Island Gardens

by Peter Schinkel

Welcome back, everyone. What a summer of growth! So much rain and lots of sunny warmth have led to one of our lushest summers yet. It could be time for a good prune throughout the garden and maybe weeding too. When that's done, it's worth laying down lots of sugar cane or Lucerne mulch, bark if you prefer, all so that next summer, like me you may find yourself only weeding a few minutes a month. Bliss!

Anyway, did someone say work? Let's change the subject to height and colour! We are sometimes looking for plants to add height in our gardens and we're blessed in our region to have many that flower all or close to all-yearround, and others that always flowers during the cooler months. There are many favourites to buy even now before the cooler weather arrives - dwarf bougainvilleas (eg. bambino), roses, native frangipanis (which stay less than about a metre wide, and so many more. Simply ask your local plant people at nurseries and markets. There are always many choices but today, we're looking at these three gems that will add a little height here and there in your garden or do very well in a large pot (40cm or taller). All three are tough and very easy to grow.

The first image on the left is probably the most popular tibouchina around. The "Jazzie". Tibouchinas are native to South America and grow in a wide variety of climates. The Jazzie grows to around a metre tall and its stunning rich purple blooms flower mostly in autumn, but almost year-round in southeast Queensland. Perfect for a splash of colour among the green. To be honest, I say that for every colourfully-flowering beauty, but this depth of purple is both stunning and uncommon. In the middle is a Dwarf Golden Wattle. A true gem with its blue-green leaves and bright yellow flowers from June to October. It grows to just one metre and like most native shrubs or trees, the wattle attracts native birds who enjoy the seeds and insects. It's worth noting here that dwarf grevilleas and Callistemon are also commonly available, all with similar attractions and benefits. The Photo on the right are some Leptospermum, which most commonly come with white flowers (at the back of the photo), pink (prominent in the centre of the photo), red, and a creamy green (popping up at the bottom). If you can find the "Ballerina" variety, you'll be especially delighted with its multicolour flower display. There are approximately 40 species, all native to Australasia (mostly AU, NZ and PNG). Always check the height as some grow tall, but whatever you choose, they always stand out as a feature plant in the garden.

In Issue 161 on 11th March, we'll have a look at some more attractive and easy-to-grow plants for adding a little height to your garden. Meanwhile thanks for reading and happy gardening!