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  • Armeria maritima – Sea Thrift

    Armeria maritima is a hardy perennial plant that grows in clumps and flowers from spring to summer with shades of pink that are best seen en masse.

    • Plant Family – Part of the Plumbaginaceae family or leadwort family. 
    • Native to – These flowering plants are native to the coastal regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
    • Common Names – It is often called Sea Thrift or Sea Pink.  The word thrift evidently comes from an Old Norse word meaning to thrive. Very apt for this plant as it makes the very best of rather poor ground to produce a display that will lift the spirits.
    • Flowers – The flower heads are formed in a round cluster on top of a thin but sturdy stem. The small flowers are various shades of pink. They remain upright on the thin stems to maintain a fine display.
    • Foliage – The dark green, glossy needle-like leaves form a clump or carpet from which the flower stalks grow to form a canopy.
    • Height and Spread – These are a low growing, ground cover plant that grow to a height of up to 18 inches, mostly shorter than that.  They tend to spread over time into a cluster and form a carpet that accentuates their beauty.
    • Position – These plants thrive in full sun location with a well drained soil, from acidic to alkaline. This makes them ideal for a rock garden, coastal gardens, but can also fit into any well-drained border or even a living roof.

    Overall, a plant that will cope with poor conditions to produce a flowering display and survive year on year with little maintenance.

    Armeria maritima - Sea Thrift

    Rank

    Species

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Armeria maritima

    Common Names:

    Sea Thrift, Sea Pink

    Genus:

    Armeria

    Family:

    Plumbaginaceae

    Related Plants:

    Plumbago, Leadworts

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy, chalky, clay

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral, alkaline

    Moisture:

    well drained

  • Acacia dealbata – Silver or Blue Wattle – Mimosa

    Acacia dealbata is a evergreen shrub or tree that will flower early in the growing season in warm and temperate climates. 

    • Plant Family – Part of the Fabaceae family or Legume family that includes peas and beans. 
    • Native to – These flowering plants are native to southeastern Australia.
    • Common Names – include Silver wattle, blue wattle or mimosa.
    • Flowers – The flowers are bright acid-yellow that grow in clusters of small round balls.
    • Foliage – The foliage is fern-like and green with a blue or silvery grey hue.
    • Height and Spread – these tree/shrubs can grow quickly to a height of 30 metres, or 100ft tall with an equally wide spread.
    • Position – These plants thrive in full sun with a well drained soil, more on the acidic side, but neutral is fine. This makes them ideal in a sunny but sheltered location with a southern aspect and a reasonably mild climate.

    Overall, a striking plant that will look attractive all year round with a splash of colour in the early seasons.

    Acacia dealbata - flowering

    Rank

    Species

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Acacia dealbata

    Common Names:

    Silver Wattle, Blue Wattle, Mimosa

    Genus:

    Acacia

    Family:

    Fabaceae

    Related Plants:

    Legumes, peas and beans

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral

    Moisture:

    well drained

  • Meconopsis – Himalayan Poppy

    Meconopsis is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Papaveraceae or Poppy family. These plants are often known for their beautiful blue petals, but they also come in a variety of purple, white and yellow. Commonly referred to as Himalayan Poppy as they are found natively in the Himalayan Mountains. Given their natural habitat, these plants are fairly hardy, but remain difficult to because being monocarpic they only flower and set seed only once.

    Meconopsis Taxonomy

    The name comes from the Greek for ‘poppy like’, and so other Poppy type flowers were Meconopsis genus. Most Poppies are listed in their own Papaver genus, Papaver being Latin for Poppy, but the Meconopsis genus is kept separate for these Himalayan flowers. All poppies belong to the Order Ranunculales, or Buttercups.

    Meconopsis Strathspey Himalayan Poppy single

    Rank

    Genus

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Meconopsis

    Common Names:

    Himalayan Poppy

    Genus:

    Meconopsis

    Family:

    Papavercaceae

    Related Plants:

    Poppy, Buttercup

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    partial shade, sheltered

    Soil Type:

    clay, loamy

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral

    Moisture:

    moist, well drained

  • Callistemon or Red Bottlebrush Plant

    Callistemon is a genus of exotic flowering plant from the Myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Commonly called the bottlebrush plant for obvious reasons. 

    Currently, there is a debate as to what plants should be specified as Callistemon and those that are a closely related genus, Melaleuca. It appears that on DNA evidence alone most Callistemons are in fact Melaleucas. This is disputed due to differences in physical make-up of the flowers. This has been going on for over 150 years so still a work in progress.

    What is the difference between Melaleuca and Callistemon?

    The two genus both belong to the Myrtaceae family but historically have been kept separate because of certain characteristics of the flower. In both cases they can look like a ‘bottlebrush’, ie. A brush for cleaning bottles with. The stamens growing in clumps from the central woody branch with just a small petal array at the base of each clump. 

    The melaleuca was defined by the difference that these multi-stamen flowers had stamen that are fused into small groups at the base, whilst Callistemon doesn’t. That isn’t a valid difference in every case. For instance Callistemon viminalis (Weeping Bottlebrush) has stamen that are also fused into small groups at the base. 

    Recent use of DNA testing has shown that these two genera are more closely connected than was originally assumed. Most botanists will take one side or the other, follow the DNA or stick with the visible characteristics and keep the two genera separate. Where I live, if they look like a bottlebrush, they will be referred to as Bottlebrush for a long time to come.

    Callistemon Bottlebrush 3

    Rank

    Genus

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Callistemon

    Common Names:

    Bottlebrush

    Genus:

    Callistemon

    Family:

    Myrtaceae

    Related Plants:

    Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Myrtus (Myrtle), Pimenta (Allspice), Psidium (Guava), Syzygium (Clove)

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun, partial shade

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy

    Soil pH:

    weak-acid, neutral, weak-alkaline

    Moisture:

    moist, well drained

  • Aeonium Arboreum – Tree Houseleek – Succulent Plant with Large Colourful Rosettes

    Aeonium arboreum or Tree Houseleek is a subtropical succulent plant native of the Canary Islands and Madeira but has spread to the Iberian Peninsula and North African coast. They make good houseplants and can be grown in patio pots in a sunny position. They should be covered or brought indoors when temperatures fall.

    Aeonium Arboreum Tree Houseleek 1

    Rank

    Species

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Aeonium Arboreum

    Common Names:

    Tree Houseleek

    Genus:

    Aeonium

    Family:

    Crassulaceae

    Related Plants:

    Sedum

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral, alkaline

    Moisture:

    well drained, semi-arid

  • Calceolaria or Slipper Flower

    Calceolaria are a genus flowering plant from the family, Calceolariaceae. Commonly called the Slipper Flower, Lady’s Purse and Slipperwort, due to unusual flowers that resemble slippers or purses and calceolaria being from the Latin for shoe. Currently, there are only 3 genera in its family, although others may soon follow as modern dna analysis is re-classifying plants into their families. There are over 388 species of Calceolaria and that covers a wide range of different plants

    Natively, these plants are found mainly in the Andes Mountains but also anywhere from Southern Patagonia to Central Mexico. Many modern hybrids can be found to brighten up garden pots and hanging baskets.

    Calceolaria Slipper flower acid yellow close up 1

    Rank

    Genus

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Calceolaria

    Common Names:

    Slipper Flower, Lady’s Purse, Slipperwort

    Genus:

    Calceolaria

    Family:

    Calceolariaceae

    Related Plants:

    Porodittia, Jovellana

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun, partial shade, sheltered

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy, clay

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral

    Moisture:

    moist