By Clive Larkman
When it comes to food and drink, like many other items in daily life, we are dictated by fashion and trends. Currently, we are in the middle of a boom in gin distillation. This has replaced the mass development of boutique, artisan or small batch breweries.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy 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 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 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 MoreLabel Name: Grevillea ‘Ochre Pokers’
ACRA Registration: 1258
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Open pollination with one parent thought to be Grevillea ‘Canning Classic’. Applicant: Neil R Marriott, received November 2007.
Characteristics: A low spreading habit with huge showy flower racemes and soft once divided leaves.… Continue reading
Read MoreLabel Name: Correa ‘Green Dream’
ACRA Registration: 1788
Family: Rutaceae
Origin: A chance seedling selection by Peter Ollerenshaw of Bywong Nursery. Application received February 2020.
Characteristics: Correa ‘Green Dream’ is a low-growing shrub to approximately 1m x 1m. It has pale green, bell-shaped flowers that occur during autumn and winter.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Paul Carmen
Label Name: Banksia spinulosa var. cunninghamii ‘Lemon Glow’
ACRA Registration: 43
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Banksia ‘Lemon Glow’ is a pale-yellow flowered form of Banksia spinulosa var. cunninghamii first selected from a wild population on French Island, Victoria, by Mr A Salkin.… Continue reading
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