Garden Weekends - by Amanda Crotty

Ficus coronata This bushy species grows to about 8 m and is endemic from East Gippsland, Victoria to Mackay, Queensland in dry littoral and subtropical rainforests. It has edible fruit that grow along the branches, apparently with a sweet taste, not mine though when I tested the fruit I would ...

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My Blueberry ash, Elaeocarpus reticulatus is looking pretty at this time of the year with its pink, fringed bell like flowers. The blue egg shaped 9 - 10mm long fruit will follow and ripen in about three months. This large shrub or small tree is found mainly in rainforest areas and in moist co...

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The Banksia is a distinctive group of plants identified and named by Sir Joseph Banks in 1770. Botany Bay in Sydney got its name from a diary entry of Banks describing how his collection of plant samples had grown so large he was concerned they would spoil in the books. He took all his drying pap...

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Grasstree These primitive plants consisting of about 20 species are said to have been on the Australian continent for over 100 million years, pre dating the eucalypts. Grass trees are very slow growing and may live to a great age. Normal growth rate is about 2 or 3 centimetres a year or about...

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Bottlebrush Its not hard to see how these Australian evergreen shrubs and small trees got the common name of Bottlebrush, this perfectly describes the flowers produced from late spring through summer, with some types even flowering again in Autumn. Callistemon are widely cultivated with flo...

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Coriandrum sativum Coriander is an annual native to southern Europe and western Asia. Grows to 50cm, with finely cut upper leaves, small white or pink flowers and rounded seeds in beige seed coats. This herb is now grown throughout the world for its spicey aromatic seeds, used in curry powde...

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I have always grown a few herbs in my garden, but after working alongside an older person who looked much younger then their years, putting their good health down to eating FRESH herbs. I started to think maybe I was not including enough fresh herbs in my own diet so began my real interest in growin...

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EARLY BLOOMERS As I wander around the garden at this time of the year to my delight I am starting to see some colour happening in the flower garden. The air temperature is still cold overnight with frosts but living amongst the trees has its advantages frost protection bein...

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Blue Butterfly Bush Its not hard to work out how this pretty semi deciduous shrub was given the common name of the blue butterfly bush. This blue flowering bush can be grown in almost any position from temperate to tropical climates, though it does prefer a half ...

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PENTAS Pentas are a great plant for warmer climates that grow to an average height of 60 cm. They flower abuntly in a range of colours during spring, summer and autumn. If withering flower heads are removed flowers will continue to be produced ensuring plants are covered with flowers for a...

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This evergreen shrub is of sutropical habitat, disliking both frost and scorching heat. It is a waist high spring to summer flowering plant from southern China, with the wild plants flowers being flat and single, though the garden cultivars are always double, opening in beautiful symmetry...

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These wonderful hardy plants are native to China and Japan where they grow wild along river banks. An easy to grow plant suitable for any position in the garden, flowering from spring through till autumn. Aptly named as the blooms last only a day so not one for cut flower displays, but the lo...

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Though this plant is native to Peru it is also called the New Zealand Christmas bell, because of its popularity in that country where it flowers at Christmas time. A fairly hardy herbacious perennial that produces 4 - 5 cm wide red and green flowers with red brown spots. This plant flowers ea...

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Few flowering bulbs are more spectacular than hippeastrums. These trumpet shaped tropical lilies are indigenous to South America but cultivated almost everywhere as pot plants. The flowers can be up to 30 centimetres across, and come in colours from white streaked with red to deepest crimson. ...

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Clivia originate from South Africa and are the perfect plant for the most difficult parts of the garden. They grow well in dry shady spots under trees, or in the shady spots in the open garden where other plants struggle to survive. The plant has strap like leaves similar to agapanthus but dark...

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