Archive for May, 2007

Chrysocephalum apiculatum

2 Comments »17th May, 2007; Category: Daisies, Drought Tolerant Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants

Chrysocephalum apiculatum (grey leafed form)

Chrysocephalum apiculatum (grey leafed form)

I have just been potting on some struck cuttings of three different versions of Chrysocephalum apiculatum. All have golden yellow ‘billy button’ flowers, are perennial, some are suckering, and there are a number of leaf forms.

These plants need tidying up when new growth begins at the base of the plants.

My favourites have grey/green leaves and one has distinctly grey leaves. Of course the flowers look great against these leaves. The mallee form is a small clumping plant, with smaller flowers and green leaves. It is a dainty plant compared to the brashness of the others.

Hardenbergia violacea (Native Wisteria)

2 Comments »13th May, 2007; Category: Climbers and Ground Covers, Drought Tolerant Plants

Hardenbergia violacea (purple)

Hardenbergia violacea (purple)

Hardenbergia violacea is a hardy climbing plant which comes in purple, pink or white sprays of pea shaped flowers. I have also seen a plant with bluish sprays of flowers. The clusters of flowers are what gives this species its common name. This is also successfully grown as a scrambling plant hanging down an embankment. It sometimes grows as a scrambling shrub rather than as a climber.

Hardenbergia violacea (white)

Hardenbergia violacea (white)

Top 5 Drought Tolerant Australian Native Plants…

11 Comments »10th May, 2007; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants

…in five categories.

I decided that I would set 5 simple categories of plants and list five species within those categories.

Drought Tolerance is relative and what I have chosen are plants that are drought tolerant in an area with less than 14 inches (350mm) of annual rainfall (winter wet). Other issues which can make a difference are severe frosts, drying winds, the amount of rainfall the previous winter and whether mulch is used or the amount of shade available.

Ground Covering Plants

  1. Hardenbergia violacea (purple, pink, white) Native wisteria (Also a climbing plant)
  2. Chrysocephalum apiculatum (suckering plant with small yellow pom pom heads.
  3. Kennedia prostrata (Running Postman – because of red and black flowers and very flat form.
  4. Eremophila glabra (Emu Bush) (various prostrate forms, different colours)
  5. Myoporum parvifolium vigorous flat ground cover with white flowers

Small Shrubs to 1 metre

  1. Eremophila macdonnellii (large deep purple flowers)
  2. Eremophila macdonnellii (large deep purple flowers)
  3. Prostanthera magnifica (Mint Bush with very large flowers)
  4. Thryptomene saxicola (Pink or white small flowers)
  5. Grevillea lavandulacea

Tufted Plants

  1. Dianella revoluta (Purple nodding flowers and purple berries)
  2. Orthrosanthos multiflorus (Native Iris) (Mauve Blue flowers)
  3. Wahlenbergia communis (native Bluebell) (perrenial with blue star flowers.)
  4. Calostemma purpureum (Native Lily) (Pink-red flowers)
  5. Anigozanthos flavidus (Kangaroo paw)

Shrubs to 3 metres

  1. Acacia drummondii (yellow rods)
  2. Banksia ornata
  3. Melaleuca wilsonii (red bottle brush flowers)
  4. Chamelaucium uncinatum (various colour forms)
  5. Hakea leucoptera (Honey Suckle) (Prickly bush with cream flowers)

Trees

  1. Eucalyptus campaspe
  2. Melia azedarach (White Cedar)
  3. Callistemon viminalis (Weeping Bottlebrush)
  4. Agonis flexuosa (Native Willow)
  5. Melaleuca lanceolata (White bottle brush flowers)

These are some of my favourite plants and ones that I know to be successful. These are all growing in garden conditions. Growing the same plants in the field is another matter altogether and another list would need to be generated.

I haven’t been able to get to my blog for several weeks and this opportunity to participate in the latest Problogger writing project provided me with the push to get going again.