May 2010: Fuchsia fulgens |
A half-hardy deciduous shrub that will flower all year round in warmer climates.
The long turbular flowers, typical of triphylla fuchsias, have orange coloured corollas.
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April 2010: Arisaema |
This is an interesting genus of unusual plants belonging to the aroid family.
Most are hardy species originate from North America, Japan, China and the Himalayas.
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December 2007: Gaillardia pulchella |
This hardy perennial produces brilliant coloured flowers with purple centres and yellow / scarlet petals.
It is tolerant of salty conditions and will put on a good display in light sand.
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November 2007: Disa |
Disa is a genus of orchids that come from South Africa.
A number of species live amongst reeds on the banks of mountain streams.
These unusual orchids actually live in wet ground!
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October 2007: Sandersonia |
This decisuous perennial produces delicate bell shapped flowers in the Summer. It survives as a V-shapped tuber in the Winter.
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September 2007: Green Hood |
A genus of some 100 or so species of terestrial orchids.
The dorsal sepal forms a hood over the flower, and hence the common name, Green Hood.
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August 2007: Torch Ginger |
This is a relation of the table ginger and comes from South East Asia.
The flower buds are used as a spice in South East Asian cooking.
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January 2007: Poached Egg Flower |
This soggy ground tolerant annual is ideal for filling in space or as a general ground cover.
The flowers are white with a dark yellow centre, and hence the common name.
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December 2006: Ceropegia woodii |
This succulent trailing vine has heart shapped leaves and turbular flowers.
Old plants form large tubers and small spherical tubers form along the vines.
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November 2006: Cosmos |
This drought tolerant annual has delicate fern-like foliage.
The flowers appear in Summer and lasts until the first frost.
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October 2006: Hatiora |
This species of epiphytic (lives on trees) cactus produces beautiful pink flowers in late Spring.
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September 2006: Phalaenopsis |
A genus of monopodial warm growing orchids from South East Asia, with large, thick, leathery leaves.
The flowers last for months.
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August 2006: Coreopsis |
This group of drought tolerant hardy annual/perennial wildflowers is native to North America.
The bright yellow, red and bi-coloured flowers appear almost all year long.
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July 2006: Jerusalem Artichoke |
Jerusalem artichoke is a perennial sunflower, the underground rhizomes is what is eaten.
It flowers in the Autumn and is worth growing just for the flowers.
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June 2006: Autumn Snowflakes |
These miniature bulbs have thin grass-like leaves.
Dainty white flowers appear above the foliage in the autumn on wiry thin stems.
A very nice bulb for small shady corners.
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May 2006: Pohutukawa |
Pohutukawa, the New Zealand Christmas tree, is an icon of coastal areas in Northern New Zealand.
During Christmas, the tree is covered in masses of red flowers.
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April 2006: Hibiscus |
A genus of shruby plants that range from the tropics to temperate climates.
The flowers have a characteristic central structure with five stigmas at the end and a number of stamens along its length.
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March 2006: Fuchsia hybrids |
A much hybridised plant with thousands of registered hybrids.
The flowers are usually bi-coloured, with a combination of red, cerise, pink, "orange", purple or white.
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February 2006: Livingstone Daisy |
Livingstone daisy is a low growing annual succulent that produces masses of bringtly coloured daisy looking flowers in the Summer.
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January 2006: Foxglove |
In the Spring, Foxglove grows a tall spike, with bell shapped flowers that have markings to guide landing bees.
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December 2005: Chrysanthemums |
This is a group of chrysanthemums grown for their daisy like flowers.
Garland Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium) is edible and is grown as a vegetable.
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November 2005: Disocactus |
This species of epiphytic (lives on trees) cactus produces beautiful pink flowers in late Spring, reminiscent of Epiphyllum.
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October 2005: Clematis |
A genus of climbers grown for their colourful and showy flowers.
Flowers of the Jackmanii hybrids are large and available in a variety of colours, from white to purple and red.
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September 2005: Aquilegia |
This hardy perennial with fern like mid green leaves, has bi-coloured flowers at the end of long stems that make excellent cut flowers.
Excellent wild flower or for cottage gardens, especially when planted en masse.
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August 2005: Alstroemeria psittacina |
This unusual species Alstromeria is a hardy deciduous perennial.
Umbrella shapped leaf heads appear in the Spring, followed by tall flower stems, great for cutting.
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July 2005: Osteospermum |
An excellent ground cover plant for dry and exposed areas.
It is available in a number of colours, and some types have spoon shaped petals.
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June 2005: Epidendrum |
These reed epidendrums are easy to grow and produce flowers all year round.
They deserve a spot in any garden.
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May 2005: Balloon flower |
This summer perennial is so named because its buds swell up like a balloon before opening.
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April 2005: Straw flower |
This annual is popular for dried flower arrangements.
The white / pink / red / yellow / orange flowers have dry and hard petals.
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March 2005: Hippeastrum |
This tender deciduous perennial bulb produces giant sized flowers around Christmas.
The flower colours range from white to red and all shades in between.
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February 2005: Tigridia |
Summer growing bulb believed to be cultivated by the Aztecs over a thousand years ago.
The showy flowers only lasts one day but as one fades another is produced to take its place.
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January 2005: Cornflower |
The blue flowers of this plant brightens up any dull garden.
The flowers are suitable for cutting and drying, retaining their bright colour well.
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December 2004: Cineraria |
Half hardy perennial/Annual that flowers in Spring and Summer.
Variable: seedlings from the same plant often produces different coloured flowers.
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November 2004: Giant Geranium |
This half-hardy aromatic biennial with deeply cut snowflake shapped leaves is the largest geranium.
In spring, the flower head grows to 150cm tall and 80 cm across, with hundreds of pinky-purple flowers.
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October 2004: Daffodil |
A hardy spring bulb that can naturalise in lawns and under deciduous trees.
It wouldn't be Spring without Daffodils.
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September 2004: Dendrobium |
Dendrobium is a very large genus of orchids. Here are five different cool growing Dendrobium orchids.
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August 2004: Gloriosa superba |
This tender deciduous perennial grows as a weak climbing vine.
The yellow/orange petals reflex upwards with a slight twist, giving a flame-like illusion to the flower.
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July 2004: Bletilla striata |
This hardy deciduous terrestrial orchid has lavender-purple flowers that look like miniature Catleya.
After several years, a large clump is formed and looks quite stunning when in flower.
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June 2004: Fuchsia procumbens |
This NZ Native ground cover is the smallest fuchsia in the world.
The flowers are yellow and upright and are followed by edible fruits that ripen to showy bright red.
The pollen is blue.
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May 2004: Living Stones |
An extreme succulent that grows pairs of stone shapped leaves, each with a translucent top.
The daisy-looking flowers produced in the Summer often dwarfs the leaves.
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