Plants for Screening and Hedges
I spent the weekend in Victor Harbor at a women’s conference. As usual hawk eyes was on the lookout for what native plants grow in this sea side town which we know reasonably well.
It rained on Saturday morning and at lunch time when the sun came out there was a wonderful smell of eucalyptus in the air. Having been to this CWCI conference many times at this venue, I have watched the Eucalyptus platypus planted along the boundary of the carpark. Some have split open in the extremes of wind, others have remained very sturdy and bushy trees ideal for the screening task. I am sure that Eucalyptus platypus has had a name change but I cannot recall it at the moment. Must do some research.
There are a number of hardy trees and large shrubs which would be good as a boundary planting. Unfortunately because they are often planted as a single row of plants, wind can be tunnelled along them or through them and cause the splitting or blowing over. Ideally another one or two rows of lower shrubs can prevent this happening and provide a perfect environment for small creatures and birds. Especially if some of the planting is devoted to providing nesting habitat with prickly plants. Not on the side where people get out of their cars of course!
Here is a list of some of my favourites in various sizes, tolerating coastal conditions, drought, moderate frost and lime:(I will add to this list later.)
Acacia iteaphylla (Flinders Range Wattle)
Acacia longifolia var. sophorae (Coastal Wattle)
Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle)
Adenanthos sericeus (Woollybush)
Allocasuarina muelleriana (Slaty Sheoak)
Alyogyne hakeifolia (yellow) (Red-centred Hibiscus)
Banksia media (Golden Stalk)
Banksia praemorsa (Cut-leaf Banksia)
Callistemon rugulosus (Scarlet Bottlebrush)
Calothamnus quadrifidus yellow or red (One-sided bottlebrush)
Correa glabra var. turnbullii (Rock Correa)
Chamelaucium uncinatum x axillare (Geraldton Wax family)
Propagation Records
I realised when I wrote the last entry that I had intended making a table of my propagation records for the Australian Daisy Study Group. A request was made for information in relation to the new book which is being prepared. It is not likely that many others will have the information that I have, so I do need to get on to this!
Most of the plant information that is published is geared to the Eastern States of Australia, so it becomes a necessity to keep records and make observations here to provide information for growers in SA. This becomes essential information at the two Plant Sales held by the Australian Plant Society in SA.
Another set of records that I must update is the use of smoke in germinating seeds. I had a great deal of success last Autumn.
Speaking of seeds germinating, I was thrilled to see the first seedlings of Sturt Peas (Swainsona formosa) showing through today. The trick will be to keep them going for the next week or so, to get their first sets of leaves.
Favourite Plants
My favourite Australian native plants are members of the daisy family, Correas (sometimes referred to as native fuschia) and Eremophilas (known as emu bushes). There are numerous others that I like very much, but those I listed are the ones that I collect.
I joined the Australian Daisy Study Group years ago because I had fallen in love with a local daisy, Olearia pannosa, which is a threatened species I have since found out. I could not believe that a native daisy could have such a large flower, 2 inches or 5cm diameter. I was able to germinate some seed that winter, and have since struck cuttings of the plant. It grows naturally not far from home on the road side and is a lovely thing in flower in mid spring.
It is amazing which plants are daisies. Lettuce is an example that comes to mind. When I did some research on daisies for a talk that I gave, there was a huge list of common garden plants which come into this category, including a few vegetables.
The ADSG is a very proactive group. The first book published by the group was a general book on Australian Daisies, covering a few of the species which fit into this category of plants. Later came one on Brachyscomes, and the last was on Paper Daisies. Currently work is being done on a book on Olearias, like the one on the roadside near here.
The newsletter arrived yesterday, with a new seed bank listing!
Grow a Hedge of Natives
1 Comment »13th March, 2006; Category: Caring for Native Plants, Plant species, Pruning Australian Native Plants, Using Australian Natives
I couldn’t have timed it better! The last Gardening Australia programme on ABC TV was on maintaing Australian native plants in gardens, emphasising the importance of regular pruning.
I saw on one of the Lifestyle TV programmes some time ago the suggestion of using Westringea species as formal hedge plants. The programme showed these trimmed hedges as ‘fences’ separating garden areas and it looked great. Again the best results were achieved by constant early trimming amd light pruning to maintain the leaf cover well down on the plant before it developed woodiness. The Westringea fruticosa (Native Rosemary- called this because the appearance is like the herb Rosemary) forms do lend themselves to this treatment very well.
The Westringea species that I know best for this purpose are
- Westringea rosmarinifolia (Native Rosemary, white to mauve flowers)
- Westringea fruticosa
- Westringes fruticosa ‘Highlight’ (variegated leaves and mauve flowers)
- Westringea fruticosa ‘Morning Light’ (variegated leaves and white flowers)
- Westringea fruticosa ‘Smokie’ (grey variegated leaves, white flowers, smaller growth)
- Westringea ‘Jervis Gem’ (small dense bush, mauve flowers, use as you would English Box)
- Westringea ‘Wynyabbie Gem’ (mauve flowers)
All of these will grow well in alkaline soil, all can be planted in coastal areas and all are hardy plants once established.
Correas are Great Plants
Husband Trevor has gone to Writer’s Week sessions today. This is part of the Adelaide Festival of Arts, and it is the first time Trevor has been able to attend. I had thought of going to Adelaide with him to look for some fabric to go on with a patchwork project done with English paper piecing but will try to go tomorrow.
Meanwhile some of the zillions of Nursery jobs need to be achieved today. I need to complete the plant list for the Australian Plant Society Autumn Plant Sale for a start. Then begin sowing seed for the Spring sale. This is the bit that I really enjoy, along with taking cuttings.
I have to get to my friend’s place and prune her Correa ‘Pink Pixie’ and Correa ‘Firebird’. Both are in bud at the moment but have taken over the area they are in. Marvellous growth for this location. However Correas do very well in alkaline soils even with the high pH. I love them, and so do the Honeyeaters which work over every flower looking for nectar. I can highly recommend them (the Correas) in any garden. I must do a list. There is at least one that would be in flower at any time of the year. To have that progression of flowering would certainly keep the Honeyeaters around.
If you should be visiting Victoria, a great Australian Native Garden where you will see many Correas is Katandra Garden. The owner, Bob O’Neil, won Australian Gardener of the Year (ABC) and is an active member of the Correa Study Group. He is also going to be a guest at the Regional Conference for the Australian Plants Society in Adelaide later in the year.