Category: Drought tolerant
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Euonymus europeus
The European Spindle berry, so called because its hard wood was used to make spindles for spinning wheels and it apparently was also used for rolling pins as well, how useful! It is however for its hardiness and ornamental values that I plant and recommend this small tree. It is a deciduous plant to 4metres
Stephen Ryan
Chimonanthus praecox
I know that this isn’t the rarest thing around but of all the scented plants I know Winter sweet has to be my favourite. Forget your Daphnes and Jasmines I would take this plant above all others for perfume and it is tough as they come as well. It is a large deciduous shrub from
Stephen Ryan
Vitis vinifera ‘Purpurea’
This stunning ornamental Grape is rarely offered in Australia and I find it hard to understand why. It is far less rampant that the classical one and its leaves start to turn burgundy as soon as they get to full size so that right throughout late spring summer and autumn you get burgungy foliage which
Stephen Ryan
Euonymus alatus
Now that autumn is here we (at least in the cooler areas) should be revelling in the autumn coloured foliage, but have you noticed that so many of the best known plants of this season tend to be large trees and wouldn’t it be nice to have some of this largess at a lower level.
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
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
Puya alpestris
This Genus of cold hardy plants in the pineapple family from South America are plants that I have become attached to, in more ways than one! They are tough as guts drought tolerant bold foliage plants ideal in tubs or a centre piece for a rock garden that will let you put your hand in
Stephen Ryan
Griselinia scandens
I first saw this South American arching shrub at the Mt. Tomah Botanic gardens and immediately knew I had to have it. It has elegant long arching branches clothed with stemless glossy apple-green leaves and in winter it produces open clusters of tiny chocolate flowers. It is however its habit and leaves that it should
Stephen Ryan
Mackaya bella
This South African shrub in the same family as Acanthus (oyster plant) is an unsung garden hero! It will grow in dry shade as well as sun, will quickly get to 3metres each way, is easily pruned to size, has lovely rich deep green foliage and a mass of trumpet flowers that are off white
Stephen Ryan