Archive for August, 2007

Grasses in the Garden

1 Comment »22nd August, 2007; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, Native Grasses

Grasses in a Garden Bed

I took this photo of grasses growing in a narrow garden bed to show one of the many uses for these tufted plants. I suspect that this one is Swamp Foxtail Grass as many houses had it growing somewhere in the garden.

Although I would like to have some colour in the bed, the grass worked well because of the narrow space available. It can be tidied up after flowering, particularly important with native grasses that set seeds which can be a pest. The number of times I have had to ‘deprickle’ socks and fleecy jumpers or pants. When the seed begins to loosen in the panicle is a good time to get rid of the seed head to avoid having them become a nuisance in that way.

Hardenbergia violacea (Native Wisteria)

2 Comments »21st August, 2007; Category: Climbers and Ground Covers, Hardy Australian Native PLants

Hardenbergia violacea mauve

I noticed this plant scrambling along a fence on one of the main roads in the town. This particular form of Hardenbergia also makes a great plant for a ground cover or draped down an embankment. It is a very hardy plant which is perennial and should be trimmed back to the new shoots after flowering. If seed is to be collected, it is a good idea to let a few sprays remain on the plant to set seed and mature and to be cut back later. Cuttings of good forms work well too, using the new growth.

When a plant is as dense as this one is, some hedge clippers would probably do the pruning very well.

Although the flowering time is limited to about 2 months at the most, the creeper on the fence stays green and dense for the rest of the year.

There are white and pink forms of this plant. The pink is particularly pretty but does not seem to be as robust as the others.