2021-02-01 Gardening Australia

of home, online or by mail. At Tesselaar we only supply plants that are We send seven seasonal, full colour, free garden worthy, plants that we have trialled and catalogues each year. We also ofer additional tested to ensure they meet our high standards online specials and limited release rare plants. and yours. We are so sure of our products, Our friendly staf are always happy to help out we ofer a full money back guarantee on with your garden questions. All our products are everything we sell. We search far and wide to accompanied by detailed growing instructions fnd the best plants for your garden, then we and tips to help you along your way to creating package them with care so they arrive safely at the most beautiful garden for your home. your door, no matter where you live in Australia. ORDER YOUR SIGN UP NOW FREE CALL 1300 428 527 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TESSELAAR CATALOGUE www.tesselaar.net.au Mail order gardening at its best. 357 Monbulk Rd, Silvan, Vic 3795. Ph: 1300 428 527 Fax: 03 9737 7798 Email: [email protected]

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For eogvaerrdyenkeinrd of NOW AVAILABL ZINIO & Follow us on Facebook and Instagram ABC Gardening Australia magazine gardeningaustraliamag Apple, the Apple logo and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

EDITOR’S LETTER welc e ast year, as my troubled ga d to produce serious buds, serious enough that I thought, “You’re actually going to flower this year!”, I fell into a daily routine of examining the plant quite closely. Were the buds holding? Did they look like they might open? Was the plant getting too much sun? Did it need more water? Amid all the watching and waiting, I noticed something. I’d left one of those green ties on the trunk of the plant where the label had been attached. And as the trunk had thickened quite a bit over two years, it was now effectively ringbarked. Leaving ties on a plant is such a rookie error, and and instructions from the stranger who sold them to him (obviously carrying more weight than anything his mum would as a non rookie, I should know better. But as the Paul Kelly say) versus Mum, who works for a gardening magazine and does know some stuff, even if she ringbarks the odd plant. song goes, “I’ve done all the dumb things”. And a lot of them Somewhere along the way, we found a happy medium, are easy to do… whereby he listened to some degree to what I was saying, and started to actually look at the plant. As you’ll see in our story My son recently bought his first plants. I was quite excited, on avoiding rookie errors, failure to observe your plant is error number one. Turn to page 38 for more traps and pitfalls! and watched with more than mild interest as he positioned them Elsewhere in the magazine, we’re trying to stay cool with lush on a very high shelf, in the darkest corner of his room. Hmmm. hoyas, tropical gardens, and culinary mints. Meet a gardener doing innovative things with air plants, and have a go at grevillea Whether to intervene or not? Eventually: “Ahh, you might want cuttings. And remember... if you’re putting in any new plants this to put those on the windowsill for some light. And give them month, remove the ties! a drink? They look a bit stressed.” PS The gardenia produced a few more blooms but others stayed firmly shut. “No,” he replied confidently, “the woman in the PPS My son has moved into a share house, where he is branching out with more indoor plants and shop said they like shade, and she told me to a proposed vegie patch. My work is done. only water them once a week.” I had to think carefully about my next move. Here was a 20-year-old with his first plants LEFT & ABOVE Green up your home inside or out with a fabulous trailing hoya; Jenny seeks out a cool nook in Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden. PHOTOS RACHEL HENDERSON, ISTOCKN TOUCH STAY I SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 361 146 SOCIAL MEDIA EMAIL [email protected] MAGAZINE EDITORIAL (02) 9901 6325 facebook.com/ TV SHOW (03) 8646 2875 ABCGardeningAustraliamagazine @gardeningaustraliamag GARDENING AUSTRALIA FEBRUARY 2021 5

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FEBRUARY 2021 82 CONTENTS For all your top jobs in the garden this month, turn to page 62 44 ON THE COVER COVER STORIES COMPETITIONS + READER OFFERS PHOTOS ALAMY, ISTOCK, ANNA HUTCHCROFT Hoyas are hip again! See 15 Shade-loving hoyas how to grow these beautiful 20 Native groundcovers 42 Subscribe for your chance feature plants with an elegant 26 Breezy blue perennials to win one of ve Gardena 30 Propagate air plants gardening packs valued trailing habit on page 15. 38 10 rookie errors at over $2969 per pack Photo: iStock 44 Create a tropical-style garden 52 Managing contaminated soil 87 Win one of ve Fruit 62 Jobs to do now Salad Trees valued at 70 Take grevillea cuttings $69.95 each 76 Refreshing mints 88 Solve the crossword and 7682 Thread and store chillies unscramble the word for a chance to win one of 7 Earthlife gardener’s packs worth $79.80 each GARDENING AUSTRALIA FEBRUARY 2021 7

FEBRUARY 15 20 78 54 30 26 FEATURES 44 A little slice of paradise REGULARS PHOTOS PLANT GROWERS AUSTRALIA, LUKE SIMON, ISTOCK, With clever plant choices, you can VIRGINIA CUMMINS, ALAMY ILLUSTRATION CHERYL ORSINI 15 Hang a hoya enjoy the lushness of a tropical-style 10 Marketplace Plants and books These glossy beauties are once again garden even in a cooler environment 58 At home with Jackie When towering the darlings of indoor-plant collectors 52 Is your soil contaminated? maize crops grew from Jackie’s horse Identify common pollutants in your 20 Cover all bases soil, and ways you can deal with them manure mulch, she made the most of it Native groundcovers suppress weeds, 54 On the nose 62 Action planner What to do in stabilise soil temperature and moisture, Not all flowers smell as sweet as your garden in February a rose – some are decidedly stinky and provide habitat for local wildlife 72 TV & radio guide Your ABC 38 73 In the patch 26 Singing the blues A classic selection of blue perennials • Plant brassicas is perfect for adding contrasting notes • Pick and preserve summer crops to the summer and autumn garden • Grow a selection of mints 30 Meet the gardener • How to ripen late tomatoes Artist Lloyd Godman has developed • Step-by-step for drying and innovative ways of using air plants to storing chillies reduce the effects of a hotter climate 84 Mailbox Your letters, photos 38 10 rookie errors & how to avoid them and questions Every new gardener makes mistakes, 88 Crossword but our expert advice will help you 91 The directory 98 The big picture steer clear of some common pitfalls 8 FEBRUARY 2021 GARDENING AUSTR

We are Australia’s most popular garden club and FROM JUST magazine, created to help our members achieve gardening success. $59 Through our extensive trials of summer perennials and food plants, we’ll show you how to create a The vegetable parterre at Heronswood stunning ornamental garden, and grow the best tasting heirloom vegetables at home. Grow rare edibles like capers and wasabi – delicious, full of fibre and free of nasty chemicals. Over 40 heirloom tomatoes Over 30 different berries Biggest citrus range Your membership includes: FREE seeds ◆ Six magazines per year, full of inspiration and the latest selections for your garden. ◆ 20% member discounts on all products. ◆ Eight free packets of seeds per year. ◆ Free entry to our organically certified gardens, where you’ll be inspired with the best flower and plant combinations for our Australian conditions. Just five hours of gardening a week is all it takes to grow your tomatoes, avocados, citrus and flowers if you follow the advice in our best-selling book, The Australian Fruit and Vegetable Garden. Perfect for beginners, we’ll show you how to successfully grow over 240 vegetables and herbs, 180 fruits, berries, nuts and more. Join today! Visit , call 03 5984 7900 or fill in the coupon below. bh i 59.00 Name Address The Australian Fruit Postcode Vegetable Garden Book postage 30.00 Email ) $8.95 Phone ( Mastercard Charge my The Diggers Club and our Total $ Visa gardens are owned by Expiry Mail this coupon to The Diggers Club The Diggers Foundation PO Box 300, Dromana, VIC 3936 Signature Code: QPCO

EDITOR Jenny Baldwin ON TPLANTSHE SHELF HORTICULTURAL EDITOR Phil Dudman This month’s pick of the bunch for garden lovers nationwide ART DIRECTOR Rachel Henderson SUBEDITORS Kirsten Colvin, Gina Hetherington, Kerrie Lee Hydrangea flowers can now be enjoyed for almost half the year EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Carole Gridley with the new ‘Magical Revolution’. HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANT Marianne Cannon Starting off either pastel pink or blue in spring, they’ll bloom for up to ABC TV HOST Costa Georgiadis 150 days, changing with the seasons PRESENTERS Josh Byrne, Tino Carnevale, to become deep burgundy in autumn. Jerry Coleby-Williams, Jane Edmanson, Growing to a compact 60–70cm tall Millie Ross, Clarence Slockee, Sophie Thomson and wide, they are a perfect fit for containers or garden beds. Potted hydrangeas can also be CONTRIBUTORS brought inside for a short time to enjoy as a living bouquet. Steve Ball, AB Bishop, Virginia Cummins, Tim Entwisle, pma.com.au Steve Falcioni, Jackie French, Judy Horton, Anna Hutchcroft, Tammy Huynh, Michael McCoy, Cheryl Orsini, Martyn Robinson, Luke Simon, Jennifer Stackhouse, Deryn Thorpe ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Anabel Tweedale, [email protected] Phone (02) 9901 6371 COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS Donna McIlwaine, [email protected] Phone (02) 9901 6384 ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Iris McPherson, [email protected] Phone (02) 9901 6160 ACCOUNT MANAGER Annya Azzopardi, [email protected] Phone (02) 9901 6320 PRODUCTION MANAGER Peter Ryman PRODUCTION AND DIGITAL SERVICES MANAGER Jonathan Bishop EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ABC TV Gill Lomas HEAD PUBLISHING AND LICENSING ABC COMMERCIAL Lisa Hunter BRAND MANAGER ABC MAGAZINES Jenni Powell SUBSCRIPTION SALES AND ENQUIRIES 1300 361 146, gardeningaustralia.com.au EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES [email protected] Phone (02) 9901 6325 NEXTMEDIA PTY LTD Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590 Phone (02) 9901 6100 GM CONSUMER PUBLISHING Carole Jones MANAGING DIRECTOR Arek Widawski ISSN: 1325-1465 ABC Gardening Australia magazine is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd (ACN 128 805 970) under licence from the publisher, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and is subject to copyright in its entirety. ‘ABC’ and the ‘Wave’ and ‘Gardening Australia’ trademarks are used under licence from the ABC. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or part, without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication unless specified otherwise. All letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled not for publication. nextmedia and the publisher do not accept responsibility for damage to, or loss of, submitted material. Opinions expressed in ABC Gardening Australia magazine are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of nextmedia or the publisher. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material. No liability is accepted by nextmedia, the publisher, nor the authors for any information contained herein. All endeavours are made to ensure accuracy and veracity of all content and advice herein, but neither ABC Gardening Australia magazine nor its publisher or contributors is responsible for damage or harm, of whatever description, resulting from persons undertaking any advice or using any product mentioned or advertised in ABC Gardening Australia magazine or its website. PRIVACY POLICY We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide personal information through your participation in any competitions, surveys or offers featured in this issue of ABC Gardening Australia magazine, this will be used to provide the products or services that you have requested and to improve the content of our magazines. Your details may be provided to third parties who assist us in this purpose. In the event of organisations providing prizes or offers to our readers, we may pass your details on to them. From time to time, we may use the information you provide us to inform you of other products, services and events our company has to offer. We may also give your information to other organisations, which may use it to inform you about their products, services and events, unless you tell us not to do so. You are welcome to access the information we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590.

MARKETPLACE Flower Carpet roses bloom in large clusters from spring through to late Groundcovers create an autumn. They self-clean their spent flowers, and need little or no pruning. attractive and valuable Available in February, ‘Mini Cherry’ is covered in vibrant red flowers on living mulch in the garden a low, compact shrub that’s 50cm high by 60cm wide. Grow them as low (see more on page 20). hedges, borders or in containers. Water regularly in the first season, and Chrysocephalum ‘Desert feed with a controlled-release fertiliser in early spring and late summer. Flame’ is a newly released tesselaar.com special selection of the tough Australian perennial California tree poppy (Romneya coulteri) is a pretty C. apiculatum. It provides flowering plant for tough, dry spots. Large, pure white, a blaze of colour and copes crepe paper-like flowers with a prominent yellow boss of with dry conditions. A low stamens cover the grey, finely divided leaves in summer. spreader up to 50cm wide, This medium-sized shrub is drought and frost tolerant, it looks gorgeous growing and looks magnificent in a cottage-style or Mediterranean in borders and rockeries garden. It grows up to 1.5m tall and 2m wide. or spilling over retaining lambley.com.au walls and containers. aussiewinners.com.au TEXT MARIANNE CANNON

MARKETPLACE ON TH BOOKSE SHELF YATES TOP 50 EDIBLE PLANTS FOR POTS AND HOW NOT TO KILL THEM! Angie omas & Yates Australia HarperCollins Publishers Australia Interest in gardening, particularly in growing fresh food, has increased greatly in recent times. Even if you have limited outdoor space – whether you’re in an apartment or have a small backyard – you can still grow your own produce in pots, hanging baskets or vertical gardens, in courtyards or on balconies, patios or windowsills. With beautiful photographs and an easy-to-use format, this book provides FLOWER: EXPLORING THE a wealth of information and advice on how to effectively grow food in compact spaces, WORLD IN BLOOM and is a useful guide for all gardeners, from beginners through to the more experienced. Phaidon Editors Phaidon This collection of more than 300 LIVING WITH THE ANTHROPOCENE gorgeous images celebrates the Edited by Cameron Muir, Kirsten Wehner & Jenny Newell way in which the beauty and NewSouth universal appeal of flowers and Subtitled Love, Loss and Hope in the Face of floral motifs have been portrayed Environmental Crisis, this is a compilation of essays throughout history, although the by some of Australia’s best-known thinkers and book relies on the pairing of writers, together with ecologists, ornithologists, bush images, regardless of period, walkers, farmers, historians, artists and community rather than chronology. Flowers activists. Contributors were asked to provide stories depicted in art, science, history on how an object, image or place important to them and culture span a variety of styles captured their experience of environmental change. from both well- and lesser-known Their individual stories about living during a time image-makers, and include still-life of ecological crisis show a collective desire for paintings and photos, botanical a culture of more care, respect and action to be illustrations, sculpture, floral reflected throughout society. They also demonstrate arrangements, film stills, fashion powerfully that there are many who are working items and pieces of jewellery. towards a more positive future for our world. Each image is accompanied by a short explanatory text. Reference sections include a glossary, A ZERO WASTE FAMILY IN THIRTY DAYS biographies and information about Anita Vandyke meanings of some of the flowers. Penguin Random House Australia This is a helpful guide to how families can reduce their household waste in a short period of time. The author draws on her personal experience to show how, since she became a mother, she has adapted and changed her approach to the principles of minimalism and TEXT CAROLE GRIDLEY zero waste that she advocated in her first book, A Zero Waste Life. The information in this new book offers waste-reduction solutions that are broken into sections, beginning with Self Care (days 1–5) and moving through Home Care (days 6–15), to Child Care (days 16–30). The fundamental message is about how families can work together to make small changes that cumulatively make a big difference to the environment for future generations.



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GREAT CONTAINERS FEATURE a PLANT These glossy beauties are PHOTOS ALAMY, ISTOCK once again the darling of indoor plant collectors, including TAMMY HUYNH, who shares her growing and styling tips A llow me for a moment to wax lyrical about my love of hoyas. It’s hard to believe this remarkable group of vining plants, which are also known as wax flowers, ever went out of fashion. Hanging baskets full of glossy, trailing leaves and waxy, perfumed flowers were ubiquitous in the 1970s home, then they fell out of favour and were banished to a corner of the shadehouse, or discreetly hung on the side of the pergola. Now, it’s hip to be hoya. Hundreds of different species and cultivars are available, each with intriguing foliage forms, textures and patterns. There are the old favourites, Hoya carnosa and H. australis, but there are also varieties such as the highly sought after H. kentiana ‘Variegata’ and H. obovata ‘Splash’, which have transformed collecting into a frenzied bidding war. Some of these plants have fetched prices in the hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Fortunately, hoyas are relatively easy to propagate, so you don’t need to take out a bank loan to enjoy growing them. G A RD ENIN G AUS TR A LI A F E B R UA R Y 202 1 15

position & care FROM TOP PHOTOS GAP PHOTOS/VISIONS, GAP PHOTOS/HOWARD RICE, GETTY IMAGES, HOYA AUSTRALIA The leaves of Hoya carnosa Hoyas are native to tropical parts of South ‘Tricolor’ are pink, white East Asia, the Pacific Islands and pockets and green; H. australis is a of northern Australia, which means they popular Australian native. grow best in warm, frost-free climates. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE However, depending on the species, you FROM LEFT can enjoy them in cooler climates if they Stems of slim, hairy leaves are given protection inside during winter. on H. linearis cascade like a waterfall; the miniature wax Position your hoyas in a spot with bright, plant H. bella is magnificent filtered light, under a patio or indoors near spilling over the edges of a north-facing window. While hoyas will its pot; H. carnosa ‘Purple grow in deeper shade, they won’t flower Pride’ has variegated leaves. well. On the other hand, keep them away PREVIOUS PAGE from direct sun, as this can burn or bleach The twisted, waxy leaves on their leaves. Most hoyas are epiphytic, so Hoya carnosa ‘Compacta’ they demand perfect drainage. Growing make it a real talking point. them in a loose, open medium such as orchid mix is ideal. Hoyas generally prefer being allowed to dry out between waterings. If they receive too much water, the leaves will become soft and yellow, and fall off. Feed with controlled-release fertiliser in spring, and mist foliage with a flower-boosting, soluble fertiliser once buds appear. When hoyas have finished flowering, don’t cut them back, as they can flower again from the same cluster. If the leaves are becoming sparse or patchy, prune them back to just above a node, to encourage a bushy habit. You can use those clippings to grow more (see ‘Time to strike’, overpage). Hoyas like to stay pot-bound, so there’s no need to re-pot them for at least a couple of years – although I have seen specimens growing in the same pot for many years, and continuing to thrive. Top up the potting mix and lightly dress with organic pellets to help refresh the mix. styling tips The diverse forms and growth habits of hoyas lend themselves beautifully to styling spaces in and around the home. A classic way to display them is in a hanging basket, where their vines spill and scramble over the sides, creating 16 F E B R UA R Y 202 1 G A RD ENIN G AUS T R A L I A

al common names hoya, wax flower, wax plant, porcelain flower, wax vine botanic name Hoya spp. plant type perennial vine 30cm–3m 20–30cm (more if trained to sprawl) semi-shade spring, summer, autumn spring, summer suitable G A R D EN IN G AU S T R A L I A F E B R UA R Y 202 1 17

CONTAINERS a lovely lush, verdant feel. All hoyas look Ta y’s 1. Hoya ‘Mathilde’ (H. carnosa fabulous spilling over the sides of pots, TEOP 5 x serpens) Cute, button-like leaves but there are more pendulous forms, such are speckled with white flecks. Train as H. linearis, H. bella and H. ‘Minibelle’, over a mini wire trellis or allow to trail that fit this look perfectly. over the side of the pot. A real collector’s item. The moderately vigorous climbers, such as H. carnosa, H. kerrii and H. australis, 2. H. carnosa The classic wax plant, this hoya has will work their way around structures, so give them a reason to climb, and train long, slender vines covered in thick, glossy leaves them onto a wire trellis or frame. It can be a simple hoop or an interesting geometric that can be crinkled (H. ‘Krinkle 8’), variegated shape. Train them when young, using clips or soft twist garden ties to guide them (H. ‘Krimson Queen’) or freckled white (H. ‘Royal around the frame. If you’re in a tropical or subtropical zone, consider growing them in Hawaiian Purple’). pots outside and training the vines along tension wire to form a green screen. 3. Valentine hoya (H. kerrii) This is the sweetest For a simple but effective indoor plant hoya of them all, with its heart-shaped leaves and display, position smaller-leafed varieties, such as H. curtisii or H. ‘Mathilde’, on baby-pink flowers. There is also a variegated form, shelves or tables. Group a mix of different leaf forms together for interest, or use ‘Variegata’, which typically has creamy-white a single plant teamed with a decorative pot as an eye-catching feature piece. margins around the leaf edges. troubleshooting 4. Indian rope (Hoya ‘Compacta’) The crinkly, Hoyas can be troubled by sap-sucking twisted foliage is so unusual that you just have to insects, including aphids and mealy bugs. They love feeding on the succulent foliage have it! It’s also available in variegated forms, with and stems. Treat with an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, spraying the the variegation on either the outside or inside. 4 foliage and stems thoroughly. GA 5. H. imbricata I’ve saved the best for last. This shingling hoya clings tightly to trunks and branches, and its large, fleshy leaves press and clasp onto the 3 vertical surface. It’s rarely seen, but if you find one, I recommend you buy it! 2 1 18 F E B R UA R Y 202 1 G A RDENING AUS TR A LI A

TIME TO STRIKE Learn More - FREE DVD Hoyas readily strike from stem cuttings, so it’s easy to multiply your collection Infopack or help friends grow theirs. In spring or summer, take a 10–15cm cutting and ENT DOCTOR remove the lowest pair of leaves to expose the node. Keep at least two DEVELOPED leaves on the cutting. Place the cutting in a glass of water, ensuring the node RINGING IN is submerged, and wait until it develops YOUR EARS? roots. Once roots are 5–10cm long, pot up the cutting in a well-draining mix and Tinnitus specialists are now water in with liquid seaweed diluted to recommending a new medically half the recommended strength. You can based program which can offer also try striking the cutting in moist genuine relief for tinnitus – sphagnum moss or a propagating mix Sound Therapy! consisting of coir peat and perlite. If you have: Ringing in the ears 5 Work related noise exposure Dizziness or vertigo Difficulty hearing clearly Blocked ear/s Sleeping problems Sound Therapy may be the answer! PHOTOS HOYA AUSTRALIA, ISTOCK, PLANT MAMA TATIANA, EMY NGO to “He keeps saying “you don’t have to shout,” and I say, “I’ve been Hoya Store Australia shouting for forty years. It’s hard hoyastoreaustralia.com.au to change overnight!” Weslor Flowers Plant Nursery Frances Clarke of Bathurst. 0428 832 582, weslorflowers.com CALL 1300 55 77 96 Rare Plants 0408 687 109, rareplants.net.au To learn exactly how our program works and get a FREE DVD Collectors Corner info pack visit our website (03) 9798 5845, collectorscorner.com.au www.mysoundtherapy.com/GA

PLANTS COVallEEbRases YEAR ROUND All groundcovers do wonders for a garden by INTEREST suppressing weeds and stabilising soil moisture and temperature. Native options go one step further, and there are fantastic choices available for every situation, writes AB BISHOP Groundcovers are among the most versatile plants in a garden. All Understanding a groundcover’s pliability of them suppress weeds, cool and habit is another way to determine its usefulness. Groundcovers with softer the soil and reduce evaporation, stems cascade elegantly over retaining but delve a little deeper and you’ll quickly walls, while those with a flat habit can discover their multi-tasking potential. potentially be used as a lawn alternative. How far a plant spreads is one indicator Using a native groundcover adds of its potential use. Plants that form clumps yet more layers to the plant’s value, as up to 1m are suited to cottage-style beds most of them offer suitable habitat for and rockeries – that’s where you usually local critters, require minimal water, feature an assortment of plants, and don’t are low maintenance and are adapted need a diva taking over the entire stage. to Australian conditions. Groundcovers with far-reaching ambitions There are many hundreds of native are more suited to ‘troublesome’ expanses, groundcovers to choose from, so you can where erosion or dust is an issue, where find one for any spot, and your garden there are mature trees, or simply because will stand out from the crowd. Here are your budget demands that ‘less is more’. some suggestions to get you started. RETAINING WALLS Groundcovers with growing oomph will Two plants that love the radiant heat that PHOTOS TIM ENTWISLE, embellish and ‘soften’ tall retaining walls. stone and brick walls emit are the beach GAP PHOTOS/BRENT WILSON A retaining wall is a blank canvas waiting Snake vine (Hibbertia scandens), beach babies: white or hot-pink flowering pigface to be decorated. Floriferous groundcovers, morning glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) and (Carpobrotus glaucescens and C. rossii) and such as fairy fan-flower (Scaevola aemula), Grevillea ‘Bronze Rambler’ spread metres warrigal greens (Tetragonia tetragonioides). creeping boobialla (Myoporum parvifolium) wide, and they have colourful insect- and As you’d imagine, they thrive in dry, saline and Goodenia ‘Gold Cover’, bring the wow bird-attracting flowers. Beach morning and well-drained soil. Both are also edible, factor. Creeping boobialla is a tough plant glory thrives in the tropics and subtropics, so you can have your wall and eat it, too! that copes with drought, light frost and while G. ‘Bronze Rambler’ and snake vine saline soil, growing 25cm high and up to flourish everywhere except the tropics. Unusual, tactile plants, such as 3m wide. Forms include those with a fine Casuarina ‘Cousin It’, Eremophila ‘Kalbarri leaf, a purple leaf, or white or pink flowers. 20 F E B R UA R Y 202 1 G A R D EN I N G AU S T R A L I A

Carpet’ and prostrate forms of Adenanthos CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE cuneatus, including ‘Coral Carpet’ and Creeping boobialla (Myoporum parvifolium) ‘Flat Out’, are fabulous choices for walls is a tough, flowering groundcover that hangs that pedestrians brush past. While the beautifully over retaining walls; Casuarina foliage is the feature, E. ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ ‘Cousin It’ has dense, shaggy ‘hair’, like its also produces sunshine-yellow flowers in namesake, that cascades perfectly over walls. spring, which birds go nuts for! All prefer well-drained soil and tolerate light frost. including Acacia baileyana, A. pravissima and A. lasiocarpa. Their habit is a bit rigid, Also consider growing some of the creating interesting shapes along and over prostrate forms of various acacias, a wall, or spilling alongside steps.

LARGE AREAS CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Plants that spread widely help reduce maintenance, turn a boring expanse into e prostrate groundcover a feature, and bring joy to the hip pocket. Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ has red toothbrush Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ is a dense, prostrate groundcover that quickly owers and needs lots of room spreads in all directions to about 6m. The to spread as it quickly covers leathery leaves are a glossy green, with about 6m of ground; beach coppery new growth. Red flowers appear vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) has mostly in winter and spring, attracting purple owers and is a great nectar-loving critters. Suitable for tricky or choice for large areas in the eroding embankments, it grows in most tropics; running postman soil types and is drought and frost tolerant. (Kennedia prostrata) is ideal It can be grown in all but tropical areas. for embankments, spreading to about 3m, and it owers Running postman (Kennedia prostrata) from winter to summer. suits temperate to subtropical areas and prefers a moist, well-drained soil. In the tropics, consider pink-flowering beach bean (Canavalia rosea) or beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia). Both spread more than 6m and set roots along the stems, so they’re perfect for binding soil. Super-spreaders that can transform dry, dusty expanses include Banksia ‘Roller Coaster’, with its crazy habit, and spreading correa (Correa decumbens), which suits either sunny or shady spots. 22 F E B R UA R Y 202 1 G A RDENING AUS TR A LI A

PLANTS e o n e t at sunny cottage gardens and beds are the slightly taller-growing show-offs. Daisies, such as chamomile sunray (Rhodanthe anthemoides), everlasting daisy (Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea), Brachyscome spp. and the many Xerochrysum varieties, are the stars of the show for many months through spring and summer. Tip-prune when the plants are young to encourage a compact habit, and watch out for snails. While daisies tend to need replacing every few years, some of the sprawling small shrubs, such as Alyogyne ‘Blue Heeler’, Crowea ‘Green Cape’ and Grevillea ‘Winter Delight’, offer more prolonged substance and can form the backbone of a garden bed. If you’re greedy like me, encourage even more flowers out of season by giving them a light trim after their main flush, and throw a handful of native fertiliser at them in spring. PHOTOS MALLEE DESIGN, ALAMY, ISTOCK, GAP PHOTOS/HOWARD RICE, GAP PHOTOS/ CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT CLAIRE TAKACS, GAP PHOTOS/NOVA PHOTO GRAPHIK, PLANT GROWERS AUSTRALIA Golden Xerochrysum ‘Sundaze Flame’; low-mounding Alyogyne ‘Blue Heeler’; Crowea ‘Green Cape’ is a dwarf shrub; ball of blooms on Rhodanthe ‘Paper Girl’; common dampiera (Dampiera linearis) is ideal for rockeries. ROCKERIES With grey-green, furry leaves and cheery, butterfly-attracting flowers, yellow buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum) looks good with all types of rocks, and readily spills over and around them. It grows Australia-wide, and there are many different forms, so seek out the one that occurs naturally in your area. Most forms grow 15–30cm high by 1–1.5m wide. Yellow buttons can become scrappy, but they respond to annual pruning after flowering. Trailing pratia (Pratia pedunculata) is the quintessential rockery plant. It’s delightfully dainty and low-growing, and spreads via stolons creeping politely into crevices. It looks as if it would prefer shade, but it’s a sun lover. It has small, lush leaves, and masses of tiny, starry, white or mauve flowers in spring and summer. Dampiera is another colourful sun lover, with various species offering blue or pink flowers and habits ranging from compact to those with long, slender flower stems. For a rockery that’s situated in dappled shade, consider growing kidney weed (Dichondra repens), running postman (Kennedia prostrata) and stalked guinea-flower (Hibbertia pedunculata). G A RD ENIN G AUS TR A L I A F E B R UA R Y 202 1 23

L AWN REPLACEMENT PHOTOS GAP PHOTOS/NOVA PHOTO GRAPHIK, ALAMY, PLANT GROWERS AUSTRALIA The prize for the quirkiest lawn replacement goes to the bright green, twin-flowered knawel (Scleranthus biflorus), also called cushion bush. Growing to 20cm high, a single plant will spread up to 1m. In full sun it becomes quite hard, but in dappled shade the texture is softer. It grows naturally from south-eastern Queensland to south-eastern Victoria (from the coast to alpine areas east of the Great Dividing Range) and in eastern Tasmania. It’s tolerant of snow and heavy frost, but doesn’t like it dry, so must be kept moist. The moss-like texture contrasts well with other plants, and it shapes itself obligingly around rocks, logs and pavers. Twin-flowered knawel can suffer from a fungal disease called brown patch. Get onto this quickly, removing dead and dying growth, and spraying with fungicide. It heals readily, as it does after cockies tear it apart! It can take occasional foot traffic, but is best for areas where a ‘grass look’ is desired. Remove small weeds before they take hold. Other look-don’t-touch-much lawn alternatives that wend their way around hard landscaping include trailing pratia (Pratia pedunculata), which attracts butterflies and spreads to 2m, kidney weed (Dichondra repens) and red-flowering running postman (Kennedia prostrata). 24 F E B R UA R Y 202 1 G A RD ENIN G AUS TR A L I A

PLANTS SHADY SPOTS and apply liquid seaweed every few CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE weeks until the plants have settled in. Twin- owered knawel (Scleranthus bi orus) South-facing gardens and tricky strips forms mounds of ‘lawn’; edible fruit on ruby between the house and fence are often Correas love a spot with dry shade, saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa); low-growing shady and moist. Lament no more that and the low-growing, long-flowering, Correa ‘Autumn Blaze’ loves dry shade; sweet nothing grows there, and try the tough frost-hardy Correa ‘Autumn Blaze’ adds but delicate native violet (Viola hederacea a cheery pop of colour. It spreads up to owers of native violet (Viola hederacea). or the remarkably similar kidney weed 1.5m, so you need only a few to surround (Dichondra repens). Both tolerate light a mature tree, or to grow with curving to frost, thrive in all but the sandiest of soil rows of a strappy-leafed plant such as and spread beautifully around rocks and blueberry lily (Dianella revoluta). Prune For plants suited to your soil and pavers. Native violet sports pretty, mauve ‘Autumn Blaze’ by a third after the main climate, check out local native to white flowers above the foliage. flowering flush to maintain a bushy habit. nurseries, including: The tropical climbing swamp fern In dry shade, also consider growing Cool Country Natives (ACT) (Stenochlaena palustris) spreads up the grey, semi-succulent ruby saltbush coolcountrynatives.com.au to 5m and thrives in areas with moist, (Enchylaena tomentosa), which occurs Kuranga Native Nursery (Vic) dappled shade to deep shade. Also all over the mainland and has edible fruit, kuranga.com.au consider other spreading ferns, such or for something unique, seek out the Manuka Native Nursery (SA) as kangaroo fern (Zealandia pustulata trailing groundcover, Tasmanian velvet manukanativenursery.com syn. Microsorum pustulatum), which is bush (Lasiopetalum micranthum). GA Nielsen’s Native Nursery (Qld) native to New South Wales, Victoria, nielsensnativenursery.com.au Queensland and Tasmania. Plants of Tasmania Nursery potn.com.au Think of any dry, shady ‘trouble spot’ Sydney Wildflower Nursery and I’d bet my new secateurs it’s under (NSW) a mature tree! Thankfully, there are many sydneywildflowernursery.com.au solutions – which shouldn’t come as Territory Native Plants (NT) a surprise, given that there are lots of territorynativeplants.com.au native groundcovers that grow naturally Zanthorrea Nursery (WA) under trees and shrubs. You could create zanthorrea.com low mounds of soil for planting under trees, allowing the groundcovers to establish well, without root competition. Use a soil-wetting agent when planting, G ARDENING AUS TR ALIA F E B R UA RY 2021 25

singing the BLUES Add some blue notes to the summer and autumn garden with these three gorgeous perennials, writes MICHAEL McCOY

PHOTO ALAMY PLANTS Blue flowers have a universal appeal. I know lots of gardeners who won’t grow yellow flowers, and won’t willingly stand in the presence of oranges, but no-one rejects blue. And they have a reputation for being rare, and elusive, adding further to their appeal. The truth is that there are quite a lot of blue-flowered plants although when they sit alongside some of the true, rich, sky-blues, such as the Caryopteris species (see page 29), you might find many lean towards lilac or mauve. Blue is a colour that needs contrast if it’s to sing. Even when horticultural fashion swings around to single-colour gardens, as it occasionally does, it seems we all intuitively know not to try a blue garden. Blue on blue just makes you feel, well, blue. But blue with yellow and white sets the spirits soaring. Better still, as a base note among either the hotter end of the spectrum or cool pinks and mauves, it’s magical and, you could argue, essential. Here’s a closer look at three cool-blue perennials. They all perform best in cool to warm temperate areas, and are quite tolerant of dry conditions once established. SEA HOLLY (Eryngium spp.) The two outstanding characteristics of eryngiums are their superb floral texture, taking thistle-like characteristics to truly fabulous places, and the curious steely quality of their colouring. The blue-flowered species Eryngium bourgatii, E. x oliverianum and E. planum look like they’ve been spray-painted, often from one side, with a light coat of metallic blue. Most varieties within this category are about 60cm–1m in height, and are very long-lived perennials, requiring only a winter cutback to the ground. There are others, too, including biennials with flowers that look like tarnished titanium, and some huge, mounded, almost succulent strap-leafed plants over 2m tall with purple flowers. Perhaps one of the showiest is E. bourgatii ‘Oxford Blue’, with cones of flowers surrounded by a spiny-looking ruff of bracts, all coated in blue, including the flower stems. I can’t think of any other flower that so convincingly gives the impression that the colour was externally applied, to all the floral parts. Much more subtle in its colouring, but of more structural character, is our own native species, the blue devil (E. ovinum). It is sensational popping up among low native grasses. G A RD ENIN G AUS TR A LI A F E B R UA R Y 202 1 27

RUSSIAN SAGE (Salvia yangii) The Russian sage, still most often known dormant blondes and browns. Like the by its previous genus that naturally has Caryopteris species (opposite), this subtle you putting on an accent and rolling your effect is amplified by repetition. I confess ‘r’s – Perovskia – is now named, more I never noticed the silver on solitary plants, prosaically, Salvia yangii. Arguably having but in a decent sweep or a clump of at lost a little exotic mystique in the process, least half a dozen, it becomes one of the plant is still its superb self. their great virtues. Plants are cut down Emphatically vertical growth carrying to woody stumps in winter, then weeded grey foliage gives rise to upright, airy, and mulched. Nothing else is required. spacious stems producing pale, velvety Russian sage is happiest growing in lilac flowers to 1–1.2m. The flowers go a dryish, perfectly drained soil. Some on for months, then fall to leave stems of gardeners say they can’t make it happy. ghostly silver, becoming more and more Others find that it thrives on neglect. It’s conspicuous as autumn turns to winter, one of those plants that’s either going to and surrounding plants morph into their grow easily for you, or not at all.

PLANTS (BCLaUryoEptBerEisAxRclDandonensis ‘Heavenly Blue’) Known as a perennial to its friends, Caryopteris ‘Heavenly Blue’ is, in fact, a subshrub, meaning it has a woody base and herbaceous, annually replaced top growth that flowers now, in late summer, at about 80cm. And the flowers are bluer than blue – so blue that when you take a snap, you’ll have to convince your friends that you didn’t photoshop it. They last for about three wonderful weeks, during which they’re crawling with bees, and after which they leave olive-green bracts stained with just a hint of inky blue, as if they’re dreaming of the glory days. The effect of these bracts is at its best when the plants are grown in sweeps – at least five together, and up to a dozen or so, winding through surrounding planting. Sometime in winter, when your desire for tidiness and renewal starts to trump the joy of romantic decay, these plants should be cut back to stumps, down to about 10–15cm tall. That’s a great time to make sure any weeds that have taken hold are removed, and the plant is mulched and given a bit of a slow-release feed, ahead of the burst of new growth in spring. GA PHOTOS GAP PHOTOS/VISIONS, GAP PHOTOS/FRIEDRICH STRAUSS, ISTOCK potehreernbnluiaels CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT Catmint (Nepeta spp.); perennial cornflower (Centaurea montana); Delphinium spp.; milky Blue aster (Aster x frikartii) bellflower (Campanula lactiflora); Aster x frikartii; pincushion flower (Scabiosa caucasica). Catmint (Nepeta spp.) Bog sage (Salvia uliginosa) Azure blue sage (Salvia azurea) Gentian sage (Salvia patens) Chinese plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) Blue belle (Dierama ‘Rowblu’) Lavender (Lavandula spp.) Globe thistle (Echinops ritro) Monkshood (Aconitum spp.) Perennial cornflower (Centaurea montana) Milky bellflower (Campanula lactiflora) Larkspur (Delphinium spp.) Pincushion flower (Scabiosa caucasica) G A RDENING AUS TR A LIA F E B R UA R Y 202 1 29

meet the gardener LLOYD GODMAN This artist and gardener is thinking outside the box, deploying air plants in fabulous ways to mitigate the effects of a hotter climate words & photography VIRGINIA CUMMINS T he path to Lloyd Godman’s house in St Andrews, the medium, even going so far as to ‘grow’ images on the leaves ADDITIONAL COPY KIRSTEN COLVIN Victoria, is gloriously shady and densely flanked on of bromeliads, using masking tape and photosynthesis. both sides by spectacular bromeliads of all sizes and kinds. They jostle for space on the ground, spill from As a gardener, he’s been growing bromeliads since the 1980s, the crooks of trees and, most surprisingly, adorn large metal often in tough conditions. Now he’s using part of the 5.2ha bush hanging sculptures – geometric or spiralling, cubes, swooshes property where he lives with his partner and fellow artist, Tess and pyramids – which swing gently in the breeze. Edwards, as a canvas for propagating and displaying his favourite member of the bromeliad family, tillandsias. These innovative sculptures blur the boundaries between architecture, ecology and fine arts – which is pretty much what Commonly called air plants, because they don’t need soil to Lloyd, a photographer and eco-artist, is all about. Hailing from grow and thrive, Tillandsia spp. absorb nutrients through the tiny New Zealand, Lloyd is known for pushing the boundaries of scales (trichomes) on their leaves. They grow on cacti, cliffs and trees, and their natural distribution stretches from the bottom 30 F E B R UA R Y 202 1 G A RD ENIN G AUS TR A L I A

OVER THE FENCE

OVER THE FENCE of South America, up to Florida and Texas. There are about For an instant effect, he might use 100 plants per square metre, 700 species in all shapes and sizes, and some 18,000 hybrids. depending on the species and size of each plant. Alternatively, In their native South America, they grow from sea level up to a screen can be planted more sparsely, say with 10 plants, then 5500m in the Andes, flourishing in extreme heat or cold. added to over time as the plants grow offsets or ‘pups’. If they become too thick, the plants can be pulled off and broken up. wonder walls To fix them to the screen, Lloyd eschews plastics and uses The resilience and environmental potential of these plants has only metal. “I use a special aluminium bonsai wire to wrap them,” totally captured Lloyd’s imagination. At his home, about an hour he explains. “It’s sensational to work with because, unlike steel out of Melbourne, he has built amazing screens studded with wire, the ends aren’t prickly, and it bends and holds its shape. air plants that slide over the windows and skylights in the roof. “You can also glue them onto wood or whatever works,” he “They mitigate the heat and break up direct sunlight,” Lloyd adds. “I use ‘shoe glue’ – don’t use superglue, as it won’t work. says. “They’re connected to pulleys I made from recycled scooter I tried a glue called E6000, but that’s expensive. I know people wheels. In winter, you can move them again, and let the light in.” who use No More Nails, but you don’t want glue that deteriorates in ultraviolet light because it will just lose its grip and fall off.” On one 42°C summer’s day, Lloyd measured the roofing iron on his house at a whopping 84.5°C degrees. However, the area art meets science covered by the tillandsia screens, which sit 200mm off the roof, was only 53°C. While the species he’s chosen, Tillandsia bergeri Vertical gardens normally require a combination of potting and T. ‘Houston’, can survive those temperatures in summer, and medium, water, fertiliser and ongoing maintenance. The green absorb all the moisture they need from the air (he hasn’t watered walls Lloyd has created don’t need any of that, though, which them in four years), a few succumbed to an extreme frost event means they are much lighter, and they can be placed in urban about three years ago, where temperatures dropped to –7°C. settings that can’t support the weight of regular vertical gardens. To create the screens, Lloyd makes a metal armature, using In 2014, together with some like-minded friends, Lloyd started aluminium, or stainless or galvanised steel to suit the location. a project called Tillandsia Swarm. They placed air plants in 32 F E B R U A R Y 2 02 1 G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A

W Lloyd ties gauzy gift bags over the seedheads so the lightweight seed won’t blow away before it can be collected; this miniature tillandsia came from Peru; a medley of bromeliads nestled happily together; a fun sculpture. S Some of the air-plant screens on Lloyd’s house can be moved around with pulleys to let in the light in winter. A Lloyd has fashioned air plant screens to sit over the windows and skylights of the house, mitigating the worst of the summer heat; a wall like this uses 100 plants per square metre.

OVER THE FENCE cages and positioned them in exposed urban locations to see where the wild things are how they would operate in extreme conditions. The first one went onto the 300m-high Eureka Tower in Melbourne’s CBD. Lloyd’s projects require an enormous number of plants, so he For six, years, the plants have been exposed to rain, hail, direct collects seed and propagates from offsets. A visit to his new sun and a few long, dry periods. greenhouse, built mostly from recycled materials, is evidence of his devotion to these little spiky plants. There are hanging mesh “The idea is that the plants multiply like a bee swarm,” says cylinders covered with glued-on air plants, an old tree that’s home Lloyd. “It also references what they call ‘swarm intelligence’ to many more, and potted bromeliads on the floor. “They release in plants – where the plants talk to each other, usually through moisture, which keeps humidity up for the air plants”, Lloyd says. the roots and mycelium, and through fungi.” In other spots, little pink gauzy bags are tied around seed heads to collect seed that would otherwise blow away on the wind. It’s part art, part science, but the art isn’t there for public viewing; it’s about making art that is active in the environment. Shelves of open tubs hold box after box of germinating seeds. “What we’re really trying to do with this project is integrate plants While Lloyd won’t hazard a guess at how many air plants he has into architecture in a fully sustainable way, where we don’t have in the greenhouse, let alone the garden, he reckons he has about to run a waterline, drip feeders, misters, fertiliser and all of that.” 10,000 seedlings. Still, he’ll need several thousand plants for his next project, creating screens for a blank wall on the too-hot upper The air plants in the original cell are still going strong, and have storey of a house in East Melbourne. The area to be filled is 27m2, been joined by more plants on the same building. They’ve thrived and he estimates the first 7m2 section will need about 800 plants. without human intervention, except when some had to be moved to a larger cage. They have also adapted to the harsh conditions, As Lloyd shows how he collects seed, sets up seed boxes and growing smaller and more compact, and producing more pups. propagates from offsets, it’s clear the process requires incredible patience and precision. The plants are tiny and grow so slowly that The tillandsias have now swarmed to more than 20 locations it really is a labour of love. There’s no doubt Lloyd’s innovative ideas in Victoria, Tasmania, Sydney and France, and Lloyd and the and resourcefulness, mixed with a dash of daring and devotion to group will be installing some on the Museum of Old and New a cause larger than himself, create spectacular results. Art (MONA) in Hobart in the near future. 34 F E B R UA RY 2021 G ARDENING AUS TR ALIA

Lloyd wearing his tillandsia- topped hat – “It’s the one I wear to climate marches!” – in the new greenhouse he built from recycled materials, such as the church newel posts supporting the roof; hanging mesh cylinders provide good air movement for growing tillandsias; a sculpture near the artists’ studio on the property; the original cage of air plants that launched the Tillandsia Swarm project sits atop Melbourne’s Eureka tower. Lloyd’s Atmocycle 2 sculpture; old man’s beard (Tillandsia usneoides) growing on a tree; seeds sprouting on seed trays made from foil trays and fly mesh (see step-by-step, page 36).

OVER THE FENCE STEP-BY-STEP GROW TILLANDSIAS FROM SEED Collecting and growing air plants from depending on the species). Use tweezers seed requires patience and precision, to carefully place the seeds on the mesh. and the method for doing this varies, 3. MIST the seeds with water to activate depending on the species. Here, Lloyd growth. If you’re on tank water, boil then propagates a Tillandsia schiedeana. cool the water to kill any algae spores, as they could inhibit germination. 1. COLLECT seed, ideally waiting until the 4. PLACE your seed trays in a plastic seed head starts turning brown and wrinkly. storage container with the lid slightly ajar. 2. MAKE a seed tray by covering a foil Mist the seeds once or twice a day to keep tray with fly mesh. Pry apart the pods to them moist. It might take a month or more reveal the seeds (there may be 5 or 50, for leaves to start appearing. 12 SOURCING AIR PLANTS 34 There’s a huge range of species in the Tillandsia genus, and Lloyd 36 F E B R UA R Y 202 1 G A RD ENIN G AUS TR A L I A encourages fellow gardeners and DIYers to find plants that they’re sure will work in their climate. “You can buy all these exotic, amazing-looking plants, but if they don’t suit your climate, they’ll end up dying,” he says. “They need air movement, too, so don’t bring them inside and put them in a decorative glass jar. Do a bit of homework, find out what will grow in your locality and work with that.” Lloyd buys plants from Collectors Corner nursery in Melbourne; other tillandsia enthusiasts; Facebook (he’s on Tillandsia Addicts Australia Buy, Swap, Sell & Share); eBay (hit and miss); and hardware and gift stores (you might need to nurse them back to health). He also imports small amounts of seed for personal use – see the Permitted Seeds List at agriculture.gov.au GA



10ROOKIE &EwaRysROa oRid Se 1FAILURE TO Gardening is one of those activities that is best OBSERVE So, you came home with learnt by doing it… and this will involve a few your plant, and specific instructions mistakes. Here are some classic stu -ups, along from the salesperson on how to care for it. But the plant isn’t thriving. with ways to avoid or salvage the situation Perhaps the leaves aren’t as glossy and plump as they were when you words STEVE FALCIONI illustrations CHERYL ORSINI brought it home. Maybe the leaves are drooping, falling off or yellowing. 2POOR PLANTING These are indicators the plant isn’t TECHNIQUE happy. What’s gone wrong? Every gardener digging a THE FIX: Go back to the drawing board. Observe the plant, research planting hole has had a Goldilocks what it needs to thrive, and trust moment. You dig a hole that’s too your instincts. If you were told to small but are determined to make water your plant once a week but it work. The end result is damaged you can see it’s dry and wilting by roots, as you squash the plant in or day five, well, water it! leave it sitting high above the level of the soil with its roots exposed. Conversely, you dig a hole that’s too deep, so the plant ends up with sunken stems covered in soil that are vulnerable to stem rots (these can be fatal). 38 F E B R UA R Y 2021 G ARDENING AUS TR

ADVICE MULCHING MUCK UPS We all know how important mulching is, right? Getting a bit too enthusiastic and covering the soil right up to the trunk is a common problem. A pile of mulch around the bark builds moisture, leading to rot and plant failure. THE FIX: Keep mulch a few centimetres away from the trunk, and mulch to the correct thickness. Fine mulches such as sugarcane should be 1–2cm thick, while pine bark and other chunky mulches can be 5–7cm thick. THE FIX: A good rule of thumb is to dig However, that doesn’t help when a friend a hole at least twice the size of the rootball. admires the plant and asks for the name. Before planting, sit the pot in the hole to Or when your plant is sick but you can’t check the depth – the top of the soil in name it when seeking advice at the garden the pot should be at the same level as the centre. Saying it has small leaves and pink surrounding soil you’re planting into. If the flowers does little to narrow things down. THE FIX: Keep a journal or basic map 4hole’s too deep, backfill until it’s ‘just right’. of your garden and jot down the names PLANT NAME AMNESIA when you plant them. Or keep the labels It can be difficult to remember the in clear plastic sleeves in a folder. When name of a plant that you planted something goes wrong (or right), the first thing you will need is the label. yonks ago when you didn’t keep the label. 5LEAVING LABELS ON Yes, I know I’ve said to keep plant labels so you can remember the name, but keeping the label on the plant is not the answer, as the ties will choke it over time. Often labels break off anyway, but the tie remains behind, strangling the plant. Loosely tying the label to a side branch isn’t the answer, either. As the label flaps about in the wind, it stresses the branch, often weakening growth and causing dieback. Also, a garden full of tagged plants looks kind of silly. THE FIX: Remove labels and store them somewhere, as for error #4. R D EN IN G AU S T R A L I A F E B R UA R Y 202 1 39

6 FERTILISER BURN In the bid for faster growth, it can be tempting to overdo it on the fertiliser front. With organic fertilisers, this may force lots of leaf growth at the expense of flowers and fruit, but if using synthetic fertilisers, the results can be more sinister. Putting synthetic fertiliser prills in the planting hole or adding too many on the soil surface can very easily burn roots, thanks to their high salt content. Overdoing it with synthetic liquid fertilisers can also cause problems, so it’s best to rein in your enthusiasm here. THE FIX: Always follow the packet instructions regarding the quantity and application rate, and keep a record of w d DEADLY POTTING MIXES You have loaded up your lley with plants and now you ed some potting mix. You decide go for the super cheap $3 bags cause it’s just dirt, after all, and u’d rather buy more plants, right? ong. You get what you pay for h potting mixes, and 90 per cent the time those cheap ones are ast route to plant death. HE FIX: Only buy potting mixes elled with the Australian Standard ks. The labels are red for premium d black for regular potting mix. 40 F E B R UA R Y 2 02 1 G A R D EN I N G AU S T R A L I A

ADVICE 8TOO MUCH OF 10 FAILING WITH NATIVES A GOOD THING Sometimes I hear gardeners everywhere. Also, in their natural setting, We're all guilty of topping say “I’ll just put in natives” they’re pruned by hungry animals and when they want a garden that will look birds, or by bushfires. Likewise, plants up the water ‘just in case’, but this after itself. I’m sorry to break it to you, receive nutrients from animal droppings, pampering is the most common but not all natives look after themselves. fires and the breakdown of leaf litter. cause of indoor plant deaths. I know Many natives require less water, feeding THE FIX: Learn about the needs of the some plants are total princesses and or pruning than exotic plants, but it’s not plant you’re interested in to see if it will need constant moisture (I’m looking a one-size-fits-all situation. Australia has thrive in your situation. Then treat your at you, maidenhair fern) but most are enormous diversity in climates and soil native plants like all other plants, giving happier when they’re allowed to dry types, and not all native plants will grow them the care and attention they need. GA out a little between drinks. THE FIX: Wait until the top 2–3cm of potting mix dries out before watering, and check that the water hasn’t built up in the saucer or cover pot. 9GENERAL NEGLECT GA We all have busy lives and, as a result, our new leafy friends G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A F E B R U A R Y 2 02 1 41 sometimes suffer. Forgot to water your seedlings or newly planted plants? There’s a quick death about to happen. Put your indoor plants out in the rain for a lovely refreshing shower then forgot to bring them back in? Out comes the sun, and that’s the end of those plants. Didn’t cover your early tomatoes ahead of a late frost? Oops. THE FIX: Leave yourself a note on the fridge, or put reminders in your phone, so you don’t forget to take care of important gardening tasks.

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DESIGN i e i f ise Fancy a tropical-style garden but don’t live in the tropics? It’s still possible to create your dream, writes DERYN THORPE PHOTO GAP PHOTOS/CAROLE DRAKE

For many Australians, resort-style tropical gardens evoke memories of relaxing holidays in sultry Bali, Fiji and northern Queensland. The idea of having a garden with that kind of feel right outside your door on a more permanent basis can be very appealing. Of course, tropical rainforests and steamy jungles feature sticky humidity, regular summer rainfall and temperatures that remain above 21°C year-round. Most plants from these regions are not suited to the cool winter climates of southern Australia. However, there are plants that evoke that lush, tropical ambience and which thrive in cool conditions. Some of these may even tolerate frost once established. Clever plant choice and layering make it possible to create a tropical-style garden as far south as Canberra or Melbourne. planning your garden Tropical gardens have layers of lush, verdant foliage from the ground to the sky. Palms, large-leafed shrubs, rambling groundcovers and brightly coloured foliage and flowers are all hallmarks of the tropics. Also, natural seating such as

bamboo and wicker creates a resort look, especially when PHOTOS ROBERT FRITH/ACORN PHOTO, BRENT WILSON, ALAMY bold colours are used for soft furnishings and accessories. To get all the elements right, it’s best to start with a plan. Include pathways that wind through the garden space, as well as water features, decorative pots and statues, and consider adding strategically placed outdoor lighting. Mark the position of the trees and tall palms. You may also need to install an irrigation system and adjust it once the plants grow, unless you’re prepared to handwater in summer. Water features can be as simple as a water plant in a single container, or as substantial as a pond. The sight and sound of water adds tranquillity, and enhances the tropical theme. Dwarf palms and coloured-leaf plants that are sold to use indoors, including devil’s ivy, coleus and Chinese evergreens (Aglaonema spp.), are ideal for small, frost-free courtyards and balconies, as they create a cool jungle vibe. Trees and palms provide height in the design and create the shade in which the mid-storey and groundcover plants can thrive. Depending on your plant selection, the upper and mid-storey plants may struggle with sunburn or frost for the first few years while the canopy establishes. palms, trees & foliage Palms are the quintessential plant for creating a tropical look in a garden, and it’s essential to make the correct selection, taking into account their size and cold hardiness. Single-stemmed palms look most natural planted in clusters. Growing trees is the best way to create a shady microclimate for understorey plants, including the smaller palms. The tree canopy provides shade and acts as natural frost protection for the plants that are growing below it. While most tropical trees hate the cold, the purple orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata), the Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) and jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora), which bears grape-like fruit on its branches and trunk, will all tolerate some light frost. Many temperate trees have a tropical look. My favourites are the different types of Cercis species; smoke bush (Cotinus spp.), which is available with leaf colours from lime green to burgundy; forms of Magnolia grandiflora, with their shiny, bright green leaves; and the spectacular foxglove tree (Paulownia tomentosa), which is a fast-growing tree that’s only suitable for big gardens, as it can grow to 12m tall and wide. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A spot to sit among bromeliads shaded by dracaenas; Abyssinian banana, schefflera, alocasia, dwarf date palm and cordyline in a cool-climate garden; green staghorn and rhapis palm create a tropical vibe in Greg Walsh’s garden on the NSW Central Coast. PREVIOUS PAGE Begonia, impatiens and red anthurium shaded by a tree fern.

DESIGN G A R D E N I N G AU S T R A L I A F E B R U A R Y 2 02 1 47

DESIGN PLANTING KEY RIGHT PHOTOS ISTOCK, ROBERT FRITH/ACORN PHOTO sun semi shade shade frost tolerant In Troy Devereux’s Perth garden, open 1. Dichondra (Dichondra spp.) canopy trees and palms provide shade for 2 Moses-in-the-cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) cordylines and bromeliads, while offering 3 Native violet (Viola hederacea) branches to support hanging baskets, 4. Blue bugle (Ajuga reptans) 5. Alternanthera ‘Little Ruby’ and ‘Little Maroon’ old man’s beard and more broms. 6. Baby sun rose (Aptenia cordifolia) Tropical gardens rely mostly on flamboyant foliage, rather than 12 flowers, to create interest and tranquillity, so choose plants with leaves of different textures, forms and colours. Cold-tolerant 34 leafy plants with a lush tropical vibe include New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax), Japanese aralia (Fatsia japonica) with glossy 56 hand-like leaves, sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica), blue bugle (Ajuga reptans), heartleaf (Bergenia cordifolia), leopard plant 48 F E B R UA R Y 2021 G A RDENING AUS TR A LIA (Farfugium japonicum), tractor seat plant (Ligularia reniformis), cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), oyster plant (Acanthus mollis), liriope, photinia, heuchera and some gingers and bamboos. inspiration One man who has a good idea of what works is Troy Devereux. Troy has spent 16 years creating and tending his tropical-style garden in Perth, and was the 2018 Gardener of the Year state finalist for Western Australia. In his frost-free Mediterranean climate, he grows alexander, bangalow, rhapis, bamboo, golden cane and parlour palms, as well as the palm-like ponytail plants, because they are all tough and easy to manage. He also has a purple-leafed plum, and this is his favourite tree out of all those growing in the garden because he enjoys the colour contrast of the dark red to purple foliage. Troy’s main advice is to improve the soil before starting by incorporating lots of organic matter to create the rich, moist, free-draining soil tropical plants enjoy. In the tropics, leaf litter is continually falling to the ground, so save your prunings, shred them up and, where possible, use them as mulch or compost. PROTECT YOUNG PLANTS In frosty areas, palms need protection for the first few winters. Wrap hessian around three bamboo stakes positioned around the plant. The cloth must drop right down to the root zone. Even in warmer areas, such as Perth and Sydney, some plants may need protection and shelter from cold winter gusts and dry summer winds. Acrylic polymer anti-transpirant sprays applied to the foliage help all plants withstand the cold, but these need to be sprayed before the frost, and repeated every 30 days. These sprays also protect plants in the heat, as they reduce foliage burn in the height of summer, while reducing transpiration rates by 50 per cent.