Category: Shrubs

Giant Bird of Paradise –Strelitzia nicolai  is a really striking tall palm like plant that looks fantastic at the back of a large bed or as the center piece of a round garden particularly when surrounded by a low hedge It gets the same shape flower as the more common variety but is candy red and white.

Tricolour Jasmine – Trachelospermum Tricolour really hardy in sunny or semi shade position, Can be formed into a low hedge or let go as a ground cover, will drape of the edge of walls and post great filler in a busy garden.

“Prince of Persia” – Strobilanthes dyerianus fantastic colour to fill those semi shade spots in the garden. Really easy to strike out from cuttings so only ever buy one.

Giant Bird of Paradise –Strelitzia nicolai  is a really striking tall palm like plant that looks fantastic at the back of a large bed or as the center piece of a round garden particularly when surrounded by a low hedge It gets the same shape flower as the more common variety but is candy red and white.

Palm Grass – Molineria Capitulata  This is a great  plant to use as a filler around the base of trees and palms. Looks great behind a low hedge and in front of taller plants. Is quite hardy and easy to grow, likes the shade and will spread by runners  so you don’t need to buy a lot just a few to get things started. As you can see here they grow to about 70cm but like all grass i suspect if watered and fed they will get a bit bigger

Geraniums – Numerous Varieties (422)

Another great plant to share with family and friends. So easy to strike into a pot with potting mix. Lots of different colours and sizes available and there are even scented Geraniums (cinnamon, rose, lemon or peppermint fragrances).

Great in pots on your patio, but if you want to plant them out try a few spots with the potted plant first. They say the plant needs full sun but I have found that the stay a nice dark green colour in a warm morning sun position that is shady in the afternoon. Keep fed with a low nitrogen slow release fertiliser and only water once in a while as they like to have dry roots. Tip prune and remove dead flowers to bring on new growth.

 

Clivia – Clivia miniata

Named after Lady Charlotte Florentina Clive, who was the granddaughter of  Clive of India.  These plants come from South Africa and are very useful in a spot that is mostly shade. They are bulletproof and will survive no matter what you do to them, They are a lilly so corns can be divided and they look fantastic in a clumping mass planting. around palms and shady trees. They flower in Spring and as you can see put on quite a show, But the foliage is also very attractive.

Cordyline fruticosa Rubra

Another great plant to fill space in the mid to rear section of a garden that is shaded by trees or palms. The good thing is that they are so easy to propagate from a cutting so look around your street or friends gardens, they are bound to have one and you just need a 15cm cutting.

Put the cutting in a 140mm pot of potting mix and keep it moist and in the part sun and you will have a new plant in no time. In line with my needs they tick all the boxes, being pretty tough, can take being dry for a while but are at their best when feed and watered. There are dozens of different Cordylines around in colours from Red to yellow and orange

Ixora coccinea

Pronounced x-or-a this shrub is an evergreen native of India and very popular in tropical environments. Tough plant likes semi shade and fertile conditions for flowering.  Grows to just over 1 meter high and wide it is a good plant for the mid section of a garden in between other large plants. Best part is there is dozens of different colour flowers available in this plant