Category Archives: Bog plants

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  Eryngium pandanifolia

  Posted on March 22, 2016 by stephenryan in autumn colour, Bog plants, Collector Plants, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Perennials, self seeds, winter interest

  The Genus of Sea Hollies contains a fair few that seem to have little visually in common with Holly and this one from South America proves the point. It is an evergreen perennial with long strappy leaves to 1.5metres long with fine sharp spines along the edges so that dead leaf removal needs to be […]

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  Canna compacta

  Posted on February 11, 2016 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Perennials

  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 […]

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  Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’

  Posted on January 17, 2016 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Good Pot Plant, Perennials

  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 […]

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  Canna ‘Brolga Dance’

  Posted on November 27, 2015 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Perennials

  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 […]

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  Canna glauca

  Posted on February 14, 2015 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Perennials

  I have grown to love cannas over the years although one has to say that seeing them in beds of mixed colours with nothing to soften them can be off putting, think council bedding. These statuesque plants should be used as features amongst other things such as ornamental grasses et.al. Canna glauca could be said […]

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  Canna ‘Brolga Dance’

  Posted on October 27, 2014 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Good Pot Plant, Perennials

  As I get older I seem to appreciate more honestly over the top and possibly ever fully vulgar plants. Cannas are just such a group with their tropical looking leaves and in your face flowers they have me donning the leopard skin lap lap and swinging through the trees! This doesn’t mean I want the […]

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  Salix cuprea ‘Pendula’

  Posted on February 1, 2014 by stephenryan in autumn colour, beautiful bark, Bog plants, Deciduous, Trees, Weeping plants, winter interest

  It is a shame that the Australian weed assessment people decided to ban almost the whole willow Genus instead of doing the assessments one at a time as many benign species are now banned. Was it expediency or worse “the more you ban the more important your job is seen to be!” One willow that has […]

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  Canna ‘Paperwhite’

  Posted on January 26, 2014 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Good Pot Plant, Perennials

  I love Canna Lilies, They are tough given water, tropical looking and a great vertical accent plant. Shame that so many people used them so badly over the years in huge undiluted blobs (you know who you are!). A friend from Queensland, Frank Hogan, has been selecting new forms and protecting heritage clones for years […]

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  Canna ‘Grande’

  Posted on February 11, 2013 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants

  If you still think of Cannas as those old things then you are definitely behind the times! I know that for years we were inflicted with large beds full of nothing but in council plantings with no colour coordination what so ever and these beds are still out there! But as great tropical looking foliage […]

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  Matteuccia struthiopteris

  Posted on December 14, 2012 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Edible, Foliage plants, Woodlanders

  If you can get beyond or even say the botanical name of the Shuttlecock Fern you are well on your way to being elected as the president of the local garden club!  It is however a fabulous herbaceous fern from the Northern Hemisphere rarely grown in Australia unfortunately. Unlike evergreen ferns this plant goes through […]

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