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Shrubs/Trees Abutilon Acalypha Ardisia (berries) Azaleas Bougainvilleas Brugmansia Calliandra Callistemon Camellia Clerodendrun Croton (leaf colour) Dahlia Imperialis Dombeya cacuminum Dombeya burgessiae Dombeya Ianthotricha Eremophila Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ Euphorbia leucocephala Euphorbia millii Euphorbia pulcherrima Grevilleas Holmskioldia aurea Hypoestes floribunda Justicia adhatoda Justicia aurea Megakepasma Montanoa tree daisy (seed heads) Pycnostachys urticifolia Reinwardtia indica Roses Ruellia colorata Ruellia macrantha Ruttya fruticosa Senecio petasitis Strelizias Strobilanthes Goldfussia Tetradenia riparia |
Perennials Angelonias Anthurium Centrantherum punctatum Cleome Coleus Cosmos Dianthus Gerberas Heliotrope Limonium perezii Nasturtiums Otacanthus Pachystachys Pelargoniums Pennisetum Grasses Peristrophe Plectranthus Ruellia macrantha Russellia Salvias Schauria (Miss Milly) Stachys byzantina Whitfeldia Succulents Aloes Crassula Euphorbia millii Kalanchoe Zygocactus |
Orchids Angraecum Cattleya Cymbidium Epidendrum ibaguense Phalaenopsis Hardcane Dendrobiums Vanda Zygopetalums Bromeliads Aechmea Billbergia Guzmania Quesnelia Vriesia Bulbs Chasmanthe Ornithagallum Vines Cobaea scandens Clerodendrun Dalechampia Ipomoea quamoclit Maurandya barclayana Pyrostegia venusta |
ALOE
Seed heads of MONTANOA TREE DAISY
EUPHORBIA PULCHERRIMA dwarf
WHAT IS FEATURING IN THE GARDEN IN JULY:
This winter has seen a lot of colour in the garden with Dombeyas and euphorbias flowering and many perennials and salvias hanging on longer than usual. Amazingly the soil is still moist.
SILVER PLANTS
After recently visiting the Mediterranean Gardens in South Australia where a lot of silver leafed plants are grown due to the hot climate, I felt I should comment on the silver plants that we can grow here.
Silver plants are generally tough, but not all like our humidity. I don’t only grow them for their toughness but also I think they add wonderful colour variation to the garden.
Some of my favourite perennials are: Santolina, Rue, Salvia discolor, Plectreanthus argentatus, Artemisia absinthium ‘Powis Castle’ and Artemisia arborescens. I did see Artemisia arborescens grown as a hedge in SA, but I think it may not grow well as a hedge here as plants do need good air movement here to survive the humid summers. Like all perennials it is a good idea to take cuttings as they usually only survive 3 or 4 years.
Some shrubby taller plants are: Buddleia madagascariensis, Barleria albostellata, Strobilanthes gossypinus, Teucrium fruticans, Westringia. Teucrium and Westringia can be used as a hedge or clipped into shapes. Buddleia madagascariensis is vine like, but it can be trimmed as a shrub and has lovely yellow/orange flowers. Barleria and Stroblanthes have White flowers, Teucrium, blue and Westringia blue or white.
Some small trees: Acacia podalyriifolia, Acacia baileyana, Olive, Eucalpytus kruseana, Eucalyptus macrocarpa
Most silver plants require full sun as their colour is an adaptation to reflect the sun and heat. A lot have small hairs on their leaves that help to do this.
Silver looks wonderful with blues, purples, reds as a dramatic contrast and also with whites and pinks giving a softer look
Tree Dahlias are propagated by cutting the canes into about 1 metre lengths and placing them upright in a 20cm pot with the bottom end sitting on the base of the pot and then filling the pot with sandy loam. If they are good fat canes only put one in per pot.
VEGETABLES will need constant water and it is a good idea to plant seedlings monthly to keep a succession of vegetables to harvest. Seedlings of root vegetables, Brassicas, Snow peas, Beans, Silverbeet, Onions and Tomatoes.
It is important that the beds are well manured, mulched and watered consistently to keep the vegetables growing well. Asparagus goes into dormancy over winter and needs to be cut right back, manured and mulched ready for the spring sprouting.
ALOES are putting on a wonderful show and are great for tough areas like slopes that have good drainage. They need full sun and don't need mulching. They are easily divided once the flowers have finished. The flowers are much loved by the birds.
GREVILLEAS are also putting on a great show and will continue flowering right through the winter months. It is important to plant the 'Queensland' varieties which not only tolerate our conditions well but are loved by the birds and insects. I find that they do appreciate mulch and really enjoyed the wet summer as long as drainage is excellent.
ORCHIDS
Cattleyas are putting on a beautiful show as are Cymbidiums, Phalaenopsis, Hardcane Dendrobiums and Zygopetalums. Don’t be tempted to over water orchids in winter. A misting daily is better than a heavy watering and this should be directed onto their leaves. Mist them in the mornings so that they are dry by nightfall as they hate being cold and wet.
Make sure that the temperature doesn’t drop below 10 deg Celsius for the Hardcane Dendrobiums and Phalaenopsis Orchids. We keep ours in an orchid house which is not heated but manage to keep it at that temperature by closing it up at night and growing ferns and other plants, therefore creating a micro-climate with extra humidity that these beauties enjoy all year round.
Good Gardening
Jan
SILVER PLANTS
After recently visiting the Mediterranean Gardens in South Australia where a lot of silver leafed plants are grown due to the hot climate, I felt I should comment on the silver plants that we can grow here.
Silver plants are generally tough, but not all like our humidity. I don’t only grow them for their toughness but also I think they add wonderful colour variation to the garden.
Some of my favourite perennials are: Santolina, Rue, Salvia discolor, Plectreanthus argentatus, Artemisia absinthium ‘Powis Castle’ and Artemisia arborescens. I did see Artemisia arborescens grown as a hedge in SA, but I think it may not grow well as a hedge here as plants do need good air movement here to survive the humid summers. Like all perennials it is a good idea to take cuttings as they usually only survive 3 or 4 years.
Some shrubby taller plants are: Buddleia madagascariensis, Barleria albostellata, Strobilanthes gossypinus, Teucrium fruticans, Westringia. Teucrium and Westringia can be used as a hedge or clipped into shapes. Buddleia madagascariensis is vine like, but it can be trimmed as a shrub and has lovely yellow/orange flowers. Barleria and Stroblanthes have White flowers, Teucrium, blue and Westringia blue or white.
Some small trees: Acacia podalyriifolia, Acacia baileyana, Olive, Eucalpytus kruseana, Eucalyptus macrocarpa
Most silver plants require full sun as their colour is an adaptation to reflect the sun and heat. A lot have small hairs on their leaves that help to do this.
Silver looks wonderful with blues, purples, reds as a dramatic contrast and also with whites and pinks giving a softer look
Tree Dahlias are propagated by cutting the canes into about 1 metre lengths and placing them upright in a 20cm pot with the bottom end sitting on the base of the pot and then filling the pot with sandy loam. If they are good fat canes only put one in per pot.
VEGETABLES will need constant water and it is a good idea to plant seedlings monthly to keep a succession of vegetables to harvest. Seedlings of root vegetables, Brassicas, Snow peas, Beans, Silverbeet, Onions and Tomatoes.
It is important that the beds are well manured, mulched and watered consistently to keep the vegetables growing well. Asparagus goes into dormancy over winter and needs to be cut right back, manured and mulched ready for the spring sprouting.
ALOES are putting on a wonderful show and are great for tough areas like slopes that have good drainage. They need full sun and don't need mulching. They are easily divided once the flowers have finished. The flowers are much loved by the birds.
GREVILLEAS are also putting on a great show and will continue flowering right through the winter months. It is important to plant the 'Queensland' varieties which not only tolerate our conditions well but are loved by the birds and insects. I find that they do appreciate mulch and really enjoyed the wet summer as long as drainage is excellent.
ORCHIDS
Cattleyas are putting on a beautiful show as are Cymbidiums, Phalaenopsis, Hardcane Dendrobiums and Zygopetalums. Don’t be tempted to over water orchids in winter. A misting daily is better than a heavy watering and this should be directed onto their leaves. Mist them in the mornings so that they are dry by nightfall as they hate being cold and wet.
Make sure that the temperature doesn’t drop below 10 deg Celsius for the Hardcane Dendrobiums and Phalaenopsis Orchids. We keep ours in an orchid house which is not heated but manage to keep it at that temperature by closing it up at night and growing ferns and other plants, therefore creating a micro-climate with extra humidity that these beauties enjoy all year round.
Good Gardening
Jan
THIS MONTH
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan
JULY
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan
JULY
CATTLEYA ORCHID
TETRADENIA RIPARIA
EUPHORBIA PULCHERRIMA yellow
Let nature be your guide
SENECIO PETASITIS
