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Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20

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  • Pancratium
    • maritimum   CAG01666

      (Sea daffodil)
      Pancratium maritimum
      $12.00earn 60 points

      A dramatic bulb, the umbels of pure white, perfumed, daffodil-like flowers appear as if by magic after the first autumn rain, on naked, very glaucous 60cm stems. Such delicate and exuberant beauty seemingly incongruous in the exposed and baking environ it prefers.

      The strappy, glaucous winter leaves die down with the onset of summer drought, if they remain evergreen you are providing too much water and any chance of flowering is likely to be non-existent. In a warm autumn repeat blooms are not uncommon.

      Found on coastal dunes in hotter parts of the Mediterranean it is ideally suited to growing in hot barren sand, though mine do fine in clay, and should be indifferent to salt spray. Self seeds if your lucky, though it will be at least several years before the seedlings are large enough to flower. Newly planted bulbs will usually need a year or two to settle in as well before they will resume flowering.

      Mass plant for best effect, either densely or as scattered individuals.

  • Pelargonium

    (Storksbill)
    Geraniaceae

    Not to be confused with Geranium commonly encountered in temperate gardens. Pelargonium offers a diversity of growth habits, form and foliage for warmer climates and have little tolerance of cold winters.

    Species from winter rainfall southern Africa are mostly drought loving and favour lean sandy soils, prime targets for exploitation in Perth gardens.

    The common "Geraniums" of Australian gardens are typically hybrids involving summer rainfall species, developed for hot house culture elsewhere and are of variable hardiness on the west coast. Many struggle with dry heat and high leaf surface temperatures while some, predominantly older varieties, can be very robust.
    • ‘Lara Princess’   CAG02734
      Pelargonium ‘Lara Princess’
      $12.00earn 60 points

      A lovely low growing hybrid between P. cortusifolium and P. echinatum bearing small clusters of sugary pink flowers, each petal of which bears a small dark blotch, over a long period from mid winter until it eventually sheds its silvery, lobed leaves with the onset of summer heat. Does very well in a large pot where its cushion of bare, succulent, spiny looking stems can be shown off to best effect during summer dormancy, when it should be watered sparingly or if established in a sharply drained spot in the garden, not at all.

      Elsewhere it might be a delicate hothouse flower, oh so desirable, here it is just another hardy garden plant well suited to a life on the road verge. Our favourable climate at work.

      Highly recommended.

  • Verbena
  • Acacia
    • aphylla   CAG02510

      (Leafless rock wattle)
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      Appearing more like a succulent from exotic climes than a threatened native of the Perth hills. Vertical stems divide into many powdery blue tapering twigs that knit together to form a vase shaped shrub, studded in spring with small, yellow, spherical, powder puff flowers. As its common name suggests it is entirely without leaves though young seedlings briefly bear a few.

      Easy and fast growing in well drained poor soil. Summer irrigation is unnecessary but tolerated. Try surrounding it with a sea of the orange coloured sedge Carex testacea and add a few brightly coloured succulents to imitate a coral reef.

      Responds well to hard pruning when it accumulates too much old growth and starts to loose its charm.

  • Acanthus
    • mollis   CAG00063

      (Oyster plant, Bear's breeches)
      Acanthus mollis
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      Rosettes of huge, glossy, dark green, sharply serrated leaves thrust from the soil with the onset of autumn rain. In spring sceptres of mauve and white shell like flowers stand sentry over the brooding mounds of foliage.
      Found throughout the Meditteranean it's at its best with no summer water but plenty of winter moisture and is tolerant of any soil that isn't waterlogged.

      Extremely architectural if given the space or as contrast to other boldly leaved plants such as Melianthus major.

      Representations of the leaves are commonly found in ancient roman architecture and are often still encountered in classical designs of today.

  • Aethionema
    • grandiflorum   CAG01867

      (Persian stonecress)
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      Small mounds of elliptical, waxy blue leaves smother in clusters of palest pink flowers followed by attractive papery seed pods.
      Essentially a small, shrubby, ridiculously drought hardy, self seeding, perennial Alyssum. What more could you want.
      For any baking well drained position.
      Trim hard when desired to remove spent stems.

  • Amaryllis
    • belladonna   CAG01045

      (Easter lily, Naked lady)
      Amaryllis belladonna
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      A super tough South African that should need little introduction, though, where once its autumn spectacle was taken for granted through the South West it is now being increasingly displaced by fleeting makeover starlets.

      Clusters of large. flaring, funnel shaped flowers, pale pink and deepening with age, are carried atop sturdy, fleshy stems. The strappy, dark green leaves emerge after flowering from the necks of large, papery, brown bulbs that are typically somewhat exposed, adjusting to their preferred depth with the aid of contractile roots. Becoming deciduous with rising temperatures in spring and then requiring zero water over summer.

      Infallible in any soil, in any position except the densest shade. Usually takes several years to settle in and commence flowering for perpetuity.

      For me, nothing heralds more the imminent return of cooler weather and rain than the sight of fat buds thrusting naked from parched ground. I imagine it is the same joy that gardeners in cold regions feel on seeing the first hint of spring in a shoot emerging from snow.

    • belladonna Deep pink   CAG02331
  • Arctotis
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