Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos)

 The Kangaroo Paw ( Anigozanthos ) is one of the most iconic Australian plants.  And with all the new cultivars being developed over the past few years, are becoming more and more popular as a plant for the average garden. Originally from Western Australia, they can now be found in gardens all over our country.  They grow from a rhizome, deep in the ground and are very well suited to our local mediterranean climate.

There are two types of Anigozanthos. 
The taller plants, that can grow up to two meters high, are the best for drought tolerance, but can become a bit messy and wide in the average garden.  And the smaller plants, that grow under a metre.  They have similar requirements,  but need a bit more watering and care during the hot months.  The smaller varieties also live for a shorter period than the taller ones.  But some of the small hybrids are just stunning, so their worth it!

They are drought tolerant, frost tolerant and are attractive to birds and insects.  They also make for excellent cut flowers.  They require full sun, open spaces with good air flow to prevent diseases, good drainage and are perfect for South Australian conditions.  A bit of watering and organic fertilizer during spring and summer can help prolong the flowers, which, when in bloom, are absolutely beautiful in the garden!


When they die down the plants can look a bit haggard, so pruning them back will enable the plant to send up new healthy growth for the next spring flush of flowers.

They do not have a long lifespan.  Enjoy their amazing show of flowers but expect to replace them in a few years time.  They are commonly propagated by seed in their natural habitat, but most shop bought varieties are produced by tissue culture.  Plant performance will decline after a period of 5 - 7 years, so rather than striving to save the plant, it might be better to replace with a fresh new one that will give you many more years of wonderful colour in your garden.

The biggest problem you will face with Kangaroo Paws are fungal diseases. Crown and root rot, rust and ink spot can all be prevented by pruning the old growth and ensuring there is enough air flow.  Sometimes using a fungicide or copper sulphate can help prolong the life of the plant, and removing the affected leaves, disposing of them by burning, can prevent the spread.

Some varieties include  Red Bush Inferno,  Pink Bush Pearl and Pink Joey,  White Bush Diamond, Landscape Lilac,  Orange Bush Ranger and  Black Kangaroo Paw.

I love looking at these flowers in bloom right now!  Many of the gardens that surround where I live have them growing, and they really are quite spectacular to see!  Some have been incorporated into quite a formal theme.  I love seeing them used in this way!  They are fantastic for our dry, hot summers, and really do have quite an impact on the eye when you walk by!

Acanthus Mollis ( Oyster Plant )

I still remember the very first time I saw one of these plants in a friends garden which was part of the open garden scheme, in Aldgate.  I was being shown around this amazingly abundant, verdant green garden, when we came upon these gorgeous plants.  The Acanthus Mollis.  I fell in love right there and then!  I think it was the tall flower spires and the huge green leaves that captured my imagination.  She had them planted under the huge oak trees, and they made me feel so small.  Like a visitor to wonderland. 

Some people think it is a plant that the garden can very well do without. Once the flowers are finished, they will produce seed pods that can be scattered far and wide about the garden, (and the neighbors and the bush and...well...you get the drift) leading to their reputation for being invasive pests.  They are also a most hardy, frost tolerant, dry tolerant plant.  And this makes them kinda hard to kill, even with weed spray! 

That makes it the perfect plant for an average gardener like me!

I have read Acanthus prefer rich fertile soil. (What plant doesn't?) But I have seen one growing in a crack of bitumen, doing very nicely for itself, so I should think it would survive anywhere along the rain belt of SA.  Give them a spot in semi shade, a bit of water and love to start them off, and they will be there for years and years to come.  

Just a word of advice, the snails and slugs love their leaves, so if you don't mind the holes, it's going to be a keeper.  Also be aware of their size. They will grow to more than a meter wide and high, so not really the perfect plant for a courtyard garden.  One other thing.  Don't forget their natural tendency to self sow.  It may be a good idea to remove the spent flower spikes, before they release their seeds and become a pest! 

A plant for anyone with a decent sized space.  It will impress your friends, (look what it did to me) and they would never guess how easy they are to grow in the first place.

Lambs Ears

Lambs ears are such a lovely, old fashioned plant which have wonderful soft fuzzy leaves that resemble lambs ears, hence the name.

They also have gorgeous spikes of purple flowers in spring, which the bees absolutely adore! They are incredibly easy to grow and suit our climate perfectly.  If you ever see them in a friends garden, just pinch a leaf or two, or even better, a clump of them, pop them in the ground and they should start spreading quickly!  The bees love their delicate spikes of purple flowers that when finished we like to pick and shake, like a little rattle, with the sound of the seeds trapped inside.  

Their furry leaves are grey and create a wonderful spread of silver in the garden. They make a wonderful contrast, to any green shrub or plant, and are a fabulous companion to flowers. The plant is adaptable and can grow in full sun or partial shade. They can tend to spread, so sometimes you will need to cull them.  A great opportunity to share them around with others!

One thing they do not like is constant damp soil.  The ones I have planted in my own garden are located in a sunny spot and only get watered occasionally by nature.  I tried them once in a damp shady spot and after a few years they slowly withered and died.  So the hotter, sunnier and drier the position, the better.

I also just love their soft feathery leaves!  It really is very hard to walk past them and not pick one of them to rub on my cheek.  They have a sweet, slight fragrance and it always makes me feel calm and still when I have them close by.

They are dense and wonderful against a wall, in a rockery or on mass as a low growing ground cover. Get out and plant some in your garden today.  They really are the most fabulous little plant to grow!

I found this great article all about them, which helped in my understanding of the plant and thought you might like to pop over and read it too.  Here.

Snowball Tree ( Viburnum Opulus )

The Snowball tree Viburnum opulus roseum has always been a favourite of mine.  Right back to my early childhood, where we used to pick all the flowers from the bush next door, and have a snow ball fight with the neighbouring kids.  I am not too sure I would be very happy about children doing that to my own tree these days, but it makes a wonderful memory for me.  One that I have always cherished!

This is a lovely tree, which grows to around 3 meters.  It is happy to be pruned into any shape you like, even a hedge.  It is reasonably quick to grow and will produce those gorgeous "balls" of flowers, starting out green and aging to white, in early spring. It is a sterile plant, so does not produce any fruit, but it's gorgeous blooms more than make up for that! You may want to mulch the base of the plant to protect it from our harsh summers.

Full sun or part shade works best for them and it can adapt to most soil conditions.  I have seen them growing in the Adelaide hills and the plains equally well.

It has the added bonus of being heat and drought tolerant, ( a big tick of approval from me ) and does not suffer from many pests or diseases. It can be prone to attack from aphids, so just keep an eye on them for any infestation and deal with it quickly to prevent further problems.  The Snowball tree also attracts the good bugs into the garden, bees and butterflies and is quite the show piece when in full bloom.  Cut it back when it has finished its display, or pick the big flowers, which can resemble the hydrangea clusters, to brighten up your home.  

Cornflower.

The Cornflower is a lovely annual and quite suited to our climate because it is so hardy and forgiving. It's official name is Centaura Cyanus but it's common name in folklore was bachelors button.  Worn by young hopeful lovers, if it faded over the course of the day, the object of their affection would not return their love.  It was first found as a wildflower in Europe. It has come a long way from then, as little more than a weed with pretty flowers, to the cultivar of lovely colours you can find today.  Most people are familiar with the blue, but you can also get pinks, whites and even a burgundy variation, all displaying a similar, distinct shape and foliage.  The puff ball/star like bloom, with silvery green, bushy foliage.

The  story goes that it received it's latin name, Cyanus,  from a devotee of the goddess Flora       ( Cyanus ) and the name of the genus is derived from Chiron, the Centaur.  This plant was used in the past, and also in modern medicine, for it's healing properties.

'it is a remedy against the poison of the scorpion and resisteth all venoms and poisons. The seeds or leaves (or the distilled water of the herb) taken in wine is very good against the plague and all infectious diseases, and is very good in pestilential fevers: the juice put into fresh or green wounds doth quickly solder up the lips of them together, and is very effectual to heal ulcers and sores in the mouth.'
  It is a great addition to the cottage garden, with it's drifts of bright flowers that stand tall on long stems.   Some variants include The Mountain Cornflower,  Pink Ball, Tall Blue, Double Black Ball, Mauve Ball,  Dwarf Blue, Snowman, White Ball, Red Boy and Blue Boy.   The bees and butterflies love them, and they can be put in that hot, full sun, spot. They can even handle a bit of shade too.  It is used to being neglected, (remember, it was once a weed! ) but watering it during the hot summer months will help it continue flowering, from November throughout the summer months.
Cornflowers are one of those super easy plants to grow.  Simply scatter the seeds in prepared soil ( they like it turned over and loose ) keep them moist and watch them grow. You may like to remove some seedlings that are too close together as it can get a tad crowded!  They don't mind poor soil conditions, just give them a chance to dig their roots in, and watch them flourish all summer!  Just remember to cut back the spent flowers, keeping it trimmed if you want to continue enjoying their colourful blooms.  Let your children pick them, there is nothing like a bunch of Cornflowers to brighten up your home!  

I've a secret I have not told it,

of a brow with a sunny curl,

but this shall now unfold it

I love thee gentle girl.

- Anonymous poem found with a pressed cornflower.

Feel free to add anything else I may have missed in the comments below!

Plant Names

I often think I need to become a bit more informed when it comes to plant names and their requirements!  I suppose I am a mother first, a photographer second and then a gardener and everything else after that! 

I originally started BGSA because I wanted to let people show off their gardens in a really nice way.  I found I actually know very little regarding plants, their names and their requirements, and so here is my little place for research and learning!  I know you can find information about plants elsewhere, but I thought I would write down the ones I have photographed in your gardens, and learn something at the same time!

If you are interested, simply click on the plant name below to find it's individual information.

Acanthus Mollis ( Oyster Plant ) 
Cornflower
Forget me not
Kangaroo Paw
Lambs Ears
Marguerite Daisy ( Argyranthemum )
Snowball Tree  ( Viburnum Opulus )

Forget Me Not.

As a little girl, I always loved these small, delicate blue flowers called Forget me nots.  They would never let you forget them, either!  Their leaves would stick to most clothing textiles, and you could pin them to your breast, wandering through your day, with a tiny blue bunch of sweetness reminding you to enjoy the beauty of nature.

They are excellent self seeders, sometimes becoming quite rampant if not kept in check, and they are perfect for filling in patches of your garden to add colour and interest.  They do come in pink, cream and white varieties, but I think most would associate Forget me nots with blue and mauve.  

I was interested in how they got their name, and one little story tugged my heart.  It is said in German folklore, that God named each plant and was almost finished, when one small one cried out "forget me not"!  And God replied, that will be your name. 

It's official name is myosotis and it belongs to the borage family. It is excellent for a shady spot, but also performs well in full sun, so long as it is well watered in the hot summer months. They do prefer a bit of humidity and moisture, but to be honest, planted in the right spot, it does quite well on it's own.  Often used in medieval times as a flower associated with remembering ones lover, it is a simple and delightful little addition to any garden.