Author: Stephen Ryan
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Disporum uniflorum
This elegant woodland plant from Asia is a favourite of mine. It makes neat clumps of stems to 60cms. tall with fresh green foliage and pendant yellow bells in high spring. It likes classic woodland conditions with overhead deciduous shade and a soil rich in humus and if these requirements are met all should be
Stephen Ryan
Exochorda giraldii
One of the highlights of spring has to be the Pearl Bush (Exochorda) with its pearl like flower buds opening to a mass of pure white blossom. It is a hardy deciduous shrub to 3 or 4 metres that is cold hardy and sun tolerant and will in fact grow well in almost any sunny
Stephen Ryan
Craig Lidgerwood Botanic art
As you all know I usually blog about plants I have for sale at my nursery but I also have a range of botanical illustrations, both originals and very limited edition prints of Craigs work available. At the moment he has 3 works hanging in “Capturing Flora” an major retrospective of Australian flora in botanic
Stephen Ryan
Chaenomeles ‘Peach Melba’
The flowering Quinces or as they are often known “Japonicas” are a group of extremely hardy more or less deciduous shrubs with late winter flowers that are elegant as free standing shrubs or fantastic as hedges. The flowers in a vase can make you look like an expert flower arranger! Any aspect that isn’t soggy
Stephen Ryan
Ferula linkii
This amazing perennial comes from the Canary Islands and is one of the tallest of the Genus that in flower can reach 3 to 4metres tall. Its foliage comes up in winter and looks like Fennel on steroides and in fact they are commonly called Giant Fennel and where the botanical name comes from. The
Stephen Ryan
Ribes speciosum
Flowering Currants are usually hardy shrubs and perhaps a little old fashioned in the eyes of some although the Honeyeaters seem to still love them. The above species from California is however something quite different with its spiny arching stems and pendant scarlet tubular flowers in late winter and early spring. It is drought tolerant
Stephen Ryan
Jubaea chilensis
The Chilean Wine Palm is endangered in the wild and rarely grown in Australia for sale. Understandably considering that the seed can take more than two years to germinate and the plants that I have at the nursery in 10″ pots are at least six years on from germination! I have done the hard work
Stephen Ryan
Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’
The Crazy Filbert has to be one of the best conversation piece plants you could have in your garden especially for its winter effect. It will eventually become a large shrub and its main claim to fame are the twisted contorted branches which in late winter are festooned with pale yellow catkins. No one can
Stephen Ryan
Edgeworthia chrysantha
The Japanese Paper Daphne as it is commonly called is a deciduous shrub to a couple of metres with clusters of scented yellow flowers with white furry outsides to the trumpet. It is a dome shaped shrub for light shade or morning sun in well drained soil and looks a treat with dark Hellebores, Trilliums
Stephen Ryan
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Orangeola’
Weeping maples of all sorts add beauty and an oriental look to any garden without the need to install a Japanese lantern or a statue of Buddha! Most are grafted onto standards of various heights and don’t usually grow much taller. Usually ending up like a large open umbrella. They make great tub specimens, look
Stephen Ryan