Shrubs/Trees
Abutilon
Allamanda
Ardisia
Bougainvillea
Brugmansia

Brunsfelsia
Buddleija
Callicarpa (berries)

Carphalea kirondron

Cassia fistula
Caryopteris x clandonensis
Koelreuteria

Clerodendron bungei
Costas
Crepe Myrtle
Dahlia imperialis
Dichorisandra thrysiflora

Euphorbia millii
Euphorbia ‘diamond frost’
Euryops
Fiddlewood Tree

Frangipani
Gmelina hystrix
Hedychium
Heliconias
Hibiscus

Holmskioldia
Ipomoea carnea
Ixoras

Justicia betonica
Justicia carnea

Leopard Tree
Leucospermum
Magnolia Little Gem
Mussaenda
Odontonema
Quisqualis mussaendiflora
Roses
Ruellia macrantha
Strobilanthes "pink bells"

Thunbergia erecta
Tibouchina

Zingiber spectabile





Perennials
Agastache
Angelonia
Anthurium

Asters
Centranthus
Centranthemum
Chrysanthemums
Cleome Senorita

Coreopsis


Cosmos

Curcuma
Dahlias
Dianthus

Echinacaea
Fuschia
Gerberas


Globba Ginger


Helianthus
Heliotrope


Justicia betonica

Lavender
Leonitis
Mirabilis jalapa

Nepeta
Nicotiana

Pachystachys
Pelargonium

Pennisetum Burgundy
Pentas
Plectranthus
Russellia

Salvias
Scutellaria
Sedum

Solidago (Golden Rod)
Tulbaghia
Verbena
Whitfieldia















Orchids
Cattleya
Hard Cane Dendrobium
Miltonia
Phalaenopsis
Stanhopea

Vanda
Bromelaids

Achmea
Billbergia pyramidalis
Cryptanthus
Guzmania

Hohenbergia
Neoregelia
Quesnelia
Tillandsia
Vriesia

Bulbs
Anomatheca laxa
Belamcanda
Habranthus (rain lily)
Hippeastrum reticulata
Gladioli dalenii

Lapeirousia grandiflora
Lycoris (Spider Lily)
Water Garden

Alocasia esculenta
Saggitariis japonica
Thalia geniculata

Water Lilies
Succulents
Aloes
Jatropha podagrica

Vines
Aeschynanthus
Clerodendron
Combretum coccinea
Dalechampia roezliana
Hoya carnosa

Ipomoea horsfalliae
Mandevilla
Maurandya
Mansoa alliacea (garlic vine)
Stephonotis

















RAISED GARDEN BEDS
 
 
HELICONIA BIHAI
 
VRIESIA 'CREATION'
 
WHAT IS FEATURING IN THE GARDEN IN FEBRUARY:
March will bring some cooler nights. We have had 500mm of rain this year so far and all the tanks are full.  What a season after last years drought. 

Maintenance has been high due to so much growth but that is the price for the garden looking so great.  We are so grateful that we bought a chipper in addition to our mulcher, so lots of organic matter going back onto the garden and paths. 

MARCH
is Preparation month
·This is the latest time to repot orchids, so that they still have a few weeks to establish before their dormant period - winter.  Reduce watering of orchids to twice or three times a week as the nights are getting cooler, watering mornings or afternoon before 4pm. 
·
Propagate: Mediterranean plants. Pelargoniums, Lamb’s ears, Statice and Artemisia love the cooler nights and this is a great time to propagate them.
·
Get the vegetable beds ready for the autumn crops by adding well rotted compost and mulch.  Tomatoes, chard, Pak Choi, snow peas, beans, lettuce, beetroot, onions and kale can be planted now.  It is a good idea to stagger plantings so that you can continuously crop.  Vegetables do need a constant supply of water and should never dry out so keep the vegetable beds well mulched.
·
Herbs are wonderful for picking to add to soups, casseroles and omelettes and they also help to deter insects in the vegetable beds or can be planted in the garden beds.  Parsley, basil, mint, oregano, tarragon and thyme are easy to grow from seed or buy a plant or two.  By picking often you will encourage new growth and always have a fresh supply
·
Mulch garden beds to keep in moisture and keep out weeds.  Any mulch is good mulch; shredded newspapers, sugar cane, Lucerne, shredded palm fronds and garden clippings are all excellent.
·
Trim the summer Salvias and put in cuttings in case you lose any.

GO TROPICAL
Calatheas
and Marantas are wonderful tropical plants grown for their beautiful leaves and our summer humid weather is just what they love.  These plants are often called peacock, snake or zebra plants as their leaves have wonderful markings mimicking these creatures.  Summer rain will encourage them to send up new shoots.  Cut back any stems that flowered last year and mulch so that the lovely new leaves can be seen.  They do like shade and are happy as under-story plants.

The Heliconias and Gingers are in their element at this time of year with the hot humid conditions.  Although they are a big plant they need to be in the front so that their beautiful bracts can be seen and they do like stronger light. 

Zingiber spectabile or Beehive gingers
come in yellow, pinks and reds and keep their beehives for several months. The beehives are only knee high or less, so you need to keep them near the front of the border so that you can see them. They do all come out at once which gives a wonderful display.

Heliconia rostrata
or parrot’s beak which has inflorescences of both yellow and red, which are very showy and the stems hang down about halfway down the stem.

Heliconia bihai
grows to about 2 metres in height and can be used as a screen, it has wonderful showy red bracts which stand upright.

Costus
is a very close relative of the gingers and usually have their flowers at the top of the stalks, which grow to about a metre.  They differ to the gingers in that their stalks spiral at the top and are often called spiral ginger. 

Costus barbatus
or Red tower ginger is Red with yellow flowers and keeps its cones for most of the spring and summer.  Mulch them all well to keep the soil moist as they do expect a wet summer. 

The Roses
will appreciate some mulch so keep the soil cool and moisture in. A tidy up to trim off all the dead wood and thin stems would be in order. 
A handful of blood and bone with 10% potash added or Sudden Impact for Roses will be beneficial when it rains to bring on the flowers for autumn.  Sprinkle this around the base of each bush after some good rain and with more rain in sight.

Good Gardening
Jan

 
THIS MONTH
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan

MARCH
ZINGIBER SPECTABILE
BEE HIVE GINGER
CARPHALEA KIRONDRON
CATTLEYA
BOWRINGIANA
Let nature be your guide
ALLAMANDA
MANSOA ALLIACEA
GARLIC VINE