Gardening and growing great plants.

Eremophila – Nivea ‘Gubburra Bells’

By Bonnie-Marie Hibbs

Eremophila Nivea ‘Gubburra Bells’ is one of Australians native beauties, originating from Western Australia. Growing to a smaller height of 1-1.5 (5’) meters and in width, makes it the perfect native plant. With a compact and moderately fast growing habit.  

It’s a great grower for Melbourne conditions but does require an open sunny position with good soil drainage. The distinctive sliver foliage is a great visual aspect along with mauve tubular flowers. Flowering begins in late winter to early spring, with spot flowering during autumn. A recommended prune after flowering in mid spring to early summer is essential to stop any woody growth and will also encourage a compact and dense habit.

Eremophila – Nivea ‘Gubburra Bells’       Photo by Bonnie-Marie Hibbs

E. Nivea will benefit from a Native fertiliser after pruning. I personally find ‘Natural Natives’ slow release fertiliser to work quite well. It’s important with any Australian natives to use a native plant fertilizer, because they all contain low phosphorus levels, which is very beneficial to all native plants.

Soil types for E. Nivea; it isn’t too selective, but it is recommended if you have heavy clay to use gypsum instead of compost. In the case of sandy soils, use compost that has had time to dilute itself for a good period of time therefore reducing the phosphorus levels.  

 E. Nivea is a great drought tolerant plant, which is also suited to coastal conditions once established. E. Nivea can be difficult to grow in humid conditions, However it is defiantly worth taking up the challenge. E. Nivea is also known to be frost sensitive, but that certainly hasn’t stopped me giving it a go in my own garden.

It’s beautiful silver foliage and mauve flowers can really give a great contribution to any garden. E. Nivea is a good contrast plant and can really bring out the beauty of other plants, but is also a great single specimen. E. Nivea is also great to attract honey eating birds and other garden friendly insects.

The year is March-ing on in the garden.

Well I can’t quite remember just how many times the lawn has been mowed in the last 6 months – but it has been a lot. It has also never been greener at this time of year, putting an extra bit of pace on the rubber cricket ball I have been zooming down to my son. People are starting to use a bit of the artificial turf, but I reckon you can’t beat a bit of frolicking about with the kids on the real stuff.  Down at Gardenworld, we have a shop called the Smart Water Shop and they are experts on not only water capture, but all types of grass or turf. They can tell you how to control weeds and what type of turf would suit your garden. You can buy premium varieties of turf or seed. 

People often ask for small evergreen trees and quite often they buy the dwarf gum trees. Included in these are the Silver Princess. (Eucalyptus caesia). This is the drooping gum that if you walk around most Melbourne suburbs, you will see many of. They will grow around 4 to 5 metres and once mature, the bark of the branches turns a silvery white. It is a very uniquely shaped tree that sometimes looks like the top half is growing upside down. 

Much more compact and upright growing gum trees are the ones that have been grafted. The grower has spent many years working out what rootstock to use and what varieties to graft on to the rootstock. They’ve ended up with a tree that only grows 3 to 4 metres. There are even some newer varieties that only grow 1 to 2 metres, and they flower there heads off, called Mini Red and Mini Orange. These are perfect for nature strips as the will never reach the wires. You will pay around $50 for the grafted gums, but you will be amazed at their compact size and beautiful flowers.

 

Being the start of Autumn, it’s definitely the beginning of the end for the spring flowers and tidying up and dead heading flowers with a trim will neaten up the garden. These may include climbers, lavenders and callistemons. Roses could be given a light prune and many will flush again in 4 – 6 weeks. I am going to plant some delphiniums because their tall stately blooms will look spectacular at the back of the garden bed. Did you know that from sowing delphinium seeds until flowering takes 28 weeks ! That’s over 6 months so I think I will start them from seedlings – probably the Pacific Giants mix which is full of blue, pink and white blooms. Plant now to ensure they get that winter chill that perennials need. 

Harvest time will be in full swing for apples and pears and some late peaches. Take the opportunity to remove excessive spurs and growth as you harvest.  Other deciduous fruit trees can be treated this way too to generally thin out a bit.  This will allow the remaining buds to mature and would reduce the amount of pruning required in winter. 

Bulbs to plant this month: 

Anenome. Daffodils, Dutch Iris, Freesia, Hyacinths, Jonquils, Tulips, Ranunculus 

Flowers to plant this month: Aquilegia, Calendula, Cineraria, Delphinium, Holyhock, Foxglove, Linaria, Nemesia, Pansy, Primula, Polyanthus, Poppy, Viola 

Vegies & Herbs: Beetroot, Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrots, Coriander, Garlic, Lettuce, Leek, Parsnip, Onions, Oregano, Radish, Turnip, Thyme

Some trees are less dangerous in bushfire zones.

It seems this Poplar 'Veronese' tree from Flemings is better suited to planting in bushfire proned areas than eucalypts. This is probably not a surprise to many, as eucalypts contain a 4% of oil in their leaves. According to an article in todays Age by Jeremy Francis who owns Cloudehill Nursery and Gardens a row of poplar trees can act as a shield and prevent radiant heat, as well as the leaves soaking up and extinguishing flying embers.

Conifers were also cited as dangerous as they contain 2% resinous oil and have lots of dead or dry branches that act as great kindling type fuel, while wattles were considered relatively safe.

This article has certainly created some debate judging by the comments people have made on it, and I think it is great people are looking beyond the square. Councils too often are taking the indigenous views and making them law when in these densely populated regional areas, that could be contributing to a higher fire risk for those citizens.

And as for protecting from erosion, which will happen if we strip the earth of foliage, this Poplar is stated on Flemings website as being shown to have good potential for erosion control by the New Zealand Forest Research Institute (NZFRI).

I love my natives, but if we get more 45 degree days in Melbourne this summer then you would have to suppose the world is warming and therefore bushfires will be more dangerous and that we must consider that our actions may need to change in order to better protect ourselves from avoiding further tragedy.

This inciteful article I am referring to is on The Age website HERE.

Australia's own native Hibiscus - Alyogyne huegelii

PLEASE NOTE THE PHOTOS HAVE COME OUT A BIT BLUE - THE TRUE COLOUR IS A BIT MORE OF A PURPLY.

'Hardiness combined with elegance'  by Peter Green

This is one of the longest colourful flowering and toughest shrubs ever. Not jus as a native, but as a shrub in general.

They originate from the drier regions of WA and grow rapidly to around 2 metres in height with a similar spread. They do well in Melbourne and will survive in all soil types although they prefer good drainage. They prefer full sun, although at least 4 hours a day of sun will be enough.

Universal Gardens

by Peter Green      

When I am asked by customers to give advice and suggestions regarding the choosing of drought tolerant plants, they are often surprised by the wide range on offer. Some are natives. Some are not. There is a good variety of native plants that do well in and around Melbourne. There is also a huge range of environmentally friendly exotics (non-natives) that do better than some natives. Usually because their place of origin is a lot more similar to Melbourne's climate than, say, a Sturt Desert Pea which although native, comes from a climate much different to ours, and does not grow well here.