Manettia bicolor, 'Brazilian Firecracker'

Manettia bicolor ,'Brazilian Firecracker' (Family Rubiaceae)

There are not many climbers which are small and dainty enough to be planted safely amongst shrubs, used as a ground cover or placed in a hanging basket or decorative container and be continually in flower. This is one such plant and I was fortunate enough to be given a cutting of it a year ago. Though originating from South America and suited to warm climates it will tolerate a few degrees of frost and can be grown successfully on a windowsill indoors. The tubular flowers which are only about 20mm long, are a brilliant scarlet with vivid yellow flared lobes at their apex.

 For those who remember their childhood firecrackers, the flowers remind me a bit of 'Tom Thumbs'  which were about the same size and were attached to each other by a string so they went off in succession with quite a punch.

This plant is named for Italian botanist Savero Manetti (1723-1785) who spent time as supervisor of the Botanic Garden in Florence at a time when such gardens contained herbal plants or "simples", associated with herbalism or herbal medicine.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hot Mustard'

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hot Mustard'

This is a curious colour to have in a flower. It varies depending on the time of the day from khaki to old gold. The colour is tempered with a soft pink centre with radiating pink stripes.

This large bushy variety was bred by Brian Kerr. Under-plant with one of those brown New Zealand Carex grasses or team with a hot pink or orange flowers to help subdue the impact of these brighter colours.
2017 update: See Brian Kerr's comment below for more details. Thanks Brian.

Anemone hupehensis 'Bowles' Purple'

 Anemone hupehensis Bowles' Purple

This is a smaller grower than the variety 'Japonica', the Japanese Anemone which is usually white or pale pink with flower stems reaching a metre or more, though there is much confusion as to the correct cultivar names and hybrids of these Anemones in Australia.

I was given a small clump of this last year by a gardening mate who called it Bowles' Pink, though no reference is made to either a pink or purple form in the RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. E.A. Bowles is remembered as a breeder of Anemones so I have no doubt this plant goes back a long way. By coincidence the background plant in this photo is the grass or sedge Carex Bowles' Golden.

 The flower color on this Anemone starts out as a vibrant cerise purple before fading to bright pink and white on the edge of the petals. 

From a nursery point of view it is easier get to flower in a 14cm pot which is a bonus from a sales point of view compared with the 'in demand' tall white species with its larger leaves and flower stem making it more difficult to manage. 

This plant is a hardy semi shade to shade lover and is tolerant of frost and dry.

Soapwort: Saponaria officinalis

 Saponaria officinalis 'Rosea Plena', Soapwort

Soapwort is so named because the leaves and roots of the plants contain saponins or soap and it has been used since ancient times for this purpose.  It was brought to Britain by the Romans and taken to the Americas by the Pilgrim Fathers and probably arrived in Australia with the First Fleet. Sometimes it is given the folk name of 'Bouncing Bet' alluding to its habit of bouncing from one place to another via underground roots and appearing far from where it was originally planted. Thus modern garden writers give caution as to planting it freely least it overtake a complete garden. Surprisingly, given its love of moist rich soil or of being pond-side, it belongs to the carnation/dianthus/sweet william family Caryophyllaceae, plants which are normally associated with limey dry soil and Mediterranean conditions. The visual similarity is in the jointed stems and soft sugary fragrance of the flowers.

The double flowering form, pictured above, is said to be less vigorous than the single variety.This one I obtained from a specialist nursery last year during Bowral Tulip Time and it is flowering for the first time, though is somewhat lax in habit.

Years ago I grew the single flowered variety which I got from Dragonfly Aquatics, the nursery of Australian water gardening expert Nick Romanowski who praised the single flowered 'wild type' as being more appealing in his book Water Garden Plants and Animals (UNSW Press).

In the eyes of herb enthusiasts Soapwort will be forever associated with the work of Lady Margaret Meade-Fetherstonhaugh (1888-1977) who used it to restore delicate fabric and brocades in the family home of Uppark (now a National Trust property), in Sussex which her husband had inherited in 1930. With curtains dating from 1746 and in need of restoration she collaborated with herbalist Hilda Leyel (1880-1957) to form a natural cleaning product based on the leaves and roots of the plant. Achieving great success she remarked 'It is a miracle process which not only cleans but heals the material by feeding and strengthening the threads of the textile'

 Uppark in Sussex, as pictured in the early 18th C by Jan Kipp, where the revival of interest in the use of the herb Saponaria was carried out by Lady Meade-Fetherstonhaugh who went on to become President of the Society of Herbalists following the death of Hilda Leyel.

Kniphofia 'Bressingham Comet'

Kniphofia 'Bressingham Comet'

Spot flowering at the moment on 60cm stems is this lovely grassy foliaged Red Hot Poker which is a selection by Alan Bloom of Blooms of Bressingham, the famous UK perennial Nursery. The small flower becomes yellow tipped as it ages but is predominately a tangerine orange colour. I persevere with Kniphofias though the climate here is too warm and humid, so many varieties succumb to mealy bug around the base of the leaves or develop collar rot if they get too much water. There are always new ones coming on the market and one I noticed in the market on Friday was called 'Pineapple Popsical'

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Cooperii', Snowflake Hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Cooperii'

This Hibiscus has long been a part of the indoor plant trade and its delicate small variegated white leaves, which have a hot pink tinge at certain times of the year, have given it the common name of the 'Snowflake Hibiscus'. The variegation or lack of chlorophyll in the leaves means it is is not a particularly vigorous grower in all but tropical climates. I keep it in a pot and it makes a nice contrast with darker foliage plants. This is the first time mine has flowered and the pendulous pillar box red blooms are very attractive.

It needs a warm spot over winter as leaves may drop if it is very cold. For some reason insect pest find the leaves particularly tasty and again this could be due to the lack of green pigment which may inhibit predators.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Nicole Louise'

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Nicole Louise'

This is a more subdued flower than the previously mentioned 'Mary Forbes' as the orange colour has a matte finish and is tempered by a cream line flowing along the edge of the petal and onto the reverse. In some lights, and at certain times of the day, the orange takes on a more glowing pink tone.

This is a hardy variety of average height with good glossy foliage.