends using paving instead of putting in a lawn, and choosing reliable, low maintenance, plants. The garden shown in our segment is a classic example of this type of landscaping. The...
Dwarf Liriope Arizona Don looks at ‘Arizona’, a new dwarf variety of liriope. Plant details Common name: Dwarf liriope Botanic name: Liriope ‘Arizona’ Description: Compact plant growing to 30cm (12″) tall and 30cm (12″) wide. It has...
Dwarf Poinsettia Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are native to southern Mexico. They have erect, succulent stems and large, scarlet floral leaves or bracts, which look like flamboyant flowers. In the centre of the bracts are the true flowers, an insignificant...
Epping Road Azaleas Don looked at a fabulous floral display along the side of Epping Road, Lane Cove in Sydney. The display is made up of four hardy varieties of azalea: ‘Alba Magna’ or ‘Alba Magnifica’ (large white flowers), ‘Alphonse...
Rare and Unusual Trees Vic Ciccolella loves rare and unusual trees and shrubs. For over 20 years he has been collecting seeds, swapping plants with other collectors and keeping an eye out for ‘sports’ or irregular growth on plants which may give rise to...
Don was inspired by the sight of one of the most beautiful of the Australian parrots, the Rainbow lorikeet, feeding on the flowers of one of the most spectacular of the gum trees, the Western Australian red-flowering gum. Red-flowering gum (Eucalyptus ficifolia) This...