This plant has to be elegance personified so obviously you need one! I grew it some years ago from imported seed having never seen it but I was already in love with the Genus as I already stock S. praecox, S. himalaicus, and S.yunnanensis. This plant grows to about 2metres with long arching stems clothed with evergreen …
There is something softer and more subtle about the species Cannas compared to the vast majority of Hybrid ones. Not that I necessarily want subtle when I want a Canna! This one if you except it as a species (some authorities don’t) grows to about a metre tall and has classic green leaves over topped …
This showy epiphytic shrub comes from Thailand and is amazingly hardy considering it will grow well for me in less that tropical Mt. Macedon. It even belongs in the usually less than cold hardy African Violet family. I find that it will grow well in a semi-shaded border amongst Azaleas and Rhododendrons as well as …
This is a stunning perennial to about 1metre each way that will get to full size in the one growing season. The main point is the foliage which is a dark plum colour with silvery V shaped patterns on each leaf. It does flower and these are an added bonus in the autumn as these …
I love the flora from South America and having had the chance to visit Peru, Argentina and Chile over the years has only stimulated this interest. I have however been growing this evergreen shrub for about 35 years and never loose interest in it. The leaves could easily be mistaken for those of a holly …
I love plants with bold gutsy foliage particularly if they grow well in the shade and this evergreen shrub which obviously hails from China certainly does. It will grow to about 3metres tall and has glossy heavily veined leaves that can get to about 30cms. long and that at least for the time being is …
There can’t be a cheerier plant in my garden than this hardy scandent shrub nor one that pays its way more. If grown without support it will arch over and make a mound of spotty golden variegated foliage with yellow petalled flowers with dark stamens and a red calyx. However as the flowers hang down …
I have again fallen in love with Cannas and don’t expect to have a minor fling again. They were once those things planted in mixed colours in round beds in public parks, oh how awful! But used singly as feature plants in a sunny moist border or by or in a pond they truly come …
One hell of a name for a small deciduous shrub from Yakushima in Japan at least I hope that is what I am growing under this name! However what ever it is I am growing it is certainly a Hydrangea and one that we should all be growing in our gardens. It is deciduous and …
I love a tropical look in the garden even though I come from less than tropical Mt. Macedon! And this plant really floats my boat. It is not only cold hardy but grows well in dry shade to boot, what more could you want? Well it will also do well in a pot and makes …