Flowers

Mussaenda, more commonly known as the Bangkok Rose, creates an explosion of colour when in flower marking spring has arrived. Mussaendas explosive colour comes from the bracts or inflorescences rather than the minute flower itself. Mussaendas are a member of the Rubiaceae family and are related to Pentas and Ixoras. They range in colour from white to salmon pink to …

  There are many types of azaleas suited to a range of lighting conditions from full sun positions to shaded areas. This gives an excellent range of azaleas to choose from to suit almost any area of your garden. Rhododendrons have similar growing requirements and are more commonly grown successfully in cooler regions. Enquire at your local garden centre for …

Accentuate a living space or area of the garden with a display of Orchid flowers this Autumn, their bold flowers and colours also making them the perfect living gift for Mother’s Day. 1. Dendrobium Dendrobiums come from Asia and the Pacific, including Australasia. They grow best throughout Qld and northern NSW and have no leaf drop, so they’re pretty easy …

Floral emblems are a term used to describe a specific flower that is associated with a region.    It is a term that is used mainly in Australia and Canada, whereas in America they use the term of “state flower”. The floral emblem for the nation of Australia is the golden wattle, specifically Acacia pycnantha. Each state or territory then …

They may have a touch of ‘granny’, but African Violets make for marvellous flowering indoor plants and are the ideal choice for terrarium displays.  Location African Violets require moderate to bright indirect light all year round to encourage flowering. A well lit kitchen bench or coffee table is perfect. They also prefer humidity in the atmosphere (thus why they are …

At the coolest and quietest time of year in the garden, the winter-flowering Camellia japonica can brighten your home with its gorgeous, yet stately blooms. They’re long-lived, too, so planting one today can bring a lifetime of lovely winters.   The right pH for camellias Camellias are famous for being ‘acid-loving’ plants, which means they dislike 
soils with a pH …

Article by Jillian Coomb, Horticulturist Colour your Winter space with Jill’s choice of flowering pretties. In winter, who could go past potted colour for impact in your garden, baskets, balcony or window boxes? I am a sucker for pansies, viola, marigolds, calendula and nasturtium. Beautiful flowers plus being edible, what more could you want? I remember freezing ice cubes with …

When it comes to flowering shrubs, it’s difficult not to be stopped in your tracks by the ravaging beauty of an Azalea in full bloom. Azaleas are one of the most striking of flowering shrubs for any garden, yet have attracted a rather unfair reputation of being “fussy” or difficult to grow.  With drought conditions experienced over recent times in …

Bring a sea of white to your winter garden.  Ozothamnus ‘Australian Rice Flower’ Ozothamnus ‘Winter White’ comes into full blush with large heads of pure white buds and flowers in winter through to spring. This compact Aussie native is easy to grow in a sheltered, sunny position in most well drained soils. For use in floral arrangements cut the stems …

Gardens look brilliant with dazzling red and yellow flowers, but if you want a magnificent stately flower spike that stands metres high, then you can’t go past the Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia).   Red Hot Pokers are a simple looking plant with straplike leaves but their magnificent flower spikes that can stand metres tall are why gardeners choose to plant …