February
A few plants that are in bloom in our garden in February
Click on any image to enlarge and scroll though all the images for each week.
Callistemon ‘Firebrand’ (Fairhill form) syn. Hansa’s Firebrand
27 February 2024
Starting from the top left:
Acacia cremiflora
We planted three of these rounded shrubs, 1-1.5m high x 2m wide, with green circular foliage and cream flowers on arching branches in 2016-17. These plants bloom at least three times a year and their foliage, dark seed pods and umbrella shape is pleasing at all times of the year. This plant is native to central NSW, near Orange.
Correa ‘Canberra Bells’
We have tried seven specimens of this shrub, which grows to to 1m x 1m, with oval green foliage and red and cream bell flowers from late summer to winter. The plants in the ground have not done as well for us as one we planted in a pot in March 2017. The plant in the pot blooms prolifically over a long period. Perhaps mercifully the plants in the ground were squashed flat by the fall of a pine in July 2016.
Correa ‘Warrandyte Wonder’
We planted this small shrub, 0.5m high x 1-2m wide, with velvet pink flowers, in October 2021.
Grevillea ‘Bush Lemons’
We have tried twice to establish Grevillea ‘Bush Lemons’, grafted specimens, in our garden but have had to admit defeat. Our frosty conditions are too severe for this plant. One, planted in March 2013 died in September 2015 after flowering somewhat in December 2013. The other, planted in February 2018, was frosted off in the winter and died in September 2018. In February 2022, we obtained an advanced standard form of ‘Bush Lemons’ in a pot, and one year later it is performing well. The lemon toothbrush flowers last a long time and the deeply divided grey-green foliage is a bonus. This beautiful plant was developed at Changers Green Nursery in Gin Gin Queensland, but the exact parentage is not known.
Hibiscus geranioides
We planted this annual or biennial species, 0.75m high x 0.75m wide, with dark green, lobed leaves and delicate pink flowers with a darker throat, in a pot in October 2015. This charming plant flowers over many months. We removed our original plant in 2021, as it had grown too large for its position and was not blooming so freely, but the cutting Ben made is growing and flowering well. This plant is widespread in tropical areas of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland. In common with most Hibiscus species, the individual flowers last only 1-2 days but new flowers continue to open over a long period.
Melaleuca lateritia
Melaleuca lateritia, or Robin Redbreast Bush, is a medium shrub, supposedly 1.5m high and wide, although has grown to 2m x 2m in our garden. We planted eight of these in March 2004 on the corners of the parterres near the house. They flowered first for us in January 2005 and have continued to flower over long periods since then. The flowers are bright orange-red, almost Dayglo orange. If these shrubs start to look unsightly you can cut them back to the ground and they will reshoot and flower again in two years. Ben calls them the resurrection plant. This plant is native to southwestern coast of WA.
27 February 2023
Starting from the top left:
Banksia marginata
We planted six specimens of our local banksia, Banksia marginata or Silver Banksia in 2003. These grew well and produced attractive yellow flowers with plenty of nectar for the birds. The silver-backed foliage as it moves in the wind has been a valued asset. All but one have now been removed.
Callistemon ‘Hannah Ray’
We have about 30 of this C. viminalis cultivar with a weeping habit and red brushes, forming a small tree to 4.5m high, named after the late Mrs. Harry Hazlewood (nee Miss Hannah Ray).
Callistemon ‘Tangerine Dream’
We have planted seven of these free flowering shrubs, 2m high, with tangerine bottle brushes and new foliage which is an attractive pink colour, from 2010-16. This plant benefits from a light prune after flowering. We have removed most of these in 2018 for failure to thrive, but two remain.
Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’
This shrub is a slightly frost sensitive plant from the Queensland garden of Denis Cox and Jan Glazebrook, 1.2m x 1.5m, with attractive divided foliage and lovely peach and cream flowers in profusion during summer. This plant needs a little frost protection in Canberra but is worth the bother. Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’ is a standout grevillea for us, the only large flowered grevillea that we can grow in our garden.
Grevillea thyrsoides
We planted Grevillea thyrsoides, a standard grafted on Grevillea robusta, in April 2011. This plant comes from Kalbarri, WA and in nature is a low mounding shrub to 70cm with a spread of 2m. The foliage is a feature of this plant, grey needles which are hard to the touch, and the red toothbrush flowers are borne at the ends of long stalks.
Tristaniopsis laurina – Water Gum
We planted this tree, 5-15 metres high, with a smooth creamy brown trunk and perfumed yellow flowers followed by woody seed capusules, in November 2016. This plant is native to moist, well-drained sites along the east coast of Australia.
13 February 2023
Starting from the top left:
Banksia marginata
We planted six specimens of our local banksia, Banksia marginata or Silver Banksia in 2003. These grew well and produced attractive yellow flowers with plenty of nectar for the birds. In fact, Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos quietly attacked a couple of trees and damaged them extensively. The silver-backed foliage as it moves in the wind has been a valued asset. All but one have now been removed. The remaining Silver Banksia droops over our lily pond and remains a favourite tree for small birds. This plant is native to southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. We planted three Banksia marginata in March 2017, which were grown from seed from specimens on Mt. Wellington, Tasmania.
Callistemon subulatus ‘Brogo Overflow’
Callistemon subulatus ‘Brogo Overflow’ is incredibly successful for us. We have planted a hedge of 20 of these in June 2009. They are planted in a rather inhospitable place where the clay soil has been bulldozed up to form the lip for our large pond. In spite of the wet clay, or maybe because of it, these have prospered, and despite being cut back every year flower at least twice every year with many red brushes. The new growth is soft and pinkish silver and very inviting to the touch.
Callistemon ‘Tangerine Dream’
We have planted seven of these free flowering shrubs, 2m high, with tangerine bottle brushes and new foliage which is an attractive pink colour, from 2010-16. This plant benefits from a light prune after flowering. We have removed most of these in 2018 for failure to thrive, but two remain.
Correa glabra pink and cream
We planted three of these plants, 1m high and wide, with shiny green leaves and pink and cream bell flowers, in March 2017. This plant is native to NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.
Grevillea ’Goldfever’
We have planted five of these low spreading shrubs, 30cm high and 1.5m, with yellow flowers all year round, from 2005-11. The flowers attract nectar feeding birds. This plant is a Bywong Nursery selection.
Tristaniopsis laurina – Water Gum
We planted this tree, 5-15 metres high, with a smooth creamy brown trunk and perfumed yellow flowers followed by woody seed capusules, in November 2016. This plant is native to moist, well-drained sites along the east coast of Australia, from the Brisbane River in Queensland, through coastal New South Wales to the Gippsland region of Victoria. It is commonly found growing along creek banks and in rainforest openings in light shade to full sunlight. Named in honour of Jules M.C.Tristan (1776 - 1861), a French botanist.
28 February 2022
Starting from the top left:
Acacia linifolia - Flax-leaved Wattle, White Wattle
We planted two of these graceful open shrubs, 2–6 m high, with arching .branches and terminal heads of cream flowers, in 2015 and 2020. The first one was crushed by a falling cypress branch in 2018, but the second one is still growing. This plant is native to the eastern side of the Great Divide from Singleton south to and Narooma in NSW.
Androcalva loxophylla (Rulingia kempeana)
We have planted five of these erect shrubs, 1.5m high x 1.5m wide, with small hairy green leaves with toothed margins and bright yellow flowers at the base of leaves, over the period 2015-18. This plant is native to WA, SA, NT and Queensland.
Banksia media ‘Copper Candles’
We planted this cultivar, 1.5m high x 1.5m wide, with golden yellow flowers and glossy green leaves, in September 2019. First flowers 1/22.
Crowea saligna ‘Large Flower’
We planted three of these small shrubs in pots, 80cm high x 60cm wide, with large pink flowers and aromatic foliage. Native bees and butterflies are attracted to this plant.
Eremophila maculata ‘Silver Hybrid’
We have planted three of these hybrids between E. maculata and E. viscida in 2017 and 2019 This hardy shrub, 2m high and wide, has silver grey flowers and is a vigorous grower.
Scaevola ‘Sitting Pretty’
We planted three of this Scaevola humilis selection, bred by Peter Abell, with pink flowers and a spreading habit to 1m wide, in February 2015. The pink flowers are attractive over a long period, but our three plants are not very vigorous.
21 February 2022
Starting at the top left:
Acacia implexa - Lightwood
We have planted three of these small trees, 4-6m high x 4m wide, with long curved foliage, pale yellow ball flowers and twisted pods, in 2013, 2019 and 2020. This wattle is widespread in eastern Australia from central coastal Queensland to southern Victoria with outliers in the Atherton Tablelands and King Island.
Banksia pulchella – Teasel Banksia (grafted)
We planted a grafted specimen of this plant in April 2009. The species name is from the Latin for pretty. The shrub grows to 1m high and flowers with brownish-yellow teasel flowers with unusual grey, knobbly fruiting cones. Our plant has flowered reliably since April 2010. This plant is native to the south coast of Western Australia, near Esperance. The type collection was by Robert Brown in January 1802, Lucky Bay, WA.
Callistemon subulatus ‘Brogo Overflow’
Callistemon subulatus ‘Brogo Overflow’ is incredibly successful for us. We have planted a hedge of 20 of these in June 2009. They are planted in a rather inhospitable place where the clay soil has been bulldozed up to form the lip for our large pond. In spite of the wet clay, or maybe because of it, these have prospered, and despite being cut back every year flower at least twice every year with many red brushes. The new growth is soft and pinkish silver and very inviting to the touch.
Eremophila bignoniiflora x polyclada ‘Big Poly’
We planted Eremophila bignoniifolia x polyclada, or ‘Big Poly’, in April 2008 and after a rocky start this plant has grown to 3m high and wide in our garden. This plant has dark green strappy leaves with white flowers with lilac spotted throats in profusion and responds well to pruning.
Eremophila bignoniiflora x viscida ‘Meringur Midnight’
We have planted three of these shrubs, 4m high x 2m wide, with long narrow green leaves and deep mauve flowers most of the year, in 2015, 2016 and 2018. This plant enjoys a hot sunny site and is best on heavy soils. This plant originated in Russell Wait’s garden from an E. bignoniiflora seed..
Grevillea ‘Bush Lemons’
We have tried twice to establish Grevillea ‘Bush Lemons’, grafted specimens, in our garden but have to admit defeat. Our frosty conditions are too severe for this plant. One, planted in March 2013 died in September 2015 after flowering somewhat in December 2013. The other, planted in February 2018, was frosted off in the winter and died in September 2018. I am now, February 2022, trying a standard form in a pot, as I admire its many lemon flowers.
14 February 2022
Starting from the top left:
Acacia cremiflora
We planted three of these rounded shrubs, 1-1.5m high x 2m wide, with green circular foliage on arching branches and cream flowers in 2016-17. These plants bloom at least three times a year and their foliage, dark seed pods and umbrella shape is pleasing at all times of the year. This plant is native to central NSW, near Orange.
Correa glabra pink and cream
We planted three of these plants, 1m high and wide, with shiny green leaves and pink and cream bell flowers, in March 2017. This plant is native to NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.
Eremophila hygrophana
What a great plant Eremophila hygrophana is. Even though we lost our original plant after five years we were emboldened to plant another in February 2019 and this plant is flowering well with a really beautiful large purple flower which contrasts well with the greyish leaves.
Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’
This shrub is a slightly frost sensitive plant from the garden of Denis and Jan Cox, 1.2m x 1.5m, with attractive divided foliage and lovely peach and cream flowers in profusion during summer. This plant needs a little frost protection in Canberra, but is worth the bother. Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’ is a standout grevillea for us, the only large flowered grevillea that we can grow in our garden. We planted three of them over three years, 2005-7 up against a warm wall and they have thrived. The foliage is bright green and divided, and the flowers are stunning, large cream spider flowers, that turn to peach on maturing. They are challenged in our garden by the shade of the nearby lemon trees and have reached out into the path to get more sun, but we forgive them for blocking the path because of their stunning blooms.
Grevillea speciosa x oldei
We planted this spreading shrub, 1m high x 1.5m wide, with profuse dark pink flowers, in February 2015. This plant needs freely draining acidic soils in sun or dappled shade and flowers over a long period.
Podolepsis hieracioides
We were gifted two of these woody perennials in February 2019, growing to 70cm high with yellow flowers, native to the southern half of NSW and Victoria. The plants disappeared for the winter but reappeared in spring and have spread since then.
7 February 2022
Starting from the top left:
Banksia media ‘Copper Candles’
We planted this cultivar, 1.5m high x 1.5m wide, with golden yellow flowers and glossy green leaves, in September 2019. First flowers 1/22.
Callistemon ‘Sugar Candy’
We have planted three of this form of C. sieberi , 3m high x 2m wide, with silvery foliage and candy pink brushes, in 2016. This plant is hardy in dry or moist sand or clay and frost tolerant. Our plants are blooming particularly well with the La Nina rain of 2022.
Grevillea rhyolitica x ‘Deua Gold’
We planted three Grevillea rhyolitica x ‘Deua Gold’ on February 2019. These have grown well and flowered with yellow-gold blooms on arching green foliage. After two years they were thinning out and looking poorly in October 2021, but have now rebounded with La Nina rain in 2022.
Grevillea ’Goldfever’
We have planted five of these low spreading shrubs, 30cm high and 1.5m, with yellow flowers all year round, from 2005-11. The flowers attract nectar feeding birds. This plant is a Bywong Nursery selection.
Stenocarpus ‘Doreen’
We planted this shrub to 2m high x 1.5m wide, with creamy flowers and mid-green foliage in October 2014.
Tristaniopsis laurina – Water Gum
We planted this tree, 5-15 metres high, with a smooth creamy brown trunk and perfumed yellow flowers followed by woody seed capusules, in November 2016. This plant is native to moist, well-drained sites along the east coast of Australia, from the Brisbane River in Queensland, through coastal New South Wales to the Gippsland region of Victoria. It is commonly found growing along creek banks and in rainforest openings in light shade to full sunlight. Named in honour of Jules M.C.Tristan (1776 - 1861), a French botanist.
1 February 2021
Starting from the top left:
Brachychiton ‘Bella Rosa’ - grafted
We planted a grafted form of this hybrid brachychiton, B. bidwillii x B. spectabilis, in October 2017. This plant reaches about 3-4m high and has dark red flowers in spring and summer on bare branches, followed by lush foliage.
Callistemon ‘Firebrand’ (Fairhill form) syn. Hansa’s Firebrand
We planted 50 of these weeping shrubs as a hedge, 1.5m x 1.5m, with bright red bottle brush flowers in spring and autumn over the years 2004-8. These have formed a dense hedge, rather larger than the advertised 1.5m x 1.5m, closer to 2m high and wide.
Correa ‘Canberra Bells’
We have tried seven specimens of this shrub, growing to 1m x 1m, with red and cream bell flowers from late summer to winter. The plants in the ground have not done as well for us as one we planted in a pot in March 2017. The plant in the pot blooms prolifically over a long period. Perhaps mercifully the plants in the ground were squashed flat by the fall of a pine in July 2016.
Hakea ruscifolia - Candle-spike Hakea
We planted one of these hakeas in November 2013, a spreading, sparsely branched shrub, 2m high x 2m wide, with elliptical leaves and profuse scented white flowers in terminal spikes. Our plant has not flowered before this year, but is massed with flowers now.
Veronica arenaria
We planted 15 of these small to medium shrubs, 0.6-1.5m high x 1-2m wide, with narrow leaves and violet-blue flowers in 2013. Most of them have died out over time, but one volunteer in another part of the garden blooms well.
8 February 2021
Starting from the top left:
Banksia marginata – Silver Banksia
We planted six of these local banksias as part of our foundation planting in 2003. This plant is a variable species depending on origin and may form a rounded shrub to 4 m diameter with dense growth, or sparser tree like plant to 6 m. Leaves are dark green with silver on the underside and yellow cylindrical spikes of flower. We have removed most of these trees except for one which droops over the top pond. The flower nectar is very popular with the birds.
Banksia ‘Yellow Wing’
We planted eight of this banksia cultivar, Banksia ‘Giant Candles’ x B. spinulosa (Carnarvon Gold) ‘Birdwire’ in 2006. This plant forms a medium rounded shrub (1.5-1.8m high x 1.5-1.8m wide) with fine dense foliage and large, golden, nectar rich flowers held above the foliage. Our plants usually flower in winter, but this summer have continued to flower while also developing new cones.
Correa glabra ‘Cappuccino’
We planted this shrub with long fawn bells, height 1.5m x 1m wide, in October 2013. This plant responds well to pruning.
Crowea saligna ‘Large Flower’
We planted three of these small shrubs in pots, 80cm high x 60cm wide, with large pink flowers and aromatic foliage. Native bees and butterflies are attracted to this plant.
Eremophila calorhabdos
We have planted a dozen of these upright spindly shrubs, from 1m to 4m high by 1.5m wide or less, over ten years. We now have three remaining with serrated green leaves which are evenly spaced along the branches and bright pink flowers.
15 February 2021
Starting from the top left:
Correa glabra ‘Winter Glow’
We planted 30 of these rounded shrubs to 2.5m high and 2m in diameter with smooth rounded leaves and bell shaped lime green flowers in 2003. The glossy foliage looks good all year and these plants can be clipped and shaped as desired.
Correa ‘Ros’
This plant appeared in our garden about two years ago. We certainly did not plant it, and it is not like anything else we have in the garden. It could be a hybrid, or it could have travelled into our garden on another plant. Anyone recognise this plant?
Grevillea ‘Semperflorens’ (sold as ‘Mallee Dawn’)
We planted three of these cultivars in September 2007, labelled as ‘Mallee Dawn’, with soft apricot flowers massing over the bush. Peter Olde informed us that this plant is not ‘Mallee Dawn’ but is actually G. ‘Semperflorens’, the first hybrid grevillea ever made.
Eremophila mackinlayii subsp. spathulata
This shrub, 1.5m x 1.5m, with grey green leaves and large blue-purple flowers is one of our most reliable bloomers in the garden. We planted one in October 2017 and another in May 2019. The first planted has grown to its full size, is dense and well shaped and very rarely out of flower.
Isotoma anethifolia
This small plant, 0.3m high x 0.5m wide, with deeply divided leaves and white star flowers in summer, popped up in our garden a few years ago. We eventually discovered its identity and have since made cuttings.
