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Selkirk Cats

Breed: Selkirk cats Temperament: placid, love companionship Cost: $300 (pet) $500 (show) Lifespan: up to 15 years Maintenance: low (shorthair) medium (longhair) Recommended for: anyone who wants something different History Rex cats, such as the Devon Rex, Cornish Rex and this newer type, the Selkirk Rex, are all distinguished by their unique hair. Each of the rex varieties has curly hair follicles, giving the appearance of a wavy coat. And each v... read more

Geraldton Wax ‘Dancing Queen’

There are many new forms of Geraldton wax available, which are hardier than the species and vary in height, flower colour and flower size. Don looked at a beautiful new variety called ‘Dancing Queen’. Plant details Common name: ‘Dancing Queen’ Botanic name: Chamelaucium uncinatum ‘Dancing Queen’ Description: An open, evergreen shrub to around 2m (6′) tall. It has aromatic, linear leaves with hooked tips, and ruffled, mauve-pink double flowers. Be... read more

Hardenbergia ‘Bushy Blue’

Don looked at a new variety of hardenbergia called Bushy Blue. Plant details Common name: Bushy Blue Botanic name: Hardenbergia violacea ‘Bushy Blue’ Description: Developed from a selected seedling of the native climber Hardenbergia violacea, Bushy Blue is a low shrub growing to around 60cm x 60cm (2′ x 2′). It has blue/grey leaves and clusters of violet/purple pea-shaped flowers in late winter and early spring. Best climate: Bushy Blue grows in ... read more

Bromeliad Nursery

Olive Trevor first started collecting bromeliads 20 years ago. Bromeliads were very hard to buy in those days, so Olive began to import and propagate them. Her hobby became a thriving business, and today she sells her bromeliads all over Australia. Olive goes to the world conferences of the Bromeliad Society and she gives talks and slide presentations to bromeliad groups throughout Australia. Don visited Olive at her nursery in Brisbane, and look... read more

Camellias

Camellias Camellias are amongst the world’s best flowering plants. They are hardy and disease resistant, most varieties have attractive, glossy green foliage, and they put on their fabulous flower display in the cooler months of the year when the rest of the garden often looks dull and bare. Flower size, colour and form Camellia flowers range in colour from pure white, through pink, to deepest red. They come in miniature, small, medium, medium la... read more

Daphne

Daphne One of the best things about winter in Australia is the fragrance of daphne in flower. Winter daphne (Daphne odora) originally came from China. As well as the green-leafed variety with pink and white flowers, there is also one with a creamy yellow border to the leaf (‘Aureo-marginata’) and a pure white flowering form (‘Alba’). Daphnes have a reputation for being very touchy plants. They often drop dead suddenly but if the right growing con... read more

Camellia Sasanqua ‘Yuletide’

You may remember about two years ago on Burke’s Backyard we did a tremendously popular courtyard makeover using blue metal dust (also known as crusher dust or quarry sand), an inexpensive but very classy looking material. The stark white of the buildings was softened by planting a low hedge of sasanqua camellias. We returned recently to find the courtyard looking fabulous, with the camellia hedge in full flower. Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ Don c... read more

Agonis ‘After Dark’

Recently introduced into cultivation, Agonis flexuosa ‘After Dark’, is a variety of the West Australian willow myrtle. It has burgundy to purple coloured foliage all year round, with tiny white flowers in spring. It grows around 6m (18′) high and 3-5m (10-15′) wide, and likes a sunny position, well-drained soil and adequate water. It will grow well in most areas of Australia except for tropical and mountain zones. This gorgeous Australian native ... read more

Cordylines

In recent years an exciting new range of cordylines has become available. They are hybrids of the tropical Cordyline fruticosa (also known and sold as C. terminalis). They come in a wide range of fabulous leaf colours, including bronze, purple and even pink. In Hawaii this cordyline is known as the good luck plant, or Ti, and is used to make the traditional ‘grass’ skirts worn by hula dancers. Varieties Don visited Palm Fascinations, a wholesale ... read more

Bauera Tip

Many people make the mistake of trying to grow the Australian native bauera, or dog rose, in ordinary garden positions. Don explained that in the wild these plants thrive in boggy situations, so the trick is to plant them at the edge of a pond, with a thin layer of water just beneath their roots. Dog rose, river rose (Bauera rubioides) An evergreen shrub to about 1m (3′) tall. It is often straggly, almost prostrate in habit, but can be kept more ... read more

Don’s Top Six Low Maintenance Plants

Oleander
Plant selection is very important if you want a low maintenance garden. Some plants are high maintenance nightmares. At the top of the list is lawn, which needs regular mowing, fertilising and edging (paving is a much better low maintenance choice). Azaleas need spraying for a flower rot called petal blight, so avoid them. Also avoid most hybrid tea and floribunda roses, which need lots of pruning, spraying and fertilising. Many people think that... read more

Easter Plants

Many plants are associated with Easter and the passion of Jesus Christ, although nobody really knows what sort of wood the cross was made of, or what plant was used to make the crown of thorns. In our segment Peter Valder looked at two South American plants that were given religious significance by the Christian missionaries. Crucifix orchid (Epidendrum ibaguense) This species occurs naturally from Mexico to Colombia. It has long, thin stems and ... read more