Gardening and growing great plants.

New Release Loropetalum Plum Gorgeous.

Loropetalum chinense 'Plum Gorgeous'        
Height: 1.5m           Spread: up to 2m

We have had a look at this plant for nearly six months now. The growers at PGA had told us that this is the deepest and darkest coloured foliage of any Loropetalum on the market, and retains its colour all year round. It's interesting that this fact is seen as a greater attribute than the hot pink tasseled flowers it has through the spring and summer. Maybe foliage is the new flower when it comes to colour.

 

Plum Georgeous is the one on the right, with an unnamed variety on the left. Note the different leaf shape. This was not a scientific comparison, and the plant on the left has been in the garden for nearly a year. It will be interesting to see Plum Gorgeous in the same situation.

Our test plant has been planted in a large square vanilla ceramic pot and its contrasting deep crimson leaf colour makes them a great combo. Obviously the plant will stay smaller in the pot, but it will be interesting in a couple of years to see how it does develop in size. It certainly appears naturally bushy and compact.

The Loropetalums can take some shade, are hardy, and may require a light trim occasionally. It can even be informally hedged or mass planted in large 'parks and gardens' type areas. You could splash one or two nicely through a contemporary garden, maybe part of an underplanting of a larger tree.

Once established, water requirements are minimal, but mulch well in summer and do not allow the plant to dry out. Fertilise occasionally including after flowering and try shaping it if you are so inclined.

All in all a flexible plant with some showy features. Available at the nursery right now.

 

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.

Hortivations at Ball Australia

by James Wall

 

Hortivations is an industry only event for businesses involved with and related to horticulture. It has been going for a few years now and is one of the premier events in the Australian horticultural calender. The thing people seem to like about it is that it is a fun event and a great place to catch up with whats going on. There is everything from new plants to new potting machines, but more than anything, it is a place of new ideas. Its a bit of fun, and we need that.

Red Hot Poker stokes my fire.

Kniphofia - Red Hot Poker - (Kniphofia Hybrid Cultivar)

There are nearly 70 species in this genus (Asphodelaceae). They are South African clump forming perennials that increase in size each year.

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.

June in a Melbourne garden - shallots, bare-root trees, camellias...

 

Winter wonders - a liriope intertwined with fallen leaves of a silver birch

We have just finished building a little herb garden in front of the café. Now the staff can simply walk out and pick some Italian parsley, mint, rosemary and dill. In a few weeks the thyme and oregano will also be big enough to harvest. Of course it is too cold for basil now, but coriander will grow well in the cooler weather and it is less likely to set seed. It is a great feeling to have built something so useful, and the food has never tasted so good.

Rose Pruning from The Rose Society of Victoria.

Our first rose pruning demonstration was held last Saturday and the huge turnout proved that gardeners young and old still love growing roses. It was presented by Dr. Bruce Chapman from the Rose Society and included his lovely wife Joyce, assisting. Bruce is famous for breeding the Amazing Grace and the Melbourne Town roses.

Some of the tips I gathered from this event were:

EREMOPHILA NIVEA “GUBBURRA BELLS”

By Jason Hilborn

A plant that really starts to catch my eye in the nursery this time of year, as well as my own garden, is a grafted plant called Eremophila “Gubburra Bells”.  As we move further into autumn the days get shorter and in many cases, a little more dull, but it is the distinctive foliage of the Eremophila that stands out.

      Eremophila “Gubburra Bells” is a very showy Australian Native garden shrub that bears massed clusters of vibrant lilac ‘Bells’ held on beautiful silvery white foliage.  They are at their very best from late winter through spring when their masses of flowers contrast against the soft, silvery white foliage.  In addition to this, they will also produce spot flower throughout the autumn months.  The Eremophila “Gubburra Bells” is grafted onto a hardy rootstock and grows and flowers in a sunny well-drained position. It will benefit from a position with ample air-movement and can tolerate moderate frost. 

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.

While the cat's away...

by James Wall - Gardenworld Nursery

the mice did play. Yes, today Rob Pelletier and I took over am radio station 3AW's The Big Backyard while Jane Edmonson and Darren James were away. I was actually only there for the second hour but we had a good ol' yarn, there were plenty of tomato growing stories and we discussed some of the more popular plants currently being sold at the nursey. One of those I mentioned was the Coprosma Tequila Sunrise. This succulent like plant has awesome coloured foliage and is a low water user. It gets up to waist height but can be trimmed back to keep neat. The foliage colour actually varies throughout the year and you will need to protect young plants from frost. The boys were also impressed by our genovese basil grown in biodegradable pots made from miscanthus grass bound with natural vegetable gums. You simply crack the pot and plant it in the ground. It composts away and comes with no label and no price sticker. This pot is perfect for quick crops like herbs. We are selling hundreds of them which shows that this is what people want to see.

Anyway, its late, and the nursery is open again tomorrow and I'd better not be late ! Tune in to 3AW next Saturday to hear our fruit tree expert Dennis talking after nine. He works at the nursery every Saturday.