Philodendron 'Gold Bullion'

                     Philodendron 'Gold Bullion'

I have been growing this for about a year now in a pot on the deck in a semi shaded position and noticed this week that some of the leaves are changing colour in response to cooler weather. The leaf veins are developing a delightful pink tinge.

This Philodendron is related to 'Xanadu' and is just as hardy as long as it is given some protection from frost. In a garden situation 'Gold Bullion' could be mass planted under trees as it is able to cope with dry shade and the leaf colour would certainly add brightness and vigour to the garden picture.

It is equally at home as an indoor or balcony plant and its low water requirements means means it can be left unattended for a period of time without looking back.

There does not seem to be any insect or disease problems associated with it either. Ten out of ten. 

Acalypha wilkesiana cv.

             Acalypha wilkesiana cv. (Euphorbiaceae)

This is a new one for me which I bought last week and as it came unlabelled I could take a wild guess and say this is the variety 'Sunset Hue' which it matches from photos I have looked at.

As coloured foliage plants go Acalyphas are more hardy than Crotons for growing outside the sub-tropic regions. Being in the Euphorbia family they have all the requirements for adapting to low water and less favourable growing conditions including windy salt spray coastal ones. 

This one adds to my small collection of varieties some of which I will have available for sale in the near future. 

Plectranthus 'Pygmy'

Plectranthus 'Pygmy' (Lamiaceae)

and when coping with light foot traffic.

A terrific hanging basket, ground cover or vertical garden plant, this Plectranthus ,which is probably a form of P.australis, has been available for a few years now and the only down side I have found to growing it is that it grows too fast, needing constant trimming back in a pot to keep it in check.

Pretty mauve and white flowers appear in autumn on the end of the trailing stems though it is the purple underside of the glossy leaves which are the real highlight. It will grow in full sun or deep shade and can spread a great distance to form a weed suppressing mat. Even if it strays across a path and gets trodden on it keeps on growing. It is a low water use plant and will tolerate some light frost but may need to be replaced in a pot when it 'exhausts' the growing medium as it exhibits tawny or cream leaves from fertilizer stress when this happens.
2017 update: I have stock in 140mm pots. 

Hosta envy

I can't grow Japanese Hostas or the so called Plantain Lily. They like a cool climate, a shady location with humus rich moist soil and a vigilant protection from snails and slugs. That said I admired these in a plant trade market last week. That means they are available right now in retail Nurseries and Garden Centres

black sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum var. purpureum

 Gomphrena 'Fireworks' flowering in front of black sugarcane

Saccharum officinarum var. purpureum (Poaceae)

The distinctive black stems and purple foliage of this ornamental and edible sugarcane make it an attractive addition to the summer garden particularly if planted alongside the large variegated Miscanthus 'Cosmopolitan' or some burgundy leaved orange flowering Canna 'Wyoming'. By the end of summer the stems may have reached 2 metres or more as it loves the heat and constant moisture, something we are getting plenty of if this afternoon's downpour is anything to go by. Large canes can be cut during the summer and used to propagate more plants by cutting the stem into short sections which include a node and laying them horizontally with a bare covering of soil. Having a few back-up plants is handy if you live in a frosty climate as they can be kept under shelter for planting out as the weather warms up.
 Growing an ornamental sugarcane plant provides a link to a part of the agricultural history of Australia while gaining an insight into some of the characters who were pioneers in the industry. While the sugar museum in Mourilyan, Queensland has recorded the oral history of the 20th century pioneers, some of whom were interned as 'enemy aliens' during both Wars, the 19th century records make for interesting reading while second guessing the motives and actions of those involved. Certainly this is the case with the 31 year old John Buhot who, with his wife Jessie, sailed into Brisbane on board the Montmorency in April 1862. He was born and raised in Barbados at the tail end of their sugar industry which was tainted with the dark side of slavery and he probably knew more than anyone in the Colony about establishing and nurturing the fledgling sugar industry here. Two months after his arrival his expertise in making granular sugar was put to the test with the help of engineer and architect Andrew Petrie (1798-1872) Twenty four canes were selected from the patch growing at the Brisbane city 'Botanic Reserve', yielding 7 gallons of juice and 5 pounds of sugar. The crushing of the canes and clarifying of the juice was carried out on the footpath of the Brookes and Foster Ironmongers establishment at 143 Queen Street. No doubt a crowd gathered to watch this process and with much fanfare the clarified liquor was taken back to the gardens for the final process of turning it into granular crystals. For his efforts he was promised a grant of 500 acres of land by a select Parliamentary Committee consisting of Messers. S.W. Griffith, Moreton, Buzzacott and Macrossan. This promise came to nothing though he was no doubt living comfortably by 1874 in his 56 acre Dunellan Estate in what is now the Brisbane suburb of Greenslopes. On his death at age fifty in 1881 his wife reminded the government of their promise but this was dismissed. His falling out with sugar industry associates such as Louis Hope from Ormiston indicates he may have been quite quick tempered or a just a victim of a 'tall poppy' syndrome frustrated by his efforts to get people to take notice of someone born with sugar 'flowing through his veins' from a young age. A hundred years after his initial 'manufacture' experiments, a plaque was unveiled to honour his achievements at the Brisbane City Botanic Garden, with his descendants in attendance. He is also remembered by a row of fig (Ficus) trees he planted in Quay Street Rockhampton and by Buhot street in Geebung.

John Buhot (1831-1881)

Family portrait at Dunellan Estate 1870's

Suagarcane at Brisbane City Botanic Garden

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'James Stirling'

 Pittosporum tenuifolium 'James Stirling' (Pittosporaceae)

The down side of a quick growing screening plant like this one is that it may end up being short lived and you are back to square one after just a few years. This plant has the reputation of suddenly turning up its toes especially in warm humid climates or when grown in heavy soils. One by one in a row they will go down without a fight. Of course the appeal of this shrub is the very fine foliage of silvery green clothing the black stems, though this is best when the plants are just a couple of metres tall, as mature specimens, of five metres or more, often become sparse of leaves and reveal a grey trunk and a tarnished sheen. 

A newer cultivar called 'Golf Ball', with its self explanatory name, is worth growing for those who like that touch of glossy silver in the garden on a neat compact plant. It makes an ideal container specimen or as a substitute for Buxus as a low border hedge, though, again, in warm climates it is probably better planted in a raised garden bed or planter box.
2017 update: Evidence suggests that cultivar 'Golf Ball' may revert to being a tall grower.

Sun-hardy Coleus

  This is a variety which is winter hardy if given a spot in the garden which is sheltered and away from cold drying winds. There are a few like this, though it is the really spectacular ones with very large floppy leaves like stained glass windows which tend to be the least hardy. So I was given a cutting of this one and I grew it on in a small 4 inch pot. It was placed in the corner of the glasshouse amongst some other plants and I hardly gave it a second thought over summer. Then last week as I cleaned up the plants around it over it toppled having grown some one and a half metres tall with thick woody stems and roots squeezed out of the pot and creeping across the floor. Fortunately Coleus are fairly forgiving and I can start the whole process all over again by cutting off the top branches and putting the pieces in a jar of water till they grow new roots. This time I will plant it out in the garden so it can end up looking as good as the one in the photo.
2017 update: I still grow this variety.

Rhoeo discolor 'Stripe-me-Pink'

 Rhoeo discolor 'Stripe-me-Pink'

Like many members of its Family Commelinaceae, this plant likes it in a garden spot or in a container which is kept on the dry side and is, as well, tolerant of poor soil. It also likes it in a warm to hot place being frost tender. It is often available at Garden Centres included with indoor or balcony plants for those who garden in cool climates. The vibrant pink and magenta striped leaves are at their best however when grown in full sun and will more than likely fade in shady conditions.
Each spring I grow a batch for sale as summer bedding and those unsold will often succumb to rotting when given overhead irrigation in the humid summer months. Water collecting in the centre of the plants results in fungal disease problems and the whole plant turns brown and collapses (see picture below)

Rhoeo given too much water will quickly rot and collapse

The variety name 'Stripe-me-Pink' is a clever play on words and is based on the Australian colloquialism 'Strike me Pink' which probably had its origins in the sheep shearing sheds of yesteryear. 'Pinking' means a sheep has been shorn too close to the skin so that the pink skin shows through, making it vulnerable to fly-strike, hence 'Strike me Pink' is used when speaking in surprise or alarm. Can also be used in combination with the word 'strewth'.
A local 'pink' expression involving the town of Jamberoo can be found in the book by W T Goodge Hits! Skits! and Jingles! published in 1899: 'The leathery necks he pinked 'em too, / Did Gentleman Jack of Jamberoo'
2017 update: I no longer grow this plant.

Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon'

Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon'

The plain green form of this plant is more commonly known as Vietnamese fish mint, giap/diep ca or phak khao tong in Thailand. Leaves are added to soups, used in salads or in rice paper rolls. As it has quite a strong flavour it has not become well known or popular amongst 'foodies' here. In the world of ornamental horticulture however this 'chameleon' cultivar is regarded as a hardy herbaceous perennial suitable for boggy or wet sites or for brightening shady corners of the garden. It grows across a range of climates forming a dense spreading ground cover and can become invasive in some climates. As the weather warms up it puts on a wonderful display of intensely marked leaves which range in colour from yellow to hot pink and cream. Best kept in a pot with a deep saucer of water underneath or in a pond if you don't want the hard work of keeping it under control.
2017 update: I usually have stock available in early summer.

X Cryptbergia 'Rubra'

X Cryptbergia 'Rubra'

This Bromeliad is a hybrid between a Crypthanthus and a Billbergia and forms a compact rosette of many offsets to about 40 cm across. It is noteworthy for the brilliant copper red leaves which change to deep burgundy depending on the time of year and how much sun it is given. I like to grow it in full sun as the leaf colour is deeper and richer. You could use that overused word "sustainable" to describe this plant as it requires no special watering or fertilizer to keep it looking good. It is hardy down to about zero C. Plants may be divided in spring and potted into an orchid style potting mix. Small flowers appear in the central rosette but these are fairly insignificant. In cool climates it is suitable to use as an indoor or patio plant.

Oliver Sacks on Cycads

'We moved past great coral canyons, with their endless forms and colours and their gnarled and twisted branches, some shaped liked mushrooms, some like trees, being nibbled at by tetrodons and filefish. Clouds of tiny zebra fish and fish of an iridescent blue swam through them, and around me. We saw flatworms waving like tiny scarves in the water and plump polychaetes with iridescent bristles. Large starfish, startlingly blue, crawled slowly on the bottom, and spiny sea urchins made me glad my feet were protected by fins'..................... Oliver Sacks from The Island of the Colour-blind.
 

The idiosyncratic and wonderfully humorous Dr Oliver Sacks had a reason for snorkeling in Pacific coral reefs. He was in search of the perfect shade of indigo blue, a colour which he saw in a vision while partaking in illicit substances during his younger days. This aspect of his crowded mind was not included in this book as the focus was on bringing attention to those who suffer from colour-blindness or Achromatopsia, where it is a hereditary condition on the islands of Pingelap and Pohnpei. The second half of the book centres on the Cycad islands of Guam and Rota where a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder afflicts a high proportion of the inhabitants.

Picador books (published by Pan Macmillan Australia in 1996)

While visiting Pohnpei, Sacks partook in a ceremony of drinking Sakau or what we call by the Fijian name of Kava. The video is included below.The sakau plant, Piper methysticum, was named by father and son German naturalists, Johann and Georg Forster, who accompanied Captain James Cook on his second voyage to the South Pacific in 1772 after Joseph Banks withdrew at the last moment. They called it rauschpfeffer or intoxicating pepper and in their diaries they recount the preparation of the sakau for drinking by Islander men inside Cook's cabin: It is made in the most disgusting manner...the root is cut very small, and the pieces chewed by several people who spit the macerated mass in a bowl when some water of coconuts is poured over it.
Sacks describes his encounter with sakau eloquently. It brought on an 'unctuous mellifluous flow of thought so far from my anxious, querulous frame of mind.'

 Kava, Piper methysticum (photo by Forest and Kim Starr on Wikimedia)

Another species of Piper from New Zealand was named in Cook's honour, P captaincookia.

German naturalists Johann Forster (1729-1798) and Georg Forster (1754-1794) 
Portrait from 1775 in Tahiti.

Cycas revoluta  

Japanese Sago Palm

 The Cycad botany from this book is equally as interesting though since it was written the origin and age of Cycad species is no longer considered to be from the Jurassic age.The most common species grown here and widely used in the landscaping industry is Cycas revoluta. Eminent Australian naturalist David Jones is quoted on this species and he recounts how the seeds of this plant are used on the Ryukyu Islands of Japan to make a form of Sake. Drinking it is almost as deadly as a game of Russian roulette, since it is slightly poisonous and occasionally a potent batch kills all those who partake. Eat with a meal of puffer fish or fugu!

Welcome to the wonderful world of plants Oliver Sacks style.

R.I.P Oliver Sacks 1933-2015

Devil's Ivy, Epipremnum pinnatum 'Aureum'

This is a very 1970's Brisbane photo.The orange flowering tree in the background is an African tulip tree, Spathodea campanulata which now has the dubious title of 'Class 3 declared pest plant under Queensland legislation'. What caught my eye however was the climber growing up the palm trees. It goes by the common name of Devil's Ivy being a popular houseplant worldwide. I have a large tub of it in a glasshouse and it is liking it so much it is climbing the walls, relishing the heat and humidity. It is still in the juvenile stage with the leaves measuring about 15cm long. As it grows the leaves get bigger and become irregularly divided and can reach about 80cm long as shown here. Botanically it has undergone quite a few name changes and is often referred to as Scindapsus, Pothos or Rhapidophhora. For the time being it is now officially Epipremnum pinnatum 'Aureum' and a member of the Aroid family. The plain green form originated in the Solomon Islands and this golden coloured form is a sport thought to have originated in nursery cultivation.Various cultivars are available and are often sold as basket plants and these include 'Golden Queen' with mainly yellow leaves, 'Neon' with chartreuse foliage and 'Marble Queen' with white variegated leaves.They are extremely tough plants and before moving my plant into a favourable spot I had neglected to water it or care for it at all for many months. Though most of the leaves had dropped off it responded quickly to a bit of TLC and is now thriving. Most of the rope like climbing stems produce roots at the nodes so cuttings are easy to strike and it is even quite happy to grow in a jar of water on a windowsill.

Alpine Strawberry, Fragaria vesca

 

Fragaria vesca, Alpine Strawberry

Illustration from Flora von Deutschland, Osterreich und Schweiz

by Dr Otto Thome, 1885

Despite their cool climate sounding name, Alpine or European wild strawberries are fairly easy to grow and in our mild climate it is possible to pick fruit from them for many months of the year. The problem is being able to pick enough of them to 'make a meal' as they are really the ultimate sweet garden snack food which you eat as you find them. 

I grow a few varieties including a white fruited form called 'Pineapple Crush'; and one called 'Golden Alexandria' with lovely lime green foliage which makes it eye catching in a shady garden spot. 

The tiny white flowers of Alpine strawberries are produced on long stems and stand proud of the foliage until the fruit forms and then they disappear amongst the foliage. They are clump forming plants and can be propagated by dividing a clump or growing them from seed. Seedlings often pop up in unexpected places and can be dug up and moved to more favourable sites. Germination of seed can be slow and if you end up with a mass of tiny plants crowded together in a seed tray they are fairly easy to separate and surprisingly hardy despite their delicate looking roots and tender appearance.

The only problem I have in growing them comes in the form of leaf spotting during the hottest months but diseased foliage can be cut off and if they are given some compost or fertilizer, after a haircut, they grow back in no time. These strawberries grow well in pots but are best in a semi shaded spot. Leaves wilt if the container dries out, but they are so forgiving they quickly revive when given a drink.

 Golden Alexandria

 Flowers and fruit

 It is interesting that the fruit can be eaten at any stage and remains sweet even when starting to go very soft or at the almost dried stage.

Wild strawberries have been popular for centuries and much folklore, literature and songs include a reference to them. The strawberry is depicted as a heart shaped symbol of love or unrequited love as in the rendition of the folk song I loved a lass sung by Andreas Scholl :

'The men in yon forest, they ask it of me 

"How many wild strawberries grow in the salt sea?"

And I ask of them back with a tear in my eye 

"How many ships sail in the forest?"

Crotons, Codiaeum varigatum

Croton 'Excellent' (Codiaeum varigatum)

Croton 'Ebernum'

Collecting plants is a bit addictive. You start off with one or two and before you know it there are three more on your shopping trolley. Fortunately with Crotons they are versatile enough to be used as container plants and will take both indoor conditions as well as grow in pots in a hot sunny courtyard or patio. The only thing they don't like is cold weather and "wet feet". The first few I had dropped all their leaves over winter and looked like sticks in a pot. However they recovered quickly in summer and put on a great flush of new growth and colourful leaves. So I added a few more to the collection this summer including one with broad violin shaped leaves, the aptly named 'Excellent' and the unusual cream and green 'Ebernum'.
If you live north of Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, Crotons can be planted in the ground and they are terrific in coastal sandy soils in both a sunny or semi shaded position. They have few pest or disease problems.

Chilli variety 'Purple Tiger'

Ornamental Chilli 'Purple Tiger' 
 Capsicum annuum cv.

This is an ornamental variety of chilli which can be eaten though it is not particularly flavourful. The shiny black pendant fruits make a terrific table or plate decorative particularly when teamed with 'Black Russian' tomatoes. In the garden, the creamy grey and pink flecked leaves match well to plants like dark opal basil which has bright magenta coloured flowers. Some silver foliage, from say a Cineraria, the "silver dust" plant, is a good foil to this combination also.

As this is the first summer I have grown this variety,I am assuming it may well keep on fruiting for quite some time and I may just get a second year from the plants if they are kept a bit drier over winter. Other varieties with these black or dark purple fruits include 'Jigsaw' and 'Black Cuban'. 'Purple Tiger' also goes by the name of 'Trifetii'.

Tiger Hunt (detail) depicting Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605)
Victoria and Albert Museum ,London

Akbar is shown on the brown steed beheading the purple tiger with his scimitar. One hopes this is a pure fantasy depiction from the book of his fantastic exploits. The playboy emperor was well aware of the need to appear larger than life to sustain his popularity and dominate his surroundings, though paintings like this could have been used to intensify the experience of being in a cool, sumptuous and safe Mughal garden with its voluptuous sense of luxury.
I am in need of a time machine right now to take me back to the 16th Century Persian style of gardening without the senseless killing of tigers.

Some Golden Leaves

Der Kuss (The Kiss) 1907-1908
Gustav Klimt (1862-1918)
Osterreichiseme Galerie, Vienna

The ultimate chill out concert by the Vienna Philharmonic on New Year's Day (Das Neujahrskonzert der Wiener Philharmoniker) which always features the calming music of the Strauss family composers, was this year dedicated to the Austrian artist Gustav Klimt as a way of celebrating his 150th birthday in 2012. Klimt used gold leaf extensively during his "golden years" being influenced by the Byzantine period of art. The painting from that period The Kiss is the most famous work and yesterday's concert included a ballet work performed in front of it.
I have always liked golden leaved plants but they can be tricky to incorporate into a garden as they can look harsh and turn brown when grown in full sun. However for dull or shady garden places they bring light and vibrancy and are indispensable as a contrast to darker foliaged plants which tend to disappear and lose impact in such spots. Here are a couple of examples of golden leaves.

The gold leafed Geraniums (Pelargoniums) do well under deciduous trees as they enjoy the winter sunshine and summer shade. They are able to cope with the often drier conditions brought about by tree roots as they seek out moisture. They can also easily be grown in pots and moved about to different places in the garden to add brightness where necessary.

More shade lovers here including the dwarf golden bamboo Pleioblastus viridistriatus, the variegated Viburnum tinus showing some small pink buds and below, the large leafed Acanthus mollis 'Hollard's Gold'. The golden bamboo is a runner but rarely reaches more than 40 cm tall. It needs a cut back in late winter to ground level to make way for the new leaves to emerge in spring. The Viburnum is slow but is quite delicate in appearance and a better choice than the strident Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'. The golden Acanthus is a favourite because the leaves change colour as they mature, and with the seasons, from bright yellow to lime green. The other shrub to look out for, which I have featured in an earlier post is Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea' which you can't beat for amazing golden colour.

Anthricus sylvestris 'Ravenswing'

Feathery black foliage of Anthricus sylvestris 'Ravenswing'with white striped Iris japonica 'Variegata'

and with Carex elata, Bowles' Golden grass

The common name for this plant is black cow parsley and it is really more suited to a shady cool English woodland garden but I am giving it a go in full shade and keeping it well watered. It remains to be seen whether I can get it to flower so I can collect some seed so as to grow more of it. It would look terrific if mass planted beside some pale foliaged plants like the ones above for it could easily disappear in the landscape without something to highlight its seductive dark leaves.
2017 update: I no longer have this plant.

Banana "Palm" as bedding plant

Here is a French style banana planting, as the centre piece to a circular bed, surrounded by Cannas and bedding Begonias and making quite an impact in this garden. I am not sure where I took this photo and I assume the whole thing is lifted at the end of the season and bought into a glasshouse while the cedar tree in the background gets dusted with snow.

Pelargonium 'Madame Salleron'

Pelargonium 'Madame Salleron'

Cool, green and white, this never flowering geranium is a beautiful little bedding plant . Here it is hiding underneath a couple of arching leaves of a walking Iris. It likes a sheltered garden spot away from direct sunlight and needs some protection from snails and slugs which relish the tender scalloped leaves, otherwise it is trouble free.
2017 update: I no longer grow this.

Cool & green: the heatwave solution

Browsing the weather forecast for the rest of the week, it looks like the mercury is going to go sky high and we are in for a real heatwave. I love to find a cool spot amongst lush shady plantings of palms, ferns and foliage plants such as bromeliads. The so called self cleaning palms always leave an interesting pattern of stripes on their trunks as the old fronds are shed. Planting strap leaf or vertical plants nearby makes for a wonderful contrast of form and pattern.