Episode 25: PLANT OF THE WEEK

Eremophlia nivea

A beautiful, Australian, silver-grey shrub, 1m-2m tall with small, lavender coloured flowers in late winter or spring.  It comes from the northern areas of SW WA and grows well in improved, free draining soil. Prefers full sun or full sun and part shade.

Pride of Madera (Echium candicans)

A striking, architectural shrub 2-2.5m tall and wide with candle-like flower spikes in blue, purple or pink in spring.  It is a water wise, Mediterranean plant with attractive grey- green foliage and tolerates coastal conditions and full sun but also grows well in part shade.

Chinese lantern (Abutilon hybrids)

Closely related to hibiscus, these plants have pendulous, lantern-shaped, flowers in pink and autumn tones for most of the year and maple-like soft leaves.  They need a frost free position and free draining, fertile soil and afternoon shade in summer in hot areas.

Prune to maintain shape in winter if they become leggy.  Plants come in forms from groundcovers to shrubs up to 2m tall.  The popular dwarf ‘Lucky Lantern’ series grow to just 30cm tall and wide, making them good pot specimens.

Rosemary

A shrubby herb with aromatic, needle-like leaves and small blue flowers (though pink and white forms are also available) in spring or summer.  It can be trimmed into a standard, grown as a shrub, clipped to form a hedge and prostrate forms spread quickly and drape attractively over walls. The leaves are used to flavour food, and it’s especially good with lamb and roast potatoes. The variety ‘Tuscan Blue’ is one of our favourites.

Episode 19: PLANT OF THE WEEK

Bob Longmore's plant of the week:

Bob Longmore grows these two edible plants in his Nannup garden.

Buddah’s hand (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis)

Buddah’s hand (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) is a citrus with fruit segmented into finger-like sections, resembling a human hand.

The fruit is very fragrant and is mostly used for perfuming rooms and clothing.  It can be candied like fruit from an orange or lemon.

Its cultural requirements are similar to lemons.  It can be kept in a big pot and will reach 3m-4m tall if planted in improved garden soil.

Leafless peas ‘Lacy Lady’

Leafless peas ‘Lacy Lady’ are a dwarf green, podded pea that is considered to be semi leafless or leafless.

They have a few leaves and many tendrils which contribute to photosynthesis in a similar way to leaves. They are a vigorous plant which is popular because they are less likely to be damaged by severe weather and more drought tolerant than conventional peas. Plant them from pea seeds so they grow in the cooler months.

Episode 18: PLANT OF THE WEEK

Janine's plant of the week:

Three of Janine Mendel's favourite plants for creating lush sub tropical gardens are the sago palm cycad (Cycas revoluta), Philodendron selloum 'Compacta' and frangipani.

The cycad is prone to frizzle top in Perth's alkaline soils.  This is a nutrient deficiency that is treated with foliar sprays of manganese sulphate.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Snow Queen' has green foliage splashed with white and if grown in full sun has dramatic red single hibiscus flowers. It grows to 1.5m to 3m tall but can be trimmed to size. In this photo taken in Janine's garden it contrasts with the lobed foliage of Philodendron selloum ‘Compacta'.

Dwarf sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica)

Dwarf sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica) has beautiful bright red tints to its lacy foliage, suits sun or shade and is available in a range of sizes to suit every garden.  Here it is teamed with an edging of native violets (Viola hederacea).

Frangipani are easy, waterwise plants for warm temperate, sub tropical and tropical climates and have fragrant blooms during warm weather.

Episode 17: PLANT OF THE WEEK

Mark's plant of the week:

Lilly pilly (Syzygium australe)

A fast-growing evergreen native,  also known as the bush cherry which is widely found across Australia.

The Tucker Bush variety is psyllid-resistant and in summer produces edible red berries that are apple-like in texture with a mild sweetness. They may be eaten fresh or made into jams, jellies, muffins, biscuits, cakes and wine.

It grows 3-4m high and 2m wide but can be easily kept as an edible hedge at 1m high. Prune regularly to promote new growth.

Deryn’s Plant of the week:

Plum pine (Podocarpus elatus)

Illawarra Plum is also known as the Daalgaal, Goongum or Plum Pine. Its juicy, pulpy fruits have a grape-like texture and sweetish, mild pine flavour that is enhanced by cooking.

It is a rainforest species endemic to the east coast of Australia.

Illawarra Plum fruits are made up of two segments – a hard inedible seed (1cm in diameter), and a large, fleshy purple-black berry (2.5cm in diameter). They ripen between March and July, and are eaten raw or made into a jam or jelly. When cooking with Illawarra Plums, stainless steel utensils are recommended over aluminum to prevent bitterness.

Fruits may be picked from the tree, but will also fall to the ground when ripe. This species is/dioecious/, meaning you’ll need both male and female trees to produce fruit so plant several or use as a hedge.

Illawarra Plum grows in full sun and part shade and prefers a rich, moist, non-alkaline soil, but will tolerate a range of well drained soils and coastal positions.

It grows slowly and can be kept in a pot to reduce its size.  In the ground it can reach 8 – 12m in height.

Episode 8: PLANT OF THE WEEK

Joanne's plant of the week:

Pistacia Chenensis

Pistacia Chenensis is a beautiful deciduous tree that can withstand harsh conditions. It is considered a small to medium sized tree and is often planted for its attractive foliage. It has a slow to moderate growth rate and prefers well drained fertile soils in full sun.

Deryn’s Plant of the week:

Cercis Forest Pansy

The 'Forest Pansy' is a beautiful ornamental flowering tree. It is a purple leaved small specimen tree that provides year round interest. It tolerates a variety of soil types, but does best in moist, deep, well-drained fertile soil. It's best to avoid excessively hoy or windy positions. Plant in full sun or part shade.

EPISODE 2: PLANT OF THE WEEK

Deryn's Plant of the Week

Lantana montevidensis

Aromatic small foliage is festooned with purple, white or purple and white tubular

flowers in compact clusters year round.

Use it as a low growing groundcover, allow it to mound up as a small shrub up to 1m tall

and wide or keep it clipped to about 30cm tall.

It travels using creeping stems and is sterile so it will not seed into bushland.

Plants are drought tolerant and flower best in full sun but can be grown in part shade.

Lantana montevidensis is a fabulous plant in hot dry areas of Western Australia and South Australia and other dry climates but is an invasive weed in tropical areas and the east coast of Australia.

Steve's Plant of the Week

Syzygium 'Bush Christmas'

Australian native, this select form has extremely compact foliage making it ideal for topiary creations. It also makes an excellent hedge from 1 to 3 metres in height. New foliage produced in winter is a rich burgundy contrasting beautifully against the mature dark green foliage.

When using as a hedge space plants 3 per metre for optimum results. Will thrive on one to two watering’s a week once established.

Sabrina's Plant of the Week

Geranium 'Rozanne'

One of my absolute favourite geraniums is a cranesbill type known as geranium Rozanne. The flowers are a beautiful violet colour and it flowers for months on end.

Geranium Rozanne was selected as the UK’s Royal Horticultural Society Plant of the Century in 2013, with good reason. It has exceptional flowering and grows in just about any soil type. 

Episode 4: Plant of the Week

Steve's Plant of the Week

Phalaenopsis Blume, also known as Moth Orchids, are a fantastic indoor plant. They have an amazing longevity. They will last inside the home between three and four months. They are very easy to care for and a great indoor plant to give as a gift. When these orchids have finished flowering, cut it off at the base of the plant. This will initiate a new flush of leaves with new flowers within another few months. In order to bring the Moth Orchids back into full flower, they require a liquid feed (at half strength). 

Deryn's Plant of the Week

ZZ Plant

A sculptural indoor plant with fleshy branches and oval-leaves that resemble feathers.  The plant has a waxy, shiny coating and is indestructible if you don’t overwater.  Survives low light conditions.

Episode 1: Plant of the Week

Steve's plant of the week

Plumbago Royal Cape

Native to South Africa this dark blue form of Plumbago was first introduced to Australia 25 years ago and has established itself as a hardy garden favourite. Ideal for use as a hedge from 1 to 2 metres or as a stand alone plant. Flowers prolifically from October to May. Drought tolerant once established although weekly watering’s throughout summer will result in heavier flowering.

 

Deryn's Plant of the Week

Ornamental Sweet Potato (Ipomea)

These hybrid plants were first introduced to Australia in the early 1990s and consist of colourful heart-shaped or maple shaped leaves in shades of chartreuse green, purple-pink and purple.

They make a great ground cover or can be grown in a hanging basket.

You can eat the young leave and young tubers but they aren’t as tasty as the edible variety.

To propagate simply put a stem with a few leaves in a glass of water and they soon shoot roots.

Plants do not like frost and in cooler areas they will die back in winter. Grow in full sun to part shade and provide ample water in summer.