Bark like satin

Largerstroemia indica 
Crepe Myrtle

One of trees which really shines in the winter sunlight is the Crepe Myrtle. The satin smooth bark reflects light onto the surrounding garden and contrasts well with the sombre green clipped star jasmine planted underneath.

Carex testacea

c

Alstroemeria aurea dwarf cultivar

Carex testacea Orange Sedge
with Cape Daisy (Osteospermum ecklonis 'Nuanza' Copper Purple

The New Zealand native sedges/grasses which are shaded brown usually get politely called bronze, orange or tan coloured and can be an acquired taste if you are not used to seeing them planted as garden ornamentals. The reaction when first seeing them is that they must be dead and indeed can look so if planted in groups on bare ground or just surrounded by mulch. Perhaps they evolved this colour so as to appear unpalatable to grazing animals. When used in a garden they make a terrific foliage contrast with silver leaved or purple plants as well as with warm coloured flowers with orange tones. I like to use them with the bright Cape daisies or the richly coloured dwarf Alstroemeria aurea, pictured above, which is just coming into flower.
The other New Zealand Carex species to look out for in this colour range include Carex buchananii (Leatherleaf sedge), Carex comans 'Bronze" and Carex petriei. The latter takes on a wonderful soft pink tone at certain times of the year. All are frost hardy and suitable for container growing and deserve a place in both large and small gardens.

Doryanthes palmeri, Spear Lily

Sir Arthur Palmer 1819-1898
Queensland Premier 1870 -1874

Doryanthes palmeri named in his honour.

The giant spear lily is just starting to flower with its enormous flower spike (a panicle technically) snaking skywards up to 5 metres.This species is found on cliffs and rocky hillsides above 600 metres, from Mt Warning in northern New South Wales to Mt Mistake in Queensland. I prefer this species to the more common, especially around Sydney, Doryanthes excelsa , the Gymea Lily, with its more upright flower stem. Doryanthes palmeri has adapted well to cultivation and will grow as far south as Melbourne being tolerant of frost. It adds a lot of drama to a garden with its robust clump forming habit and long leaves even when not in flower. It needs a spot in rocky well drained soil preferable on a slope. Propagation is usually from seed but seed grown plants will take up to ten years to flower. If collecting seed you need to wait at least six months after flowering has finished for seed to be mature. I have never attempted to divide a clump which is another way of getting new plants but I imagine it would be a bit like trying to divide a clump of Strelitzia, Bird of Paradise. You could do all that work only to find it fails to flourish after planting.
2017 update: I have limited stock available in 200mm pots.

Doryanthes palmeri

Grevillea 'Scarlet Sprite'

Grevillea rosmarinifolia 'Scarlet Sprite'

This compact metre high Grevillea has been a favourite of mine for many years. It is just starting to flower and I probably should have waited a couple of weeks before taking a photo of it . The only down side to this sharp leafed Grevillea is that it can cause some skin irritation or rash if you come in contact with the foliage. I give this one a light pruning constantly, as it is growing, so as to enhance the shape. If mass planted it would make an excellent retreat for small nectar feeding birds which would be protected from predators put off by the prickly leaves.Trouble free to grow and not really requiring special treatment one established other than a light prune from time to time and a handful of fertilizer in summer.

Grevillea 'Fireworks'

Grevillea 'Fireworks' 

This is a terrific small growing (1metre) Grevillea which I planted about eight months ago and it is just coming into flower. It is one bred by Bywong Nursery which is situated about 30 km north east of Canberra in the settlement of Bywong. It is a hybrid between Gevillea rosmarinifolia 'Scarlet Sprite' and Grevillea alpina. What I like about it is the compact growth habit making it an ideal low hedge plant as well as the brightness and quantity of flowers which explode in all direction from the top of the bush.The leaves are also soft with no spines or prickles. This Grevillea is protected by plant breeders rights PBR.

Camellia Show Time

Camellia 'Henry E Huntington'

The main Camellia Show of the year is on this weekend presented by Camellias Illawarra Incorporated in conjunction with Camellias Australia Inc. Despite the gale force winds of late, it has been a good year for Camellias and there are many more blooms out than usual. These are some of my favourites from the Show.

Camellia 'Grape Soda'

Rare yellow species Camellia nitidissima

Camellia 'Eryldene Excelsis' Variegated

Camellia 'Margaret Davis'

Camellia 'Okan'

Small flowered Camellia 'Maroon and Gold'

Camellia S.P. Dunn

Camellia 'Winters Own'

Camellia 'Black Magic'

Camellia 'Black Magic'

Camellia 'Surusumi'

Last flowers on tree dahlias

Dahlia imperialis, Tree Dahlia

Despite the horrendous gale force winds of late, the tree dahlias still have a few flowers hanging from the top of the plants. I have been waiting for them to finish so that I can cut down the giant stems and start taking some cuttings. Cuttings usually consist of stem pieces cut into lengths with two ridges or nodes remaining. These are placed length ways just below the surface of the ground and when the weather warms up, shoots appear from the nodes and a new plant is off and running in no time. I usually place lots of cuttings in a Styrofoam boxes, cover them up with potting mix and forget about them. These get potted into large pots just after the shoots appear and roots have formed. 
2017 update: i no longer grow them for sale.