A fresh approach to plant lists is needed

Who guides who when it comes to plant trends in Victoria? Does the consumer demand for the same old favourites dictate what is grown or does the Victorian horticulture industry have a responsibility to continually excite and inspire consumers with fresh offerings?

A recent plant trend report, informed by industry professionals, suggested the following outdoor plants would be among those “popping up in homes across Australia this year”.

Lilly pilly (Syzygium smithii), English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Parrotbeak (Lotus berthelotii), Geranium (Pelargonium capitatum), Orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata), Bull Bay Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), Common juniper (Juniperus communis), Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), Weeping japanese maples (Acer palmatum var. dissectum).

Matt Reed, one of the owners at Antique Perennials, feels that as an industry we are doing ourselves a disservice in offering up the same predictable, boring, and overused plant lists. And that the industry has a responsibility to inspire and educate consumers on the alternative and less heralded plants ranges.

“These plants have been seen millions of times in nurseries and gardens for the last 30 years, it is neither new, original or the least bit encouraging to anyone wandering around a nursery looking for choice. Is it encouraging to see an entire suburb with the same plants? The future of the industry does not lie in growing more of the same,” said Matt.

We asked Matt which plants he’d like to celebrate this year and here’s what he came back with:

Potted or flowering colour – Phlomis russelliana

Evergreen – Salvia Pozo Blue Deciduous – Euonymus alatus compactus Low maintenance – Geranium ‘Silver Cloak’

Succulent – Avera Sunset (Bulbine frutescens)

Unique – Prairie Blues (Andropogon) Trellis plants -– Hydrangea petiolaris

We’d like to invite our members to respond and create your own plant trend report. Let us know your top outdoor, potted or flowering colour, evergreen, deciduous, low maintenance, succulent, unique and trellis plants. We’ll share the results in the next issue of Groundswell.