Practical new landscape plants from Ozbreed
By Daniel Fuller
Pretty plants are great, but if they aren’t practical in the landscape they can be a complete waste of time. At Ozbreed, we focus on breeding plants that are no fuss, functional and reliable because we understand how hard it is to keep plants growing happily in the urban landscape.
Here are five new tough cultivars landscape architects can start specifying in upcoming designs, each offering their own unique functions in the landscape.
Ozbreed Flat White™ Pandorea jasminoides ‘PJ01’ PBR
In my experience in landscape maintenance, pandoreas often defoliate over time and end up looking a little scrappy. This cultivar holds its foliage better than other forms, and stay compact against surfaces, meaning it takes less pruning to keep it in shape. Gardeners often wish they looked better over a longer time frame, so nursery retailers can promote this unique feature. It works as well as a climber as it does as a ground cover. I don’t know of any other native climbers that climb up a retaining wall, while cascading down the other side, as well as this plant.
Space Saver™ Melaleuca armillaris ‘Mela01’ PBR Intended
As a very narrow and fastigiate shrub, this native shrub is perfect for growing along fence lines, or in narrow beds, and has fine foliage that makes small spaces appear larger. It does require staking to establish, but landscape architects say they’ll be specifying it because it’s sturdy enough to work as a thin windbreak It flowers prolifically in spring to early summer. I believe this plant will be a massive seller.
Green Dome™ Pittosporum tobira ‘PT01’ PBR Intended
This pittosporum is tougher and larger than the Miss Muffet variety, and experiences less dieback than other forms. It is ideal as a topiary ball or other shape, and flowers prolifically in late spring. It’s easy to grow and propagate and responds extremely well to pruning. It’s just an all-round better pittosporum moving forward, and we expect it to sell well for public and domestic markets alike.
Velvet Sky™ Metrosideros collina ‘MB01’ PBR
This Pacific Christmas bush has the most extraordinary inky blue stems. In order to bring out more of the blue tones in the leaves, grow it in the coolest part of the nursery or landscape while protecting it from frost. The weeping stems work beautifully as a feature tree or shrub, or prune it as a hedge.
Shara Blue™ Lomandra fluviatilis ‘LM380’ PBR Intended
Like Shara™ Lomandra, this blue-toned variety can tolerate wet soils with phytophthora, as well as periodic drought. This makes it an attractive plant for bioswales and other SuDs (sustainable drainage systems). It’s quick to re-grow after a hard prune, has fewer blemishes than other types, and is 20% larger than Shara™ Lomandra.
Our licensed growers around the country are still building stock, and there are massive opportunities for nurseries to help meet the demand we are creating for these plants. Contact me at horticulture@ozbreed.com.au for help sourcing suppliers for wholesale/retail nurseries and landscape projects.
Daniel Fuller & Ozbreed
M: 042 6169 708
E: hello@plantsgrowhere.com
All images supplied by Ozbreed