Tag: outdoor plants
It’s Time To Replant Sparaxis Plant!
It’s Time To Replant Sparaxis Plant – Sparaxis plants are hardy bulbs that are usually grown as annuals. Some common names for Sparaxis plants include Harlequin Flower and Wandflower. They have lance shaped leaves and carry trumpet shaped flowers on spikes; the Sparaxis flowers may be of pink, purple, red, orange or white.
Plant Harlequin Flower bulbs in late summer to early fall 1 to 2 inches deep and spaced 4 inches apart in a sunny location with sandy, fertile soil.
Nerines In The Fall Garden
Nerines In The Fall Garden – Nerines are usually considered to be too tender to grow outdoors, but there is one hardy species which can be relied upon to display its eye-catching flowers in the fall garden. It is the most important nerine in ornamental horticulture, highly valued for its cold tolerance, suitability as a container subject and massed bedding plant, and for its long-lasting cut flowers. The perfect annual bulb to add color when the rest of the garden is winding down, nerine produces frilly pink flower clusters.
Growing Callistemon
Growing Callistemon – Callistemon (or Bottlebrush) is an excellent choice if you want a ‘novelty’ plant, and it is also a good one to pick if you want an easy-to-grow specimen which blooms in summer. With their vibrant, fuzzy-looking flowerheads in summer, Callistemon are instantly recognisable plant. Callistemon are evergreen shrubs with aromatic, linear to lance-shaped leaves and bottlebrush-like spikes of flowers in which the long colourful stamens are prominent.
Callistemon is native to Australia mostly growing in moist soil in open or woodland sites. It does not mind dry air – all it needs is a sunny spot, cool conditions in winter and a good soaking in spring and summer.
Growing Gynura Plant
Gynura (Velvet plant) grows quickly, it has no special needs and the foliage is covered with shiny purple hairs. This attractive coloring requires good light for development. Gynura is very fast-growing plant, with furry leaves in striking colors. Literally, a velvet plant shoot will transform into a bushy little plant in a matter of a few weeks, shooting up in a lovely profusion of downy purple leaves that measure up to 6 inches long.
Dianthus
Dianthus (Sweet William, Carnation) – Dianthus plants are popular with gardeners and have been grown for centuries. A cottage garden is not complete without several dianthus. All are heat tolerant and low maintenance beauties. Dianthus have become popular garden plants, but are also well suited as balcony or patio pot plants.
You may occasionally find pots of dianthus for sale in the house plant section of a garden center. You will not, however, find them in most textbooks – pinks and annual carnations are not accepted as house plants. They do need cool conditions and are not always long-lasting, but they are easily raised from seed and the white, pink or red frilly-edged blooms are attractive. Give them a well-lit spot and do not let the compost dry out. Provide fresh air on hot days.
Spring Adonis
Spring Adonis – The legend has it that this attractive yellow spring-flowering perennial sprang from the blood of Adonis, lover of Venus, when he was killed by a boar. It is used as a heart tonic and the flowers are a brilliant sight when they open in the spring, turning to catch the sun’s rays. The herb is also used in the treatment of low blood pressure and its strong diuretic action can be used to counter water retention. The plant will grow in containers in full sun or partial shade and likes well drained, fertile soil with the addition of some leaf mould.
