Manaia 4612.
South Taranaki.
(06) 274 9436
Evenings
cottage.nursery@xtra.co.nz
Cara Cottage
Perennial Nursery
| Plants for Sun - These are available now | |||
| Picture (Click to enlarge) | Plant Name | Plant Description | Cost |
| ACHILLEA Hella Glashoff | This hybrid yarrow has large dinnerplate sized heads of
creamy golden flowers to 80cm over the summer. A superb
mid border perennial that will stun the visitors.
Deadheading is important to keep colour showing on yarrow plants, & to prevent seeding. Full sun, average conditions. Cut back hard for winter. Easy to grow. Very hardy. PB 3/4 size $5-00. | $ 5.00 | |
| ACHILLEA millefolium Fanal | Achillea, or Yarrow, as the common name is, has been a medicinal
herb for centuries. In the gardens of today, however, it's use is
mainly decorative, & many different hybridised colours are available.
these ones are seedlings of the Fanal Red, a bright vivacious pinkish red, that really stands out in the mid to back border. Flowering from late spring thru summer, the blooms are large flattened heads of small florets packed tightly together, but it does need to be deadheaded as part of your regular garden maintenance, but as with so many perennials the small effort gives great rewards in a happy healthy garden full of colour. Good picking blooms too. Full sun, height to around 80cm when in flower. It needs a good chop back once finished, right to the ground to get rid of the old stems. Semi dormant in winter, very Hardy. PB 3/4 size $5-00. | $ 5.00 | |
| ACHILLEA Salmon Beauty | Pieces from the garden | $ 5.00 | |
| ALCHEMILLA mollis Ladies Mantle | SUN. Ladies Mantle has been a firm favourite for centuries. It was used as a medicinal herb but is now a lovely perennial for the garden.
Felty light green foliage catches the dew or rain, which then sparkles in sunshine. Nice foliage & stems of fluffy greenish yellow flowers in summer.
Tidy up after winter when new growth starts under the old. Plant for best effect in light shade, or in full sun. Ideal as a ' green spacer' among roses, or in the front of the border where it can flow over onto paths, etc.
Semi-dormant in winter. Hardy. Heritage variety.
barerooted pieces | $ 5.00 | |
| ANTHEMIS Cary's White. | A full sized bushy plant to around 1.2 m wide, the Anthemis Cary's
White is a great filler for the border, and is in flower for many
months of the season. White daisy's with a yellow centre, it's
surprising how well it fits in to many plantings. Some may say
it's 'plain Jane', but it is a sturdy grower, trouble free, & won't
resent a hack-back if needed. Full sun, or partial shade, easy to grow in any ordinary conditions. Evergreen in milder climates, Hardy. 3 good rooted pieces from the garden | $ 4.00 | |
| ARMERIA maritima Pink Thrift. | SUN. This old favourite is known for it's compact clumps of grassy dark leaves & balls of mid pink flowers held well above the plant.
Grow in full sun, average to gritty soil, as it clings to rocky patches in it's native cliff-top environment.
Very easy to grow, & deadheading will continue the flowering, which is from early spring for much of the season.
Ht 10cm, spread 30cm. Good for coastal conditions. Heritage variety. Hardy, evergreen. PB 3/4 size. $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| ARMERIA maritima White | SUN. The natural partner for the old time pink flowered one, with the same grassy foliage & slender stems rising well above the plant, with snowballs on top.
Flowers most of the season if regularly deadheaded, needs full sun to flower well, average to gritty soil, well drained but not bone dry.
A delightful little fellow. Evergreen. Hardy PB 3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| ASTER mini pink. | I don't know the name of this little Aster, but it's a wee beauty
when established, & flowers from late spring thru summer. If
cut back early, it will give a repeat flowering.
Mine have grown to around 50cm high by 80cm wide, & is smothered in delightful baby pink flowers. This would look good in a summer border, second row. Perhaps a little shelter if you are in a hard frost area, but generally Asters are pretty hardy. Deciduous in winter, so cut back early, or after the spring growth starts. Full sun required, & a little fertiliser spring & after flowering, & water when it gets dry. PB 3/4 size $5.00. 1 plant left | $ 5.00 | |
| ASTER novi belgii Royal Ruby | A tall variety, to 1.3m & a massed flowering in autumn. Loved by bees & butterflies.
PB 3/4 size $5.00. 3 plants & some rooted cuttings. | $ 5.00 | |
| ASTER novi belgii White Ladies | The tall variety, equivalent to Royal Ruby, & just as magnificent. PB 3/4 size $5.00 | $ 5.00 | |
| BOLAX glebaria syn Azorella? | SUN. Bolax glebaria, an unusually flat perennial that can really get a wriggle on when it comes to covering the ground.
Spiky tipped bright green shiny leaves in stars, & a summer flowering of tiny yellowish flowers. Plant in well drained gritty soil in full sun but don't let it dry out. It will stand light frosts, according to the only book I can find with a reference. But then, it grows in Gore, in snow country, so your guess is as good as mine. PB 3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| BULBINE frutescens 'Hallmark' | The nearest I get to growing succulents is this spiky leaved
beauty. A South African, closely related to the Aloe Vera, &
the juice can be used for scrapes & stings too. Soft light green, almost transluscent foliage in a tight clump, stems of brilliant orange little flowers that just keep going out & up over most of the year. Growth is moderate, but this is one you'll want nearby in full sun to enjoy everytime you pass. It does not appreciate even moderate frost, so keep it protected. It's happy in a container, thrives on neglect & is very quirky. $3-00. per good size piece, as I'm due to break this up shortly. I can send pieces dry, with a boxful of plants. | $ 3.00 | |
| BULBS: SCILLA Peruviana. | Known commonly as the 'blue pineapple lilly', which it is not,
the Scilla peruviana is a beautiful large flower head with a pointed
cone of star like flowers, giving of it's best for several weeks in spring.
The bulbs become very large & almost welded together in a large clump over time, many sharing the same basal plate. These ones are 3 year old seedling bulbs, in leaf. This is an ideal age to establish a small clump, as they will carry on growing well, & not 'sulk' as large bulbs can, when broken up. They may even flower in spring 2012. 1 large bulb from the garden | $ 5.00 | |
| CAMPANULA Boule de Neige | The Campanula Boule de Neige is a very old double white form of the persicifolia, or Peach Leaved variety. For some reason it is also usually hard to find, & some lines don't always produce good flowers.
The foliage is more of a low-lying matt & the 40cm tall stiff stems flower for several weeks thru spring & sometimes repeat in autumn. It's at it's best in a coolish spot, rather than in a very hot climate. Full sun, or light afternoon shade, average soil & don't forget to water when conditions get dry in summer. Usually trouble free, & it's best to leave the clumps alone for around 3 years before dividing. Pieces from the garden | $ 5.00 | |
| CAMPANULA glomerata Superba. Clustered Bellflower | SUN. Tall stout stems are topped with a big cluster of rich purple flowers in spring & summer, with lesser sets of flowers further down the stem. Makes a good cut flower.
The clump itself will spread to around 30cm. Easy to grow in either full sun or light shade, or partial shade, in average garden conditions.
Deadhead spent stems, if not already cut for the vase, and this will encourage more flowering. Tidy for winter. Evergreen. Hardy
barerooted pieces | $ 5.00 | |
| CAMPANULA Kent Belle | Absolutely my favourite Campanula, the large deep blue-purple bells just glow in the light, the tall stems wearing the array with pride.
Flowers open at random up & down the many spikes, giving a very long display of late spring & summer colour. It's also good at sending up extra stems to delight the autumn garden.
They suit either sun or light shade, where perhaps the colour of the flowers will be better, & average conditions. Feed in spring with the new growth, & again after flowering to set the plant up for the next season. In the right conditions it will begin to send out the travelling roots after a couple of seasons, but I've never found it to be invasive. I personally wouldn't lift & divide it until necessary to relieve congestion. It is very hardy. This campanula is so rarely found for sale now. There will be only a few available, a strict limit of 1 per order. PB 3/4 size, $6-00. | $ 6.00 | |
| CAMPANULA Lodden Anna | This is one of my favourite large perennials, getting up to 1.2m,
& developing over time into a substantial bush. The flowers are
in big terminal heads over summer, & stand out from the crowd
if placed as the dominate plant in the mid-back border. Soft pink, with darker depths of colour, these must have full sun to show their best. Easy to grow, just a light cut back after flowering for hopefully another small flush, & a hard cut back in winter or spring to get it all tidied up again. It's pretty hardy. Division from the garden. | $ 5.00 | |
| CAMPANULA macrantha | Campanula macrantha, a favourite of mine with 50cm tall strong
stems of well opened purple bells that last a long time on the plant.
The growth habit of this plant is clumping. It spreads gently, in an
even habit, & flowers from mid spring thru summer. Deadhead
for more stems to develop over the season. A very pleasant
perennial with little or no hassles about it. Full sun, or light shade, easy to grow. PB 3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| CAMPANULA Powder Blue | Campanula persicifolia? Powder Blue, a hybrid Campanula with
lovely soft double flowers of a good size. The plant sends out
stems with many buds that open in relay, held across the plant
horizontally, rather than upright. If staked the stems are good
for floral work. Full sun, groundcover, average soil & water, it will need around 30cm space to grow into. Barerooted pieces from the garden | $ 5.00 | |
| CENTAUREA montana Blue. Perennial Cornflower | SUN. The soft fuzzy grey-green foliage gives a continuous supply of large, very pretty tufted blue flowers. It makes a useful cut flower for a few days in the vase.
Deadheading, & removing the spent stems down to the ground keep this lovely plant producing non-stop throughout the season. Never a mass of flowers, but always colour there.
Give it room, as it makes good growth during the season into a heavy clump around 50cm. Flowers to about 40cm high.
Grow in full sun or light shade, average conditions. Semi-dormant in winter. Hardy barerooted pieces. | $ 5.00 | |
| CHRYSANTHEMUM leucanthemum x mawii | It's a real sweetie. From early spring, this dense, dark green
mat of foliage will produce long-stemmed white daisy flowers,
flushed with pink. Never a massive display, but a real charmer.
There's just something about wee daisies....
An excellent ground cover for rockery, wall or bank, or even a
large container. Non invasive, neat & tidy, happy in either light
shade or full sun. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Flowers from
early spring thru into summer, then a few more in autumn. A
very underated ground cover.
This really is a darling wee daisy, & should be better known.
Evergreen. Hardy. PB 3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| ERODIUM roseum plenum | The sweetie of my rockery, a low small mound with tiny double pink flowers dotted over for many months of the year. Happy in full sun, but perhaps better in summer heat if a little shaded. It is an alpine plant, a little slow growing, but reports say it does well in warm areas of the country too. My parent plant has taken 2 years to get to 20cm across, but even in winter has had colour to show. I love this little number. Average conditions, a light feed of blood & bone is all they get 2x a year, which seems to suit them well here. Evergreen & very Hardy. PB 3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| ERYSIMUM Bowles mauve | I jumped for joy when I found this, as I had not seen it for years.
This lovely hybrid is the best of the Wallflowers in my opinion,
a tall open branched plant with a never ending show of lovely
mauve flowers. With a slight fragrance too.
At it's very best in spring, but Mum in the garden hasn't stopped
budding, right thru summer drought, mild autumn, & even now,
in winter hail. It will be a shame to prune it, but it must be done
to have a more compact bushy plant for the festival. At the time
of writing, early June, it has reached 1.4m, bushed to about 1m wide,
& still has flowers non-stop. Full sun, most soil conditions will suit. Evergreen & reasonably hardy. It may not be suitable for warm northern conditions, but you need to try it. PB 3/4 $6-00 each, | $ 6.00 | |
| EUPHORBIA dulcis Chameleon. | Sun or Shade, it's happy anywhere. I haven't figured out how
this arrived here, but being a Euphorbia it is destined for a
large planter. It grows to
around 30cm high, with rhizomatous roots that will
spread. This cultivar has very rich purple top foliage
& the bracts surrounding the tiny flowers are especially
showy & colourful in summer. Full sun or partial shade, hardy & winter dormant. These particular plants have been in full sun & are completely dark bronze. PB 3/4 size $5-00, 1 left | $ 5.00 | |
| GEUM Prince of Orange | This is a taller flowering Geum, light orange semi-double
flowers constantly opening from fat buds, on willowy stems
from late spring thru summer. Very pretty.
Flowering to around 80cm in the stems from a solid clump of
evergreen foliage. An ideal filler for the mid border, & as a cut
flower. Remove spent stems to promote flowering, give the
clump an occasional tidy-up, & it's generally trouble free.
Grow in Full sun, average conditions. Semi-dormant, or
evergreen in winter, depending on the climate. Hardy.
PB 3/4 size $5-00 each. | $ 5.00 | |
| HELIANTHEMUM Wisley Primrose. | From the famous English garden, Wisley, comes one of the most
beautiful Helianthemum, or rock Rose. Wisley Primrose may only
be a single, but the beauty of the clear yellow flowers, with a slight
crepe look really stands out in the spring garden. Position it in full sun, hanging over a low wall, or as an underbush for a rose. The foliage also gives character, being more grey than green. Once the main flush has gone, trim over lightly with shears & often a light autumn show will delight again. Easy to grow, height around 40cm, spread is set by the gardener's requirements. If it gets a bit dense, remove old stems from underneath. PB 3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| HELIANTHEMUM Wisley White. | The Wisley White Helianthemum is known for it's crepe textured
white single flowers with the fluffy yellow centres. Grey-green
narrow foliage & a sprawly habit, ideal for banks or walls, or as
a spreader under shrubs or roses. Full sun is best, altho Helianthemum will tolerate a little shade; average conditions with adequate water in the dry season. Easy to grow, the main flowering is right thru spring, then give it a light trim & it usually responds with a smaller flush in autumn. PB 3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| HYPERICUM cerastoides syn Hypericum rhodoppeum | A densely mounding perennial, with oval, grey green leaves
& terminal clusters of bright yellow, cup shaped flowers in late
spring and early summer. It has an upright, slightly spreading
habit and grows to 30 cm tall and 45 cm wide. Mostly cool climate plants, grown in full sun or light shade. Fertile soil, well drained & watered in summer. Clip over after flowering to remove seed pods & give a nice rounded shape. Ideal for rockeries or large containers where it will cascade gracefully over the sides. Evergeen, very Hardy. PB 3/4 size. $4-50. Young plants that need some growing time to perform. Looking a little scrappy right now, but they will come right very quickly in spring. PB 3/4 $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| LEUCANTHEMUM 'Raggedy Ann' | SUN or light Shade. The tall stems of the Raggety-Ann, or
'Crazy Daisy' produce a multitude of large big centred flowers
with pure white petals going in all directions with the slightest
of breezes. Superb for the back summer border, it only takes a few minutes every few days to cut back the spent flowers & keep the display going for several weeks. That means late autumn flowers for the vase. Ht to 1.2m or so, & a spread of around 80cm in it's second year. Full sun, & if you can, shelter from heavy winds, or stake & tie it. Water when dry & fertilise as with most large plants, in spring & after flowering, cut back to the ground to let the base re-establish over winter. Easy to grow, hunkers down in winter, very hardy. PB 3/4 size. $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| PENSTEMON Blackbird True | This dark maroon Penstemon is an outstanding grower in most garden soils.
Ht to around 70cm, quite bushy, & the flowers are chubby rather than slender.
I have been told this is the 'True' Blackbird, as brought in some years ago,
and indeed it is quite different from the one I have grown & sold before as 'P Blackbird.
Usual conditions, PB 3/4 size $5-00. | $ 5.00 | |
| PENSTEMON Drinkstone | SUN. If you want a colourful filler for the mid to back border,
this is it. The rick reddish pink bells show up well on their light
wiry stems, drooping gently in heavy loose panicles of colour.
From late spring thru to winter, the show goes on, helped, as
always, by removing the spent stems well back into the bush,
refreshing the growth for more flowering. She may be an oldie, but it still gives a good reliable show every season. Full sun to light or partial shade, average conditions with an occasional feed. You can slaughter this for winter if you want. Evergreen. Hardy. PB 3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| PENSTEMON Hidcote Pink. | This is another of the older varieties which have stood the test of time. The flowers are medium sized, a nice pink, with dark pink veins in the throat. A fairly open well clothed stem of blooms good for picking.
A moderate grower, Ht to 80cm, spread 60cm. Best in a sunny spot, mid border, & as a companion to roses, etc. Well drained average soil, with a feed spring & early autumn.
Prune as for the others, removing spent stems well down on the bush during the season, & cutting out the old growth in spring.
PB 3/4 size. $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| PENSTEMON King George V | SUN. The name dates it's introduction, but it really is a delightful Penstemon to have in the garden, & I enjoy the fresh look to the flowers, whatever the season.
Medium growth, quite bushy, good sized bright red flowers with white throats. A nice stem to cut for the vase. Flowers from late spring thru to winter if spent stems are
removed to keep young growth coming. Fertilise spring & early autumn, cut old stems back hard to young growth in spring.
A well drained sunny spot suits it best, without drying out in summer. Semi to fully dormant, depending on climate. Hardy PB 3/4 size, $5-00. | $ 5.00 | |
| PENSTEMON Purple Velvet | SUN. Penstemon Purple Velvet, a new variety for me, & one I think will be a big hit with all who grow it. Lovely shadings in the flowers,
good solid growth & moderate height of around 70cm. Lots of flower stems right from the start if it is pinched out a few times when young.
Very nice. Isn't it a pity tho, that Penstemon don't have any scent? I can just imagine passing by....
Oh well. This one is worth having even tho you may not have much room left in the garden. PB 3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| PENSTEMON Sunburst Amethyst | One of a newer hybrid line, the Sunburst series, I belive. These
plants grow upright & bushy to just 50-60 cm, & are full of flowers from early,
right thru to late in the season. I'm experimenting with this one
to see how it goes. It's sailed thru 2 winters here, so I guess it's reasonably hardy. I don't know how it would go in a much colder climate. Someone try it & report back. Same conditions as all the rest, full sun, etc. Leave cutting back to early spring PB 3/4 size, $5-00. | $ 5.00 | |
| PHLOX paniculata Amethyst | Perennial phlox are amongst the best garden plants for a fabulous summer show. This older variety has large heads of lavender-pink flowers with a bright white markings.
Very fragrant, and a good cut flower. Blooms in summer, & if the first flush is deadheaded there will be a second show in autumn. Ht around 80-100cm, spread 70cm.
Grow in well drained fertile soil, with adequate summer watering. Cut down to the ground for the winter dormant period. Very hardy. rooted pieces from the garden | $ 5.00 | |
| PHLOX paniculata Mia Ruys | FULL SUN. From an old garden, planted in the 50's with many of the 'then' new varieties. Mia Ruys was the dominant white flowered version then, so this plant is probably a heritage variety now.
Medium to large sized heads of pure white flowers, renown for their perfume, & a good cut flower. Border Phlox, as they are also known, have a flowering season from mid summer into autumn. If deadheading is done regularly, it will extend the blooming period considerably.
Usually trouble free, a good feed in spring with the new seasons growth, & again just before blooming will maintain vigour. Keep up a reasonable moisture level during the dryer months.
Prune to the ground for winter in mild climates, or leave until new growth begins in colder areas, then cut back to the fresh young foliage. Height around 80-90cm, spread 60-70cm in time. Divide every 3-4 years. Winter dormant. Hardy.
Rooted pieces from the garden | $ 6.00 | |
| PHLOX paniculata Skylight | A very bushy border phlox, thin stems, good heads of mauve-pink
flowers with white stars in the centres. It will give a massive
flowering in summer for several weeks, scenting the garden.
I find it to be an efficient filler for mid to back border. Height is just over 1m, spread about the same. It doesn't seem to attract the mildew here like many of the others. Once it has finished, cut all down to the ground for regrowth before winter. I've planted mine in amongst the early & late Chrysanthemum, so there's colour taking over from colour during the latter part of the season instead of a big patch of just green. Rooted pieces from the garden | $ 5.00 | |
| PHYSOSTEGIA alba Obedient Plant | The White Obedient plant... something a bit different. Smaller
growing, fairly soft growth instead of the stiff stems of the
pinks. Ht about 75cm & not as bulky.
PB3/4 size, $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| PHYTEUMA scheuchzeri | Happy in either sun or light shade, the Phyteuma is a small clumping perennial flowering in late spring & thru summer.
The small blue balls of fuzz are held well above the narrow foliage. I find it delightful.
The plant gives a delicate appearance but is quite hardy. It needs average conditions but dislikes winter wet. Ht/spread 20cm. Nice for a rockery or tub. Evergreen. PB 3/4 size $5.00. Nearly dormant. | $ 5.00 | |
| PLUMBAGO auriculata Royal Cape | PLUMBAGO auriculata syn capensis is a tall shrubby plant that
can be trained as a climber. Fantastic against a wall, with rich blue flowers in
the warmer months. It needs moist but well drained soil
in full sun & it helps to shorten back or tidy after flowering.
Semi tropical, from South Africa, it will take a few light frosts, when mature, but no hard frosts. Remove any dead wood regularly. Deciduous here in the Taranaki, & I cover it for winter because I would hate to lose it. PB 3/4 size, $5.00, | $ 5.00 | |
| POTENTILLA argyrophylla | This rarely available plant is one of the nicest of the Potentilla,
with long stems of two-tone orange flowers. The leaves are a
soft felty green, with an indistinct silver edging, & when dry,
the whole plant seems to shimmer in the right light. Easy to grow in well drained soil, either full sun or very lightly shaded. Flowers in late spring thru summer. It forms a clump, then sends out long stems with flowers opening in a regular procession of colour. Loves to wend it's way thru other plants, like many of it's kind. It will spread to around 45cm. Stays low. Semi dormant in winter. Hardy Rooted pieces from the garden | $ 5.00 | |
| PULSATILLA vulgaris 'papageno' | The Pasque flower comes in several forms & colours. The foliage
is feathery & airy, a greyish green, & the flowers stand up a
little above the leaves. The plants will clump to around 40cm wide,
blooming in spring & again in the cooler autumn. These are more cool climate plants, from Europe so may not do as well in the north of the North Island. The flowers of this one are larger than the average, this borrowed picture showing approximately the shade of the parent, but these seedlings I have for sale may have a shade variation to either red or purple. It's pot luck. Full sun, average conditions & they don't like to dry out too much in summer. Perhaps a good mulch or a little shade for this time. PB 3/4 size $6-00. | $ 6.00 | |
| RUDBECKIA laciniata Golden Glow | Last summer was my first experience with this tall beauty. It
grew & grew until it was over 2m (good soil, you know!) & I
thought for sure the wind would break it down. Not a chance.
The stems are pretty wiry, the big heavy heads of glorious double golden
flowers just waved in whatever came at it, & we get
some pretty hefty gusts around here. There was only one flowering but it carried on for several weeks into autumn & was a delight to the eye. Full sun, average soil, a light feed when the foliage starts to regrow after winter dormancy. spread will be 60 - 100cm in time. Water when dry, as it prefers moist soil to dry, & as long as there's a good stake to support the bottom 1/2 of the stems, let the wind do it's worst. Once the flowers have finished, cut the stems right out & let it get on with increasing the growth for the next season. Being a member of the Coneflower family, it is very hardy. Rooted pieces from the garden. | $ 5.00 | |
| SALVIA greggii Fuchsia Pink | As for the other small Salvia, a 50cm slightly lax bushy growth
with flowers mid to late spring, thru summer & autumn.
PB 3/4 size $5.00. This is the nearest picture I can find to suggest the right colour. 2 left. | $ 5.00 | |
| SALVIA Marshwood Pink. | Salvia greggii Marshwood Pink, as for the Marshwood Peach
but in a very fetching almost baby pink. Really Yummy!
The cultural notes apply for this one too.
PB 3/4 size, $5.00. 3 left. | $ 5.00 | |
| SALVIA Santa Barbara. | SALVIA leucantha Santa Barbara. This Salvia is fairly new in New Zealand. It makes a low wide shrub, with a massive, longlasting summer show of super-soft velvety purple & lilac flowers.
I find it to be superb in mid border, adding much needed colour in a garden somewhat lacking inbetween the main seasons of spring & autumn. Many salvia are good for that 'awkward' time.
If cut back to new growth, fairly hard in spring, the height of around 70cm can be maintained during flowering, & the spread should end up around 1m. Left to it's own devises, I am unsure how tall it will grow, but it would get very scrappy during flowering, I think. In today's mostly small garden areas, I'd prefer to cut back for shape, pre flowering, & a prune after flowering is also essential. Full sun, hot dry conditions are OK when established, & as with most Salvia, it will be reasonably hardy. Deciduous in winter...in fact I thought I'd lost mine, but it came away well once the ground warmed up. PB3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| SALVIA uliginosa. Bog Sage | Terminal heads of ever-opening bluer-than-blue flowers, towering over many plants, peering around others. Superb in with large pink roses! Big Bold & Beautiful! Ht to around 1.3m.
The Bog Sage has been a favourite for many & a bane for a few gardeners throughout the years, & that's probably because of it's placement in the garden. It's a love it or leave it plant.
It copes well in average garden conditions as long as they don't dry out, but as the name suggests, it thrives in very moist places. It grows into a large plant that likes to spread, as far as you'll let it.
On saying that, I've never had a problem controlling it because a sharp spade around the base twice a year does the job, & just haul out the bits cut off. I call it General maintenance.
Full sun, will find it's own food, wind isn't a problem as the stems just bend before it. Flowers from early summer thru autumn. Lovely in the garden, horrible in the vase..called uliginosa...ugly to the nose.
Winter dormant. Very hardy Pieces from the garden. | $ 5.00 | |
| SCHIZOSTYLIS Blush Pink | This is the palest pink. Notes as per the others PB 3/4 size $5.00 I've used the same picture but toned it down to the actual shade. | $ 5.00 | |
| SCHIZOSTYLIS Sunrise Pink Kaffir Lilly | These are open-cupped Iris-like flowers, with sword shaped foliage to around 25cm, & flower stems above that. This variety has a lovely pink flower, several to a stem. It is such a useful plant because it will flower right at the end of autumn, when all but Chrysanths & some Salvia are finished. I've even had it flower in spring too, but I can't guarantee it will do that all the time. A nice plant, with a rhizome root system, & clumps can be divided easily in spring. I have found tho that the more condensed clumps will flower much better. Semi evergreen, very tough stems, so cut, don't try to break. Full sun, average conditions, but not dry. Feed lightly every year, & it's good in a container or rockery so long as it's not neglected. It's also classed as a bog plant, so you can try it there, too. PB 3/4 size $5-00. | $ 5.00 | |
| SEDUM autumn Joy Pink | A large sedum, sending up tall stiff stems with big heads of Pink flowers in summer.
Much loved by insects of all kinds, especially the bees & butterfies.
Full sun, average cond, stands some dry when established, & should be cut down when the flowers finish. New growth will start again smartly, ready to go thru winter. A mature plant is a grand sight in full bloom. Rooted pieces from the garden | $ 5.00 | |
| SEDUM autumn Joy RED | A large sedum, sending up tall stiff stems with big heads of red flowers in summer.
Much loved by insects of all kinds, especially the bees & butterfies.
Full sun, average cond, stands some dry when established, & should be cut down when the flowers finish. New growth will start at the base before winter. Rooted pieces from the garden | $ 5.00 | |
| SEDUM spectabile Stardust (White) | A large sedum, sending up tall stiff stems with big heads of
glistening white flowers in summer. If the plant is pinched out
twice as it grows, there will be a lot more flowers, tho they will be smaller heads.
Much loved by insects of all kinds, especially the bees & butterfies.
Full sun, average cond, stands some dry when established, & should be cut down when the flowers finish. New growth will start at the base before winter. Rooted pieces from the garden | $ 5.00 | |
| SHRUB: LAVATERA Barnsley | LAVATERA Barnsley is well known world wide, with it's large soft
pink flowers centred in red. Flowering from late spring right thru
summer, the lush growth is happy to be pruned back to within bounds
if required. Deadheading will also help extend the show. Grow in full sun, ht 2m plus, but easy to prune to size, especially if hard pruned in winter. I have mine semi-espaliered against the fence with the abutilon. Average soil, not too dry in summer, easy peasy to grow & a wealth of summer loveliness. Only 1 left. PB 3/4 size, $6-00. | $ 6.00 | |
| TEUCRIUM scorodonia var crispum Marginatum. Germander. | SUN. This fabulous foliage plant is a must in a good perennial
garden. Tightly crimped wrinked foliage, a bit like a fancy
lettuce gone wrong. Growth that will exceed 60-70cm wide, so
give it room or use a sharp spade during winter.
Summer/autumn spires of white flowers as well, but I've never
found any seed. Trim off after flowering to give a good shape
for the following season. This is also a good coastal plant, but having come from southern Europe, it is only moderately hardy, so should be protected in heavy frost areas. Will happily grow in a large container, or a very big hanging basket, as it requires excellent drainage, & it will tolerate dry heat for a little while. Evergreen; well it is here, in South Taranaki. Rooted pieces from th garden. | $ 4.00 | |
| THYMUS Highland Cream | SUN. Lovely tiniest golden creamy foliage. Quite vigorous growth for such a wee pet, covering well in a reasonable season. Tiny white flowers, in late spring, early summer. Evergreen, (or evercream?) very hardy. It's hard to find, I've not seen it in any garden centres. I have interplanted in a paving path & they are shaping up really well. PB 3/4 size $5.00. | $ 5.00 | |
| TWEEDIA oxypetalum caeruleum. Heavenly Blue. | 'Tweedia caerulea (syn. Oxypetalum caeruleum) is a perennial plant to 3ft with heart shaped, gray-green, downy leaves. The summer flowers age to purple and are followed by 6in long, boat shaped seed pods.The seeds have downy parachute like tufts'
which are best removed to prevent seeding. Grown for many years as a small straggly climber, this plant has kept it's place in the perennial garden for the exquisite colour of it's flowers & their use as a good vase flower. I've grown this a few times over the years. It's not a distinctive plant, but is a good one for wending thru taller rose bushes, or filling a narrow space with colour for much of the season. The butterflies & bees love it too, which is important now, with the viroa mite decimating the NZ bee population. All the help that can be given in the garden to bees, should be encouraged. It's a member of the Swan Plant family; Asclepius, so may be an alternative food scource for monarchs. Full sun or light shade, well drained soil & prefers it dry. It is not overly hardy but in a mild climate it will come back after winter quite reliably, if in the right place. In cold areas, let the last flowers seed down, or store some for the next season. PB 3/4 size, $5-00. All have seed pods. | $ 5.00 | |