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  • Cabbage Tree Palm – Effective Exotic Looking Plant

    The Cabbage Tree is a plant I often see feature in many gardens around me where the climate is mild and you find a sheltered sunny spot. Cordyline australis, commonly known as the cabbage tree, is a striking evergreen plant native to New Zealand. It can grow up to 20m and live for several centuries, but I mainly see it around 2 to 5m high. 

    Some people may consider the Cabbage Tree as a palm tree but there is another tree that is native of southeastern US that is known as the Cabbage Palm. Looks somewhat similar but is the Sabal palmetto. The Cabbage Tree may have multiple trunks that branch out into  separate  into multiple flowering heads and a crown of palm like leaves that are long, slender and sword like. In flower, the heads produce a cluster of small, creamy-white flowers. They are fragrant and in a fir tree like spike that can be up to 1m in length, beneath is the green new foliage and if left the brown faded remnants of the past year.

    Cordyline australis - Cabbage Tree
  • Garden Privet – Best for Garden Privacy

    Garden privet continues to be the main choice for garden hedging when privacy is desired. It is an attractive option with its small oval shaped leaves and light structure that allows it to be shaped from the ground up. Very versatile, fast growing and resilient plant that can be trimmed and pruned when necessary to keep its shape and look attractive all year round. Semi-evergreen, depending on conditions, it provides a thick screen once established and well maintained. In early summer it will produce a display of small white fragrant flowers and small black berries in the autumn. 

    Wild Privet vs Garden Privet

    The garden privet, Ligustrum ovalifolium, oval-leaf privet, native of Korea and Japan, has oval shaped leaves with better coverage and may stay green longer. Wild privet, Ligustrum vulgare, native to Europe, has narrower, longer leaves but is less dense and not so good for hedges.  Ligustrum is part of the oleaceae family or Olive family that includes plants such as Lilac. Privet looks like a miniature Lilac. Like much of the family, it requires a sunny, well-drained site but will tolerate a dryer, partial shade.

    Ligustrum ovalifolium - Garden Privet

  • Poinsettia Plant Care – Outdoors

    On a recent trip to St Julian’s, Malta, strolling down the road from my favourite Sicilian coffee shop, I came across a plant growing in a way I had to seen before. The plant itself was familiar, although there are lots of plants that have fresh new leaves of bright red. This was the first time I had seen a Poinsettia other than in a plant pot in Winter Holidays. Understanding proper poinsettia plant care can help ensure these vibrant plants flourish beyond the holiday season.

    This one was growing in a small patch of ground in an otherwise stone paved street. It has shelter from the elements by being close to the building with some overhead protection from the midday sun. The plant looked healthy and had grown to about 2 meters high and 1 meter wide, an impressive feat of poinsettia plant care in an urban environment.

    Growing Outside Poinsettia Plant Care

    These plants are native of Mexico and Central America where they thrive in a warm stable climate that is moist but well drained. They need some sunshine but don’t like extremes or sudden climate changes. In their native environment they can grow to a height of up to 3 meters, provided they receive the right poinsettia plant care.

    The other surprise is that they are in fact a Euphorbia, Euphorbia pulcherrima. The same Genus as commonly called Spurge. I don’t think I will be planting one outside anytime soon as the climate here is just too variable, so likely the next time I see one will be December

    Poinsettia plant care
  • Musk Mallow – A stunner in the Flowering Meadow

    The flowering meadows are in full swing and among the stand out plants I found was this Musk Mallow. The Mallow I normally see is the large shrub mallow often used in borders for height and width, the Malva arborea or Tree Marrow. This Mallow sits just above the grasses to produce a stunning flower head that stands out as a flower among flowers. The Musk Mallow is part of the mallow family (Malvaceae), and can be seen in meadows, hedgerows and by roadsides.

    Musk Mallow Alba

    The flowers emit a slight musky scent, hence the name. They are a perennial flowing plant that is native to Europe and Western Asia. Sometimes used for its culinary and medicinal use, best left to the experts. They certainly standout in wherever they can be found flowering. Some Musk Mallow naturally form a white flower, in this case identified as Malva moschata f. alba.

    Malva moschata pink - Musk Mallow

  • Peony Season Is Upon Us

    Peony season for me is June where I live. True, they can bloom earlier in warm sunny conditions but June is my favourite. Once the borders get lush with green foliage it gives the perfect backdrop to these beautiful blooms, especially when you want to photograph them as I do.

    They are stunning in form, like a rose but softer with soft featherlike foliage unlike the harsh prickly rose. Having said that they do need support to keep them looking their best, windy conditions can soon spoil their beauty. They do have a short blooming time, so you have to be ready to enjoy them before they fade.

    I really find it difficult to choose the best colour. I love the whites, but also love those that start out pink and then fade to white as they open. What about the vivid pink ones, or the deep red. So difficult to make my mind up.

    Peony Season Down Under

    Still Peony season is upon us so just enjoy them all, till next year. Unless of course you are down under; Peony Australia season runs between October and December.

    Pink Peony Season - opening buds and blooms

  • Veronica brachysiphon – Hebe from New Zealand

    Veronica brachysiphon is a shrub that is endemic in New Zealand but making its way across the planet to be found in gardens, like UK. It is part of the Plantaginaceae family that includes  Antirrhinums and Fox Gloves among many more species. Common name is Hookers Hebe after Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 

    Loved by the Bees

    The Bees were very active on this flowering shrub. It thrives on well drained soil and can tolerate a wide range of situations. 

    Veronica brachysiphon