Until just a few moments ago when I was about to blog this plant I would have done so under the name Scilla greilhuberi but such is the flux in plant nomenclature that it doesn’t pay to assume anything! What ever this rarely grown Iranian Blue Bells botanical name is it is a great garden plant. …
We are all familiar with such South African bulbs as Gladiolus, Babiana and Freesia even though most of us have no idea of the diversity within these three Genera but how many of you have heard of the Genus Geissorhiza? They can be charming and easy going small bulbs ideal for pots or the sunny …
These stunning North American bulbs are called Trout Lilies amongst other common names due to the lovely mottled leaves. The only European species E. dens-canis is known as a Dog toothed Violet due to its bulbs looking somewhat like a dogs canine tooth(they however look nothing like a violet to me!) all the species of …
This form of lesser Celandine was discovered by Christopher Lloyd and his head gardener of the time in a nearby wood and what a find it was! This varies from the wild form in that its heart shaped ground hugging leaves are a rich deep brown almost black which in early spring set off the …
This small South African autumn flowering bulb is apparently rare in the wild and yet I find it a good doer that multiplies well for me at the nursery. It is in flower in April each year and grows about 25cms. tall with white flowers striped pink on the outside of the petals. It seems …
There can be no more useful Genus of small plants for a shady spot than the species Cyclamen and this species has to be the best and easiest to grow. Flowering from mid February to May and then having lovely leaves through to the spring what more could you ask. I have written a full …
This giant of its Genus is a bulb from the Eastern Cape area of South Africa and in areas with little to no frost it is certainly a conversation piece. Its large bulbs sit half out of the ground atop of which sits a cluster of evergreen bright green strappy leaves. Come early summer it …
Ornamental onions can be great garden plants as well as long lasting cut flowers or dried seed heads and if you get too many you can eat the surplus! This species that flowers in high summer on 50cm. tall often twisted stems is a favourite of mine for all the above reasons and it makes …
I am no orchid expert and in the cold climate of Mt. Macedon I couldn’t grow the tropical ones without the heated greenhouse that I don’t make enough money to build! I have however grown a few cool climate terrestrial species and I have found this one very easy. Alright it isn’t as showy as …