By Clive Larkman
As a plant for ornamental and medicinal use, lavender has a history as long as European settlement. Even with this history, there has been very little research and understanding of how to farm this tough little plant. There are numerous thoughts that the plant needs neither food nor water making it an interesting plant for the lazy farmer or those in poor countries with little rainfall.… Continue reading
Read MoreCharacteristics: The characteristics of these two banksias are very similar. Both are fairly dense, medium shrubs, with Banksia ‘Red Rover’ being perhaps slightly taller and reaching 2m x 1.5m. The flowers are terracotta/red in colour and the leaves are a bright mid-green.… Continue reading
Read MoreCharacteristics: A small-medium spreading shrub 1.5m x 3m. The flowers are orange and pink, individuals 54mm; conflorescence 114mm from August to June. It is distinguished from G. bipinnatifida by its deeply, twice-divided fine foliage and its larger spreading habit, and from G.… Continue reading
Read MoreCharacteristics: A groundcover that grows to 0.2m (h) x 1-2m (w) with orange flowers 35mm, Conflorescence 100mm, in bloom from July to November. It is distinguished from Grevillea nana ssp. nana by its smaller leaves with more numerous, closely aligned pinnae and its pink/orange flowers.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
Trade visitors to Ball Australia’s 2022 Grower Trials were surely engaged and inspired by the dozens of new lines added to the company’s already hundreds-strong catalogue for 2023 and beyond. Colour and form were keynotes plus some new categories.… Continue reading
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Espalier can screen out less desirable backgrounds, create new vistas and ‘rooms’ in the landscape (Image: Merrywood Plants)
By John Fitzsimmons
Fruit trees are a perennially popular category and now is the time to finalise orders for mid-year deliveries.
“Edibles” has been a highly active and growing category over recent years and shows little sign of slowing down. While the focus has been heavily on annuals, within that group is a sub-category that is perennially popular – fruit trees.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Clive Larkman
Over the last few years I have written about as many herbs and edible plants as I can find. Many of these are part of the Columbian Exchange. This was a major shift in the food and culture of the entire world.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Michael Elgey
In 2019 the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan (ABGMA) secured NSW State Government grant funding as part of the Greening Our City initiative. Our successful proposal was to plant 22,500 native trees and return a canopy that was unfortunately cleared during European colonisation.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Paul Carmen
Label Name: Banksia spinulosa
ACRA Registration: 1337
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Collected from a coastal area in southern Victoria. Selected by Rod & Robyn Parsons for the strong honey fragrance of the flowers. Received in June 1999.
Characteristics: A moderately dense small shrub that grows to 1m(h) x 1.5m(w), The flowers are golden in colour with red styles, 50-200mm long x 40-80mm in diameter and bloom from March to August.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Maraika vanWessem
To the public, our botanic gardens are places of solace, learning and socialising. But what about the bigger picture? More than two thirds of our global population will be living in cities by 2050, yet the trees that shade and make those cities liveable are under increasing threat.… Continue reading
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