I (can't) grow sage

Garden Sage, Salvia officinalis affected by root rot

Out of my current batch of a hundred or so sage seedlings I am hoping to get at least a few which go on to reach maturity and become large healthy bushes. I think the trick is to avoid overhead watering if possible as moisture around the base of the plant and on the leaves creates ideal conditions for the spread of the fungus which causes the rot. (Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani) Living in a cool dry climate with zero humidity also helps, as well as providing an alkaline, gritty, free draining soil.

The old Arabian proverb "How can a man die who has sage in his garden?" and the fact that sage is traditionally the herb which has a centuries old track record for helping shield against declining faculties and failing memory has stirred me into the task of growing it
successfully.   Sharp as a tack at eighty you bet....

 I am also growing the red leaf sage (S. officinalis 'Purpurascens') pictured below. It is a bit of a gloomy looking plant, though in a good light the leaves have that purple bloom of a summer sugar plum.

The name Salvia is from the Latin salveo or "I am well" and the colloquial corruption of the name became sange in old French and sauge in old English. Midwives in France were known to use sage leaves macerated in a liquore to be given "aux femmes qui vont prochainement accoucher." Expectant fathers probably needed a swig as well.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'White Picardy'

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'White Picardy'

 Hibiscus flowers can be quite variable and they can throw 'sports' from the original form. I found this one growing in an old garden and am taking cuttings to see how it performs when grown under different conditions. The flowers are very unique and have a ruffled handkerchief form. The petals are tinged with green on the edges and have a blush of pink on them as they age.The bush was well over three metres tall and was very old and gnarly.  

African Blue Basil

 Ocimum kilimandscharicum x Ocimum basilicum 'Dark Opal' 

Tradescantia pallida in background

This is a big shrubby perennial basil growing to over a metre in height which has matte green leaves coloured on the reverse side a dusty purple. It originated in an American herb garden as a chance seedling and is a sterile hybrid, not setting any viable seed. It flowers for most of the year and is one of the best bee attracting plants that I have grown. As basils tend to be shallow rooted it is advisable to stake this variety as it is very susceptible to blowing over in a strong wind. Mine did in August and though it kept growing after being propped up I eventually hauled it out. I took cuttings which struck fairly readily and now the new plants are off and running into flower with the bees back in force. Plants can also split down the middle often under the weight of all the flowers which elongate and keep on going seemingly forever. A once over with hedge shears is a good way of keeping a trim and compact bush. You could do this in stages if you are worried about depriving the bees of some food. Plants require very little water and will tolerate light frosts.

There is a bit of debate around about the edible qualities of the perennial basils (there is a plain green type as well). It does contain quite a bit of camphor oil which makes it pungent so err on the side of caution when using in the kitchen.

A Bloke's Backyard

Australian Icon: the 44 gallon drum

An essential Australian backyard item is the 44 gallon drum. The rustier the better as in that way you feel you are paying homage to the Australian artist Rosalie Gascoigne (1917-1999).

I like to keep one topped up with water as you can wash soil from the roots of plants which have been freshly dug by deep swishing up to the elbow with ease. Mosquitoes are only occasionally a problem and you can pour a bit of organic oil on the surface of the water to discourage them. If you site your drums in the partial shade of a tree you will soon find that the larger birds such as Wattle Birds will dive bomb the water surface for a bath and return to do the same each day like clockwork.

Empty 44 gallon drums are equally as useful. Knocking a few holes around the base with a crow bar will allow any rainwater to drain out and they can be used as a fire-pit barbecue or as a giant pot in which to grow some tall sunflowers.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Apple Blossom'

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Apple Blossom'

If you have a coastal garden with pure sand to work with this is the perfect Hibiscus to grow, particularly if you want a tall growing, screening, or hedging variety. It can be left unpruned as it is naturally dense in habit while the single rose pink flowers are produced in great numbers even if they only last a day. Perhaps the only down side to growing it is that chewing insects seem to favour the soft leaves, though unless you are a garden perfectionist this should not be an issue. What's a few chewed leaves between friends. A safe plant based spray will give the critters a bad headache and perhaps they will move on to another food source.
2017 update: I am currently out of stock.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hiawatha'

 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Hiawatha'

Not from Tahiti or Hawaii but from the beautiful tropical island of Sri Lanka where it originated in the Peradeniya Botanical Garden at Kandy. In Sri Lanka, Hibiscus are known as 'shoe-black' as the flowers were used to polish shoes and as a dye. Crushing the hand sized flower releases a mucilaginous substance perfect for polishing shoes.

The 'amaranth red' flowers of 'Hiawatha' are ruffled with a fused recurved style and are produced in great abundance over the warmer months on what is a very hardy tall growing shrub. Leaves are small and glossy. This variety seems fairly resistant to pests such as Hibiscus beetle which favours  lighter coloured flowers.

Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer'

 Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer' (Rosaceae)

This delightful metre high deciduous shrub is native to China and Japan, though this form was developed in Europe many years ago.  In China the wild form is known as Fenhua Xiuxianju. The curious thing about it is that it occasionally throws up a a stem of leaves which have no colour and are pure blonde with some pink tips. These leaves are not happy in the sun and may burn easily. Choosing a spot in the garden which is semi shaded is the best option if you want to avoid this, otherwise it is a remarkably hardy shrub which flowers from spring right through summer. Pruning off spent flowers helps keep it neat as some branches tend to be wayward. Suckers may also appear around the base of the plant but it is certainly not invasive or a garden nuisance. The small sprays of flowers are a bright magenta pink and these start off from buds which resemble a pin cushion head.

Spiraea are hardy across a range of climates from sub-tropical to cool temperate. In warmer climates they may not become completely deciduous over winter.
2017 update: I no longer stock this plant.