Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20
Very much unlike most other other Lilium, L. candidum requires shallow planting, prefers limy soil and grows primarily during winter, forming a basal rosette of glossy, slightly wavy, bluntly lance shaped leaves. With longer days the stem lengthens and by late spring terminates in an elegant bunch of outward facing, 10cm, virgin white, classically shaped Lilium flowers, for which it has been cultivated for millennia.
The entire plant sensibly retreats to a scaly underground bulb with the onset of summer heat, usually not before shedding it's flat papery seeds which will germinate in unlikely but apparently suitable locations the following winter.
From Greece, Eastwards into Asia it is ideally suited to our Mediterranean climate, not suffering malaise and early demise as in the East, requiring little if any summer irrigation and is one of the few Lilies that will thrive in the alkaline soil close to the coast.
For a sunny but sheltered position, possibly amongst low shrubs or other plants, with good drainage, though tolerant of clay if not kept moist in summer.
A perennial form of the common garden stock.
Highly perfumed single white flowers are born in fat spikes emerging from silver rosettes of lance shaped foliage carried on woody stems and becoming shrubby with age though after several years becoming too woody and then best removed to make way for the plentiful seedlings that usually appear.
Leaner more exposed positions give more attractive and lasting results but easily grown in any well drained soil, adores alkaline coastal sand. Summer irrigation unnecessary.
An essential in cottage style or Victorian period gardens.
A lovely self seeding Californian annual with clumps of scalloped, pale green, ferny leaves. Bearing throughout spring a profusion of white, saucer shaped flowers, of which each of five petals proudly wears a purple spot near it's tip. The apt moniker of Fivespot needs no explanation at the sight of a single flower.
Scratch seeds into bare sunny soil during autumn or early winter.
Light shade is tolerated and may lengthen flowering.
Excellent in pots as an alternative to, or in combination with, Pansies and Violas.
Each packet contains 50+ seeds minimum.
A large self seeding annual or short lived perennial. Huge (60cm) bright green leaves are produced in a rosette from the centre of which a tall leafy stem topped with bunches of long tubular white flowers. The entire plant is covered in small sticky hairs which trap insects. A bold and spectacular plant for a lightly shade position.
A summer deciduous South African species forming a low mound of slightly spiny, silvery green, succulent branches densely clothed through the cooler months with felty, grey-green, scalloped leaves. White five petalled flowers, with prominent dark red blotches, age slowly to rosy pink and are borne in large circular clusters on slender stems during spring.
Easily grown in unirrigated, well drained, sunny soil. Tolerant of only light frost.
Exceedingly lovely in harsh conditions or as specimen in a large pot where its summer habit can be most appreciated.
Excess summer moisture will result in an early demise of this otherwise very long lived albeit relatively slow growing plant.
Large rounded leaves cut from silver velvet adorn this quick growing, soft stemmed, shrubby, evergreen perennial from Queensland. The ideal silver foil for shady gardens across the country, needing only protection from direct frost and a soil that's not too dry year round. During Autumn and Winter spikes of delicate, white flowers, are freely produced.
Trim regularly to maintain density.
A handsome sage demanding a hot, dry, exposed position where it will form a long lived, low woody shrub, clothed in intense silvery white lance shaped leaves. In spring thousands of small white flowers in dense tapering heads tower over the foliage on sturdy stems up to 2m high. The entire plant is highly aromatic, some might say pungent, smelling to me not unlike burnt rubber but considered lovely by many, especially bees who find the flowers irresistible.
Easily among the best silver foliaged plants of all time, although it really is more white than silver.
Try an un-irrigated super silver garden with others such as Centaurea cineraria, Epilobium canum subsp. canum and Salvia dorrii.
Superb on road verges or against rammed earth walls where it looks right at home.
Water until established and then at your own risk, an occasional summer watering is beneficial. Otherwise tolerant of any well drained soil.
Best on the west coast. Not suitable for areas with high summer humidity (coastal Sydney northwards) but should fair well in the less humid interior.