STEPHEN'S BLOG
RECENT POSTS
BROWSE CATEGORIES
Rubus thibetanus
The ghost bramble isn’t for every gardener but quite a few plants I grow would fit under the same title. After all not every body wants a prickly suckering shrub but having said that how many of your have a Rugosa Rose? This plant will make a cluster of arching stems to about 1.5metres tall
Stephen Ryan
Acer griseum
This has to be one of the most desirable small trees for its bark and autumnal colour so why don’t we see it more? The answer could be that seedling raised plants take two years to germinate and the seed has about one percent viability! It is also only recently that a compatible understock has
Stephen Ryan
Pileostegia viburnoides
The name may not be familiar but it is a plant of great merit in the garden. It is evergreen with long leathery leaves. It is a self clinging climber that can grow to the top of almost any support and then stop. It has honey scented heads of fluffy flowers in summer and it
Stephen Ryan
Tree Paeonia
What flower in the world is more breath taking than that of the tree peony. The size is amazing the texture exotic and the plant is loaded with history. If you want to grow them well a sunny spot without tree root competition is best (if you could grow good vegies you should be able
Stephen Ryan
Ficaria verna ‘Aurantiaca Group’
This small winter growing tuberous perennial was until recently known as Ranunculus ficaria ‘Cupreus’ if you are wondering! It comes up with its green leaves that are marbled with grey and centrally blotched which bronze in mid winter and quite soon after it produces its soft orange buttercups that will continue to erupt until the first warm
Stephen Ryan
Narcissus cyclamineus
Of all the species daffodils this one has to be the most endearing. It has a long trumpet and completely reflexed petals that remind me of donkeys ears. It is a woodlander from Europe that is very rare in the wild and is equally as rare here as a garden plant due to the fact
Stephen Ryan
Trillium luteum
Of all the woodland plants that one could grow this Genus must be the creme del a creme with their stunning flowers and wonderful foliage and I guess the only down side is the remarkably slow growth rate of most of them!! This is the first time after about 15 years of having this particular
Stephen Ryan
Haloragis erecta ‘Wellington Bronze’
At this time of year when the last autumn leaves are shedding I start to notice some of the more subtle plants around the garden and this is definitely one of them. It is an evergreen perennial or sub-shrub grown basically for its pretty chocolate foliage. The flowers are small and the same colour as
Stephen Ryan
Pancratium maritimum
This rarely offered bulb is a great thing for the water saver as it comes from coastal areas around the Mediterranean so obviously will do well in almost any sunny well drained site in southern Australia. If it does get some water it can be more or less evergreen but is quite happy having a
Stephen Ryan
Nyssa sylvatica ‘Autumn Cascade’
This Genus has to be up there with the worlds best autumn colour and this form of Tupelo as they are commonly called (I hate it when common names are harder than botanical ones!) has to be one of the best. It was a seedling selected at Yamina Rare Plants at Monbulk many years ago
Stephen Ryan