What-To-Do – Tried and True Plants
Episode: #1 10/03/07
Presenter: Melissa King
Tried and True plants are just that, they are great performers that you can rely on to form the backbone of your garden. They are good looking, tough, reliable, plants that have earned a place in a garden. Autumn is the perfect time for planting, so do not leave the garden centre without one of these beauties.
Blue Arrow Conifer (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Blue Arrow’)
If you want something tough and stylish with year round good looks, try Juniper ‘Blue Arrow’. It is one of those fantastic plants with a columnar growth habit – it is tall and narrow – so makes a great screening plant, with a formal Mediterranean look. It also boasts superb silvery blue foliage and grows fairly fast with little attention.
Indian Summer Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x L. faunei ‘Indian Summer’
The Crepe Myrtle is one of the best trees for small gardens. For vibrant autumn foliage and summer flowers it is hard to beat. Most varieties sit around 4 metres tall, and it boasts showy summer flowers, vibrant autumn foliage and as a mature tree, outstanding bark. These varieties are from the Indian Summer Range, bred to be more resistant to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that can plague older varieties.
After Dark Agonis (Agonis flexuosa ‘ After Dark’)
One of the best native trees around the Agonis ‘After Dark’ is a stunning form that is smaller and more decorative, growing to 6 metres tall with slender deep burgundy foliage and claret coloured new growth. It has an attractive slightly weeping habit and the bonus of small white flowers with burgundy centres. It is perfect on the coast.
Port Wine Magnolia (Michelia figo)
The Port Wine Magnolia makes the perfect flowering hedge – it is compact, evergreen and because it flowers on old wood, you will not sacrifice the buds when you prune it back. The flowers are fairly insignificant to look at, but boy does their perfume pack a punch. It does not grow terribly fast, but trust me it is worth the wait!
Bower Plant (Pandorea jasminoides ‘Lady Di)
Climbing plants work beautifully trailing over fences and pergolas. During spring and summer Pandoreas take centre stage, smothered in trumpet like flowers. ‘Bower of Beauty’ is a particularly vigorous form with pretty pink flowers. Melissa also loves the white flowering ‘Lady Di’.
To keep our gardens looking great, here is this week’s waterwise tip.
There are so many plants that are tailor made to thrive in dry conditions. Look for plants with silver or grey foliage that reflects the heat, succulent water storing foliage or tiny leaves which reduce the surface area for water loss.
If you want more waterwise tips or planting inspiration make sure you get your hands on the Autumn edition of the Garden Gurus Newspaper – It is a great read!
For more water-wise tips head to the Our Water Our Future website
www.ourwater.vic.gov.au
Presenter: Melissa King
Tried and True plants are just that, they are great performers that you can rely on to form the backbone of your garden. They are good looking, tough, reliable, plants that have earned a place in a garden. Autumn is the perfect time for planting, so do not leave the garden centre without one of these beauties.
Blue Arrow Conifer (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Blue Arrow’)
If you want something tough and stylish with year round good looks, try Juniper ‘Blue Arrow’. It is one of those fantastic plants with a columnar growth habit – it is tall and narrow – so makes a great screening plant, with a formal Mediterranean look. It also boasts superb silvery blue foliage and grows fairly fast with little attention.
Indian Summer Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x L. faunei ‘Indian Summer’
The Crepe Myrtle is one of the best trees for small gardens. For vibrant autumn foliage and summer flowers it is hard to beat. Most varieties sit around 4 metres tall, and it boasts showy summer flowers, vibrant autumn foliage and as a mature tree, outstanding bark. These varieties are from the Indian Summer Range, bred to be more resistant to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that can plague older varieties.
After Dark Agonis (Agonis flexuosa ‘ After Dark’)
One of the best native trees around the Agonis ‘After Dark’ is a stunning form that is smaller and more decorative, growing to 6 metres tall with slender deep burgundy foliage and claret coloured new growth. It has an attractive slightly weeping habit and the bonus of small white flowers with burgundy centres. It is perfect on the coast.
Port Wine Magnolia (Michelia figo)
The Port Wine Magnolia makes the perfect flowering hedge – it is compact, evergreen and because it flowers on old wood, you will not sacrifice the buds when you prune it back. The flowers are fairly insignificant to look at, but boy does their perfume pack a punch. It does not grow terribly fast, but trust me it is worth the wait!
Bower Plant (Pandorea jasminoides ‘Lady Di)
Climbing plants work beautifully trailing over fences and pergolas. During spring and summer Pandoreas take centre stage, smothered in trumpet like flowers. ‘Bower of Beauty’ is a particularly vigorous form with pretty pink flowers. Melissa also loves the white flowering ‘Lady Di’.
To keep our gardens looking great, here is this week’s waterwise tip.
There are so many plants that are tailor made to thrive in dry conditions. Look for plants with silver or grey foliage that reflects the heat, succulent water storing foliage or tiny leaves which reduce the surface area for water loss.
If you want more waterwise tips or planting inspiration make sure you get your hands on the Autumn edition of the Garden Gurus Newspaper – It is a great read!
For more water-wise tips head to the Our Water Our Future website
www.ourwater.vic.gov.au
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