Salvia runcinata

Salvia runcinata flower detail

One of the fascinating small aromatic shrubs I have growing in my herb garden is this Salvia species. It is indigenous to South Africa , growing over a wide area from Northern Gauting to the Free State, and has a long history of being used in traditional medicine as well as being burnt to fumigate houses. Research has been carried out on the essential oils found in this and other Salvia species pertaining to their antimicrobial properties. The major compounds found in Salvia runcinata are caryophyllene (18%), bisabolol (71.7%), humelene (2.1%) and cis-lanceol (6.2%).

When crushing the leaves it is hard to pinpoint any familiar aromatic notes but a breakdown of the individual components gives you a better understanding of where they comes from. Caryophyllene is one of the compounds which contributes to the spiciness of black pepper, while Bisabol is the main component of German chamomile. Humulene is a chemical compound which contributes to the taste of Vietnamese Mint ,Persicaria odorata, which we all know smells like crushed bugs. My own conclusion is that the leaves of Salvia runcinata have the odour of cough medicine and that it is perhaps best not tested for culinary use. As the flowers are fairly insignificant, it will never gain a huge fan club amongst gardeners looking for a showy plant but it is still a wonderful gem to grow amongst thyme and oregano. For those living in Melbourne it can be found at the Royal Botanic Gardens:
Salvia runcinata at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Problems growing Parsley

This photo shows the symptoms of crown and root rot in curly parsley, which is a fungal disease known as Fusarium wilt. Similar fungal problems can also occur in winter and are caused by the water moulds, Pithium and Phytopthora primulae. Both flat leaf "Italian" parsley and curly parsley are susceptible to this disease. Part of the reason it occurs is that parsley grows with a long tap root which often reaches down into poorly drained soil which may have become waterlogged after heavy rain. The advantage of the strong tap root is that parsley is often able to find a space and force its way down to grow between rocks or cracks in pavers, though it may never reach maturity when eking out a living in these conditions. While it is possible to get a good second crop out of flat leaf parsley when it self sows in a garden bed, curly parsley is best started off from fresh seeds or seedlings planted when the days start to become cooler and shorter. For the next six weeks or so I will be lucky to be able to even pick a leaf of it. More information can be obtained on herbs from this link:

Horticultural Development Company

Crimson King

There is something very sexy about Dahlias which have near black petals at their heart. In the garden they are all looking fantastic at the moment but be on the lookout for snails which tend to hide under the lush foliage and sneak out to have a feast when you are not around.
Cue music:The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams. I like the version played by King Crimson

Green Day

NuMex Joe E. Parker Chilli Pepper, (Capsicum annuum)

I had only ever heard of Colonel Tom Parker and now I am growing the Joe E.version.
This is the number one green chilli grown in Mexico and the United States. It is called a premier cultivar because the plant exhibits strong main stem growth, uniform branching and a high yield. When cut in half it only has two cavities which makes for easy removal of the seeds and pith. I like the heat strength which is mild to warm, complementing tomatoes, red onion, mint and cucumber. I used this combination in a salad with Australian green lentils from Victoria. Apparently we are not allowed to use the traditional French name for green lentils, La lentille verte du Puy, because of the naming rights applying to a certain region of origin (like wine is). Green lentils are from Le Puy en Velay in Central France. Once you have tried them you will fall in love with the nutty taste and their versatility. Here is a nice "froggy' chef showing how it is done.

Palmarosa Grass

Palmarosa Grass, Cymbopogon martini

This is another ornamental grass which comes into its own over summer. Related to Lemon grass it grows to about the same height of about a metre though it forms a more narrow and graceful clump and the flower heads are more interesting as they resemble barbed-wire encircling thin stems standing erect above the lovely foliage. Propagation is usually from seed, which is how I grew it ,but clumps could perhaps be divided during the warmer months. This is something I have yet to try.
Over winter growth slows and the whole plant develops a bronze or rusty red tinge. Though sub-tropical in origin, it has good cold tolerance and could be grown as far south as Melbourne. As for most ornamental grasses, maintenance is to cut it back in spring to allow for new growth to appear as the weather warms up. Palmarosa grass releases a warm rose geranium scent when the leaves are crushed and oil extracted from the plant is used in the perfume industry as shown in this video.

Miscanthus x giganteus

Behind the Banana trees and bamboo, in that section of the garden known as "the jungle" I have a planting of Miscanthus x giganteus. In the late afternoon it is the perfect place to relax to listen to the "music" of rustling leaves and birdsong.

The silvery pink flowers shine in the sun and you know that summer is peaking.

Miscanthus x giganteus

This grass is native to Japan and is a sterile hybrid between the species M sinensis and M. sacchariflorus. It dies down in winter and is often slow to return but makes rapid growth once the days become long and warm. It is more widely known in both Europe and the U. S. as a commercial energy crop for the production of electricity and biofuel. It is one of the so called C4 (carbon fixation) plants of note as it has greater photosynthetic and water efficiency, and lower fertilizer requirements than most other plants. I am not aware of it being grown commercially in Australia but that may have something to do with the risk tall grass crops have as a fire hazard given our recent bushfire history.
Miscanthus x giganteus is a terrific ornamental grass for tropical style or informal gardens. It can be grown by dividing plants in spring as shown in this video. This may require Herculean effort however so just don't ask me to supply you with a plant.

Nepeta govaniana

Yellow Catmint, Nepeta govaniana

I hadn't done my homework on this perennial before planting it. I thought that if it is a "catmint" it will like a hot open position and will not be too concerned about getting a drink over summer. Wrong on both counts. It is native to the Himalayas from Pakistan to Uttarkhand growing at an altitude of 3000 metres so it really should be in a cool shaded position and probably in a cooler climate. I am not really convinced that it is particularly garden worthy as the flowers are fairly small and insignificant . The leaves have since burnt off but that is entirely my fault .The plant forms a small loose open clump to about 60cm. Score out of ten? I give it a five but maybe if I move it next autumn it may improve its rating.