Recent Posts Tagged With 'exotic shrubs'

• Spanish Broom

  Posted on Monday November 2nd, 2009 at 16:03 in weeds, exotic shrubs

  Spartium junceum, Spanish Broom (Retama de olor or Giesteira)The rich yellow flowers of this leafless shrub are hard to miss and make a wonderful display for many weeks in October and November. The flowers are sweetly perfumed which is an added bonus...

• Smoke Bush

  Posted on Thursday October 29th, 2009 at 05:11 in exotic shrubs

  Cotinus coggygria 'Rubrifolius', Smoke BushI had always thought of this shrub as belonging in a cold climate until I saw it recently peeping over a picket fence in a local garden. It gets its common name from the wispy smoke like flowers which appear...

• Salvia gesneriflora \'Tequila\' & Agave \'Tequila\'

  Posted on Friday October 23rd, 2009 at 16:41 in perennials, agave, exotic shrubs

  Salvia gesneriflora 'Tequila'Aromatic foliage of Salvia g. 'Tequila'This Salvia was brought into garden cultivation by the Huntington Botanic Garden of California after it was collected on a field trip to Mexico in 1970. The red and black flower comb...

• Pride of Madeira

  Posted on Friday October 16th, 2009 at 07:21 in exotic shrubs

  Echium fastuosum, Pride of MadeiraThis sprawling 2 metre shrub is native to the Canary Islands and the usual flower colour is a deep cobalt blue, but shown here is a dusty pink flowered form which is equally attractive. The tall flower panicles are ...

• Lilac Time

  Posted on Saturday October 3rd, 2009 at 19:17 in exotic shrubs

  Syringia vulgaris, Lilac cultivar (possibly var. 'Congo')Lilacs are strictly cold climate shrubs and I love to admire them when visiting the temperate gardens of the 'Highlands' at this time of year. Yesterday was a typical Spring day in that part of...

• Salvia corrugata, Purple Sage

  Posted on Friday October 2nd, 2009 at 17:01 in perennials, exotic shrubs

  Salvia corrugata, Purple SageSalvia corrugata was introduced to the garden world as recently as the year 2000, from its native habitat of Ecuador and Peru. It was first grown in Australia by Tasmanian nurseryman Ken Gillianders .The leaves of this sa...

• Seeing Purple

  Posted on Thursday October 1st, 2009 at 16:47 in exotic shrubs

  I love the colour purple especially in the shrub Lavender. It is also the colour of the Melbourne Storm team who look set for a win in the NRL Grand Final this weekend ....

• Metrosideros excelsa, "Pohutakawa"

  Posted on Wednesday September 30th, 2009 at 17:54 in exotic shrubs

  Metrosideros excelsa syn tomentosus, "Pohutakawa",New Zealand Christmas TreeThis shrub or small tree of the Pacific Islands starts to flower around now and continues well into Summer. There is also a cream flowering variety called 'Moon Maiden' as we...

• Salvia semiatrata, Riviera Sage

  Posted on Monday September 28th, 2009 at 17:18 in perennials, exotic shrubs

  Salvia semiatrata, Riviera SageSalvias have become one of the most popular garden plants because they are almost always in flower and are hardy over of a range of climates . The Riviera Sage above was still in flower in July when this photo was taken...

• Teucrium marum, Cat Thyme

  Posted on Wednesday September 23rd, 2009 at 16:47 in exotic shrubs

  Sammy surrounded by his favourite plant, Cat Thyme ,Teucrium marumThis small leaved silver shrub is native to the islands of the western Mediterranean region and is adored by cats who like to nibble on the leaves or break off small pieces so they can...

• Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Surfrider'

  Posted on Saturday September 19th, 2009 at 03:54 in exotic shrubs

  Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Surfrider'The beautiful Hawaiian Hibiscus seem to be at their best in early Spring and early autumn (April /May) when the sun is not too harsh and the blooms are able to last for at least a couple of days. This is one of the ...

• Golden Rosemary

  Posted on Wednesday September 2nd, 2009 at 16:58 in Herbs, edible plants, exotic shrubs

  Rosmarinus officinalis aureus ,Golden RosemaryFor a brief time in early Spring this Rosemary puts on new growth which is a glowing golden yellow. As the weather warms up it changes to a more soft green colour. It is a robust plant usually reaching ab...

• Lavandula dentata

  Posted on Friday August 28th, 2009 at 17:53 in exotic shrubs

  Lavandula dentata "French" LavenderIn France this is known as "English" lavender, while here we call it "French". Fact is, it is neither French nor English but grows wild in Spain and Morocco. It is a 1metre shrub with very aromatic leaves and it rea...

• Abelia x 'Keat's Gold'

  Posted on Thursday August 27th, 2009 at 06:04 in exotic shrubs, landcape feature and accent plants

  Abelia x grandiflora 'Keat's Gold'The glossy gold splashed leaves of this hardy shrub make quite a statement in any landscape so it has become a popular choice for commercial landscaping projects.I have seen it used in shopping centres and roundabout...

• Plectranthus neochilus,Dogbane

  Posted on Saturday August 15th, 2009 at 17:33 in exotic shrubs

  Plectranthus neochilus, Dogbane or Spur FlowerThis strongly aromatic groundcover is in flower now and has been for almost a month. It is from Zambia , Zimbabwe and Natal in Africa and is the sort of plant you could include in a low water use garden o...

• Nandina domestica 'Nana'

  Posted on Friday August 7th, 2009 at 01:05 in exotic shrubs, landcape feature and accent plants

  Nandina domestica 'Nana'One of the most popular garden and landscaping plants in Australia and much used in the gardens of Service (gas) stations or at roundabouts, it never fails to please at this time of year if you want some brilliant winter colou...

• Magnolia X soulangeana

  Posted on Tuesday July 21st, 2009 at 16:50 in exotic shrubs

  Magnolia x soulangeanaThis Magnolia is at its peak of flowering at the moment . There are lots of new cultivars available as well but this one is the hardiest and easiest to grow. It used to flower in August but like many plants it has responded to m...

• Elegia capensis,Fountain Rush

  Posted on Friday July 17th, 2009 at 00:26 in water plants, exotic shrubs, landcape feature and accent plants

  Elegia capensis, Fountain RushThis is a striking foliage plant from South Africa which forms a large clump to about 3 metres tall. It naturally grows close to streams in Winter rainfall areas which dry out in Summer ,so technically it could be includ...

• Philodendron 'Xanadu'

  Posted on Wednesday July 15th, 2009 at 02:37 in exotic shrubs, landcape feature and accent plants

  Philodendron 'Xanadu'One of the parents of this beautiful hardy plant is Philodendron selloum which is indigenous to southern Brazil and adjacent Paraguay. P selloum was a popular garden plant in the late 20th century especially for tropical style ga...

• Homalocladium platycladium

  Posted on Saturday July 11th, 2009 at 19:30 in exotic shrubs

  Homalocladium platycladium,Tapeworm PlantThis is another strange shrub like the previously mentioned Ruscus which has stems rather than leaves. The jointed flat stems of this plant form tiny leaves for a very short time which drop off after a week or...

• Ruscus aculeatus/Butcher's Broom

  Posted on Friday July 10th, 2009 at 21:04 in exotic shrubs

  Ruscus aculeatus, "Herva dos vasculhos" ,Estufa Fria, LisbonThis strange shrub is native from Europe to Iran and is found in forests and rock crevices especially in limestone soils.In France it is known as Fragon and in Spain Brusco Rusco or Butcher'...

• Iboza riparia

  Posted on Monday July 6th, 2009 at 04:59 in exotic shrubs

  Iboza riparia syn Moschosma ripariaThis shrub sometimes goes by the name of Nutmeg Bush because it belongs to the Mint family and has very aromatic foliage. When you brush against the leaves, a musky or spicy aroma is released. The flowers which smo...

• Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset'

  Posted on Friday July 3rd, 2009 at 17:17 in exotic shrubs

  Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset'The Leucadendrons and their cousins the Proteas are at their best over winter putting on an amazing display of warm coloured leaves and flowers. I photographed this one recently in a cold climate garden and it looked wonde...

• Japanese Sunflower

  Posted on Thursday July 2nd, 2009 at 03:13 in weeds, exotic shrubs

  Tithonia diversifolia ,Japanese sunflowerI am not sure why this is called the Japanese sunflower as it is native to Central America and unlike the annual sunflower this one is perennial and is winter flowering. It grows to be quite a big shrub about ...

• Brugmansia sanguinea

  Posted on Wednesday June 17th, 2009 at 01:22 in exotic shrubs

  This "Angel's Trumpet" is a remarkably cold hardy shrub and a very tropical looking plant which you do not expect to find flowering in winter. Because it is native to the mountainous Andes of Peru it is tolerant of the occasional icy blast of snow ....

• Himalayan Bamboo

  Posted on Tuesday June 9th, 2009 at 02:31 in exotic shrubs, landcape feature and accent plants

  Drepanostachyum falcatum, Himalayan Weeping BambooThis is one of the delightful soft clump forming Bamboos which likes to grow in shade. I have used it here in planter boxes which are open at the bottom to allow for expansion of the root system and ...

• Strelitzia reginae

  Posted on Tuesday June 2nd, 2009 at 17:41 in art, exotic shrubs

  'Misunderstood' by Man Ray (1890-1976)Collection of Man Ray EstateDadaist artist Man Ray gives the "Bird of Paradise" an eye over a desolate landscape, making a cheeky comment on the previous generation of Cubist painters. Below,a fragment from the i...

• Clerodendrum ugandense,Blue Butterfly Bush

  Posted on Thursday May 21st, 2009 at 03:08 in exotic shrubs

  Clerodendrum ugandense, Blue Butterfly BushThe porcelain blue flowers of this 2.5 metre shrub need to be seen up close to admire the detail of its mimicry of a blue butterfly. This Uganda native flowers for most of the year and is still producing op...

• Hibiscus mutablis, Rose of Sharon

  Posted on Wednesday May 13th, 2009 at 04:14 in exotic shrubs

  Hibiscus mutablis Rose of SharonThis is the peak flowering time for this 3 metre shrub which is native to southern China, Taiwan and Japan. It is not grown as much anymore but is seen in old gardens and as a garden escape, naturalized along freeways...

• Vireya Rhododendrons

  Posted on Saturday May 9th, 2009 at 18:10 in exotic shrubs

  Vireya Rhododendrons in flower now at Wollongong Botanic GardensThe Vireya Rhododendrons are hybrids of tropical origin with parents R.macgregori which is from the Goroka highlands of Papua New Guinea, R. lochae from the Bellenden Ker mountains of f...