A READER was asking me recently what my favourite plants are for the garden.
My word, what a big question … I mean how high is up?
But I thought I’d give it a short-version look.
So going back through the years – and it’s been 22 years now of garden columns for the paper – here’s a random selection few, and in no particular order.
King Fern (Angiopteris evecta)
Reputed to be the largest fern in the world, this fern has fronds growing 5 to 7m in length. Usually found growing near creeks. The fronds and their bases are edible. This is an easy to grow fern for dappled shade, but needs very regular watering to keep the giant fronds from wilting.
Sweet Caprice (Rondeletia leucophylla)
A small compact and bushy evergreen shrub growing to 1m with narrow green leaves and continuous masses of vibrant perfumed pink flowers in late Winter through to Spring. Good in full sun – ideal for cottage gardens.
Orange Browallia (Browallia jamesonii)
Small bushy evergreen shrub growing to about 1m. This is a spectacular flowering ornamental with masses of orange trumpet-shaped flowers, which are very attractive to honey eater birds. Grows in full sun or part shade, and once established it is very easy care. Just a light prune at the end of summer.
Tibouchina ‘Jazzie’
A small, evergreen shrub to 1.5-2m, this bushy plant shows masses of deep purple flowers with a white centre eye and distinct white stamens for almost the whole year. Growing in full sun or semi shade, it tolerates a range of soils. A great flowering screening plant along a fenceline.
Madagascar Jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda)
A moderately vigorous evergreen climber suitable for a partly shaded position in the garden. It produces lovely fragrant clusters of white waxy flowers from Spring through to Autumn. The plant is perfect for a garden arch and the blooms make great additions to a wedding bouquet or floral arrangement.
‘Flaming Beauty’ (Carphalea kirondron)
A colourful shrub with large eye-catching flower heads of brilliant red and white. It makes a wonderful specimen plant as it flowers for most of the year. Growing well in full sun or part shade to around 2m, all it needs is a prune back after flowering.
Xantrostemon ‘Little Goldie’ (Xanthostemon chrysanthus)
Big name for a little tree. Little Goldie is a dwarf form of the native Golden Penda. It grows to around 1m tall, forming a small, neat shrub with large bunches of fluffy golden flowers in spring and summer. New growth is dark red through the winter months.
Garlic Vine (Pseudocalymma alliaceum)
A climbing plant which is best suited to warm sunny conditions. Spectacular in bloom, it develops massed clusters of flowers that emerge mauve and turn to pink. The leaves smell of garlic when crushed – hence the common name. Great for covering a fence, shed or grown over an arbour.
