Category: Collector Plants
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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
Gingko biloba ‘Saratoga’
We all know about the Maiden Hair tree, the Wollemi Pine of its time. Known only from fossils in coal and found throughout the world imagine the amazement when the real thing was found in China. What is often not known is that the Gingko is a conifer relative even though it hardly looks like
Stephen Ryan
Colletia paradoxa
If there was ever a plant that should be planted under the bedroom window this is it. I would certainly stop anyone from escaping that way! It is a large shrub with almost no foliage but with green winged and seriously spiny branches which have given it the names of Anchor Plant and Crucifix Plant.
Stephen Ryan
Tulbaghia cominsii
This group of hardy perennials is well known for the mauve flowered species T. violacea commonly called society garlic even though its oniony flavour is perhaps marginally useful in cooking. The plant however is a good thing in the garden. Perhaps even less useful in the kitchen because of its tiny stature but none the
Stephen Ryan