-
The oh so fun Leptospermum ‘outrageous’
Leptospermum ‘Outrageous’ puts on a show of brilliant pink-red flowers in Spring, and it absolutely covers itself as the weeks go on. This medium shrub has delicate weeping branches and it can be pruned into a low hedge or border plant. It is also showy enough to be a great feature shrub even when not…
-
Powerful medicinal tree: Pittosporum angustifolium
This is a small native Medicine plant affectionately known as Gumbi Gumbi, it actually has many names as it has many uses. It is also known as Western Pittosporum, Berrigan, Bitter Bush, Cattle Bush, Cheesewood, Butter Bush, Native Willow or Native Apricot. The properties of Gumbi Gumbi are quite potent and only those familiar with…
-
Spillover for the pollinators: Leptospermum ‘vertical drop’
Most of us know how wonderful Tea trees are for our pollinators and honey bees, and Leptospermum polygalifolium is up there with some of the most floriferous. This gorgeous low growing and cascading form is Leptospermum polygalifolium ssp. cismontanum ‘Vertical Drop’. This sub species naturally grows on the east coast of Australia in sandy and…
-
The unique Viminaria juncea
There aren’t many plants which you could get this species confused with, especially when it is in full flower. Viminaria juncea is a stand out feature shrub or small tree which is quite common in our bushland but not so often seen in cultivation. Shrub to 5mts tall The yellow pea flowers located on long,…
-
vulnerable Epacris purpurascens
For me this species signifies everything incredible about our local sandstone sclerophyll forest. The extraordinary stems of Epacris purpurascens cover themselves in tiny pinky white flowers and reach for the sun. There is something about them which is delicate but also symbolises endurance, they are a pretty wildflower in our bushland environment which can be…
-
Calothamnus quadrifidus grey: texture and toughness
I thought I had already dedicated a blog post to this steadfast native shrub but have just realised it has featured a few times but hasn’t been praised individually yet. Very strange as this is a staple in many of my screening plantings or used as a feature shrub, especially as it will quite happily…
-
Calothamnus quadrifidus yellow : The younger sibling
This is the lesser known One sided bottlebrush, the sibling in the shadows if you will, of the very showy Calothamnus quadrifidus ‘Grey’. I love both of course, and I think this green leaf form of Calothamnus deserves to be utilised a lot more in the garden. Calothamnus quadrifidus ‘Yellow’ is a very hardy medium…
-
More Stenocarpus ‘Doreen’ please
These photo’s were taken of my very own Stenocarpus angustifolius ‘Doreen’ flowering in Autumn. A rainforest shrub native to QLD has delicate ferny foliage, and curly white flowers. Related to Stenocarpus sinuatus (Firewheel tree) but not as large, making it a better option for an urban garden. A cultivar of Stenocarpur angustifolius, we cannot find…
-
Leptospermum ‘Cardwell’: the most floriferous of them all
Leptospermum ‘Cardwell’ becomes fully veiled in white flowers from late winter through to spring and early summer, it appears to be covered in white fluffy snow and is quite the show stopper. The weeping habit is a favourite of mine and it will happily grow in tropical, subtropical, and in cooler temperate climates. An elegant…
-
Privacy with punch: Leptospermum lanigerum ‘Seclusion’
Please meet Leptospermum ‘Seclusion’ which I am finding to be an outstanding native screening plant, originally I admit to buying it for its intriguing cultivar name ‘Seclusion’, who doesn’t want that in their garden right? It also has a classic favourite colour combination of mine which is grey leaves with pink flowers, and what a…
-
The adaptable possibilities of: Banksia plagiocarpa
This Banksia not only has beautiful flowers but also eye-catching bright red new growth that is covered in tiny hairs giving it a velvety texture, similar to the new growth on Banksia robur. Banksia plagiocarpa has great ornamental potential in the garden, as it can be grown a a large shrub or can be shaped…