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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
  • Cosmos – Garden Stars That Shine

    The Daisy family, Asteraceae, is the second biggest and provides some of the best loved flowing plants we have. Cosmos are well ordered flowers with fine featherlike leaves that stand tall. The name Cosmos comes from the Greek for ‘ordered world’.

    They are well ordered and keep their form, even when massed together, giving a super colourful display in any border. Colours range from chocolate, through orange, magenta, pink and white. All with a yellow centre with radial petals, like little solar systems or galaxies in perfect synchronisation. A very apt name, Cosmos.

    Cosmos - multi-coloured

  • Calendula – Pot Marigold a Tenacious Sunny Bloom

    Coming across a brightly coloured flower, standing out in a harsh stoney environment does bring a smile. This Calendula or Pot marigold, is a member of the Asteraceae family and has the typical daisy flower head. Native of southern Europe it now cultivated for gardens across the world and has uses other than its obvious ornamental value.

    It has uses in the kitchen as parts are edible, such as the petals can be used in salads. It has uses in medicine as an anti-inflammatory and has skin healing properties. Compounds from Calendula can be found in cosmetics too, but can cause an allergic reaction. 

    Calendula - lone yellow flower by pavement curb
  • Leucanthemum vulgar – Oxeye daisy everywhere

    Oxeye daisy is now everywhere. It grows in abundance on the roadside verges, river banks, parks and any grassy areas that suit. They prefer a sunny location with well drained soil, and that means they will be at home on any south facing embankment, proliferating at the expense of most other flowers. Still a welcome site that cheers up the green landscape, or brown as it is becoming at the moment.

    Leucanthemum vulgare or Oxeye daisy are part of the Asteraceae family with the typical daisy like flower head of white petals with a bright yellow central disc. This disc contains many nectar filled flowers that attract bees, butterflies and many other insects. So, good for the biodiversity, as long as they don’t completely dominate an area.

    Luecanthemum vulgare - Oxeye daisy
  • 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

  • Cape Fuchsia – Keeps Coming Back

    Cape Fuchsia is a plant that thrives in my area where it is protected from the harsh elements. It not only keeps coming back but tries to spread out using suckers that spread along the surface producing their own roots it not trimmed back. Although it flowers well the flowers don’t last long in the heat we are seeing at the moment. Of course it is not a Fuchsia, nor closely related, but does have some resemblance.  It also sits well along side my perennial Fuchsias.

    Known scientifically as Phygelius, this particular variant is the Phygelius aequalis ‘Yellow Trumpet’. It is a member of the Scrophulariaceae family. The Scrophulariaceae family has at least 2 other members that work well for me, Buddleja and Namesia. Although, to be fair they will grow almost anywhere. The shrub maintains a tidy look throughout the season but needs some pruning in the autumn to keep it at its best and not spreading out of control.

    Cape Fuchsia - Phygelius aequalis - Yellow Trumpet