PLANT OF THE WEEK
Correa glabra and other correas.
Common name: Native Fuchsia
Family: Rutaceae
Plant breeders love this plant so much that there are now many hybridised forms with bigger flowers or flowers on a plant that can take full sun.
Did you know that there is a correa study group?Correa Canberra bells - Or that Correas makes great small bird habitat and also are a food source for insects and small birds.
- Correas are also great for those dry shady spots, so think about planting one soon.
- Correa alba and C. glabra varieties are the hardiest withstanding heavy frost and severe droughts. Correa glabra varieties have fragrant leaves.
- Correa lawrenceana is the largest of the correas. These need to be grown in the shade and do best in an understorey habitat.; attractive to birds for both nectar and nest sites and are ideally planted in a thicket.
- Correa pulchella varieties produce the most beautiful coloured bells ranging from pale pink to deep orange to carmine. They need to be grown in part shade and watered regularly.
- Correa reflexa varieties range in colour from green to deep red: these also need to be grown in a partly shaded position and watered regularly.
Correa reflexa nummularifolia |
- Some of the more modern hybrids can take sun but others need morning sun and/or dappled all day shade.
I'm talking with Adrian O’Malley, qualified horticulturist and avid native plant expert.
PLANT OF THE WEEK
As in all Hibiscus, the flowers open in the morning and last one day.
A. huegilii is a prolific flowerer-lots of flowers from late spring until the end of summer.
I’ve seen it grown at the back of the border, amongst exotics like May Bush, Loropetalum, and in front of Princess Lillies, and I must say, I regret having pulled mine out because the flowers are really lovely.
- The original A. heugelii needs to be pruned to promote lower growth and this one grows to about 2 ½ metres tall.
- Although, you can keep it down to 1 ½ metres because it sends out fast-growing shoots from old wood.
PLANT OF THE WEEK
Winter flowering Grevilleas
Scientific Name: Grevilliea
Common Name: Grevillea
Family: Proteaceae
There’s a lot to choose from but before you run out to the nursery to buy up all the winter flowering ones for your garden. Let’s look at what conditions Grevilleas need to thrive.
Red soil is too heavy for many grevilleas. So if you live in Moree, you may not be able to grow many grevilleas because of the heavy soil.
Grevilleas like air in the soil, so a light sandy soil is preferable,but you could easily just plant them on a bit of mound mixed with good compost and some light potting mix in it so they can get established first..
Once they are older they don't seem to mind the heavier soil, but drainage is a must.
G. superb. 1.5 x 1.5m. Red to yellow flowers, Yellow tips on the stamens. Tolerates frost to -30 C Bird attracting.
G. coconut ice 2 x 1.5m. Reddish pink flowers through out the year. Dense semi-spreading habit. Not like coconut ice confection atl all. Tolerates frost to -40 C
Grevillea Coconut Ice : photo M Cannon |
G Honey Gem, an old favourite although rather big. 4 x3m Large leaves which are deeply lobed, dark green above silver reverse. The flowers cylindrical and bright orange which drip with sweet nectar. Bird attracting. Tolerates frost to -30 C
Grevillea 'Peaches and Cream' grows to 1.5m x2m. with cream flowers which change to pink as they age. Flowers all year.
Have a listen to the podcast.
PLANT OF THE WEEK
Banksia ericifolia and Banksia spinulosa: what's the difference?
Pruning:
If you’re not sure what type of Banksia you have, then only light pruning.
If you know your Banksia has a woody rootstock (lignotuber) then it can be heavily pruned.
- Only low phosphorus fertilisers should be used if at all. I’d recommend Blood n Bone.
Have a listen to the podcast.
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