Author: Stephen Ryan
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Impatiens omeiana
Those of you that don’t have a cool shaded and moist aspect may wish to stop reading now however this plant is worth some effort to grow well and really does well in a pot in a saucer of water in the shade so really we can all grow it even if we don’t have
Stephen Ryan
Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’
This quick growing medium tree to 15metres or so is a great shade tree or lawn specimen if you are looking for an in your face feature plant. It has huge yellow-green leaves that hold their colour well throughout the seasons from spring till autumn and in late spring and early summer it produces spikes
Stephen Ryan
Zenobia pulverulenta
This small elegant evergreen from the Eastern United States is unfortunately basically ignored in Australia and yet it would make a good pot plant or shrub in a cool border that would replace admirably a scruffy old lacewing ridden and petal blight prone Evergreen Azalea ( I know they are botanically Rhododendrons all you pedants!).
Stephen Ryan
Cyclamen hederifolium
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
Stephen Ryan
Fascicularia bicolor
This Chilean tough as they come pineapple relative is a must have for any garden, With its attractive evergreen foliage in large drought tolerant mounds. The colonies can get to 1metre tall by half as much again so allow room for it. Although if all else fails it can be divided easily. When it decides
Stephen Ryan
Albuca nelsonii
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
Stephen Ryan
Canna ‘Grande’
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
Stephen Ryan
Allium carinatum pulchellum
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
Stephen Ryan
Brugmansia sanguinea
I have always had a love hate relationship with the Angel’s Trumpets as I love them but they hate our cold frosty climate! However I have found that the hardiest species B. sanguinea in both its forms thrive at less than tropical Macedon and I now have one of each that have to be at
Stephen Ryan
Viburnum opulus ‘Notcutt’s Variety’
Viburnums must be one of the most useful groups of garden shrubs, some offer scent, some autumn foliage,some bold evergreenness, some structural form and some fabulous berries. My selection in this blog has probably my favourite for berries and at least in my garden the birds leave them alone so that I get to enjoy
Stephen Ryan