Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20
A quick growing variety, small enough for a large pot but large enough to make a statement, with a stiff almost harsh demeanour, useful for stark architectural style or high contrast with softer forms, especially so in groups.
Sparse, slightly taller than spherical rosettes of very rigid, long, tapering, glaucous green leaves, generously edged with cream variegation, short, dark, marginal teeth and terminating in a short black spine.
Spreads moderately by underground stolons and such colonies are particularly attractive but need appropriate space.
Individual rosettes produce after many (10+) years a spectacular tree like inflorescence, the remains of which are often used in floral art, bearing thousands of erect, yellow green, tubular flowers, in tight clusters, which are much loved by nectar feeding birds and insects, and then rapidly decline and die to be succeeded by younger offsets or bulbils.
This intriguing member of the Rose family bears pure white five petalled rose flowers on very slender, twiggy, silvery-white branches, sparsely adorned with small, evergreen, clasping, leathery, filigree leaves and followed by long lasting, feathery, silvery pink plumes.
Quite quickly forming an airy shrub at it's very best backlit by late afternoon sun when the feathery seed heads take on an ethereal glow.
Found in desert regions of the south west United States and northern Mexico it should prove to be extremely heat, drought and cold tolerant as well as enjoy being baked by hot walls, paving, car parks and road edges. Unlikely to perform well on the east coast though it may prove more successful inland.
All but poorly drained soils should be ideal.
Evergreen in Perth, it could be deciduous with cold enough weather that few places in Australia are likely to provide.
A stunning winter annual from the deserts of California. Much loved by Vita Sackville-West, which should be enough enough commendation for anybody.
Dark sapphire blue cup like flowers are borne over velvety, dark green, scalloped leaves in loose rosettes. An exotic beauty most at home in poor sandy soils and low rainfall areas but tolerates clay and even a pot.
Scratch into bare sunny soil in autumn or early winter.
Each pack contains 50+ seeds.
Pungently scented, silver spoon shaped leaves clothe the cork barked branches of this low growing shrub, adaptations that no doubt help it survive the harsh environment of its home in the deserts of south west North America. In spring slender spikes bear tiered whorls of sapphire blue flowers emerging from rosy bracts.
A plant of rare beauty it is intolerant of wet feet and summer humidity, much preferring extremes heat, drought and cold preferably in sand or other poor sharply drained soil. Moist coastal gardens will invariable prove fatal as will mulch and soil improver.
As seen on TV and so synonymous with the wild west and deserts in general to perhaps be considered little more than a cliché among those unfamiliar with its grandeur and natural habitat in the Mojave Desert.
Rigid, blue-green, lance-like leaves encircle a thick trunk, becoming bare and fissured with age, eventually branching to form a tree like canopy increasing in splendour with passing centuries to appear prehistoric or alien-like. In maturity dense panicles of creamy-white flowers are borne from the tips of its branches.
Seemingly quite growable given rapidly draining, lean soil and the occasional drink. The indulgent conditions of cultivation should see a decent sized specimen within a lifetime though with a large root system it is likely to amount to no more than a bonsai if kept potted too long. We'll collaborate success stories in a few decades.
Ultimately hardy to heat, cold and drought, if it dies you smothered a family heirloom with inappropriate love.