Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20
A marvellous foliage plant whose opulent, trifoliate, dark purple leaves, with brighter chevron markings, are immediately coveted and then gaped at incredulously after learning it is not only an Oxalis, a genus deleteriously dismissed, but easily grown in any well drained soil, sun or shade. The attractive, pale pink, five petalled, bell-like flowers are merely an added bonus.
Slowly clump forming it usually takes a year or so to establish it's fleshy tap root before looking brilliant and then tolerates dry spells or excessive heat by going temporarily dormant, as it does through winter, though it may still continue to flower even without leaves.
Sensational in a pot deep enough to accommodate a root system that while relatively deep is not aggressive and plays well with companions.
A winter deciduous perennial from the south eastern U.S. forming a shrubby mound of broadly lance shaped leaves cut from olivine velvet, each stamped boldly with a rusty chevron, and bearing filamentous wands of tiny magenta flowers followed by crimson seeds that last through autumn and pick beautifully.
Such lush foliage demands a modicum of summer irrigation and shelter but is otherwise quite heat loving and easily grown in well drained soil where it will self sow. Like most perennials it takes a couple of years to show its true potential.
Cut to ground level once the stems die back in early winter.
Makes a lovely pot plant if never allowed to dry out.
An evergreen large shrub or small tree common to Europe. Bright green divided leaves, to 30cm long, are held in pairs on strong hollow stems up to 6m high. During the warmer months large lacy heads of small white starry flowers are produced, sometimes followed by black berries.
The flowers and berries are edible and the flowers are traditionally used to make elderflower wines and cordials, and can be added to pancakes for something different.
A fairly high water user with little tolerance for drought but quite lovely by the veggie patch or beside a lawn where it will appreciate the extra water and can be cut down hard, when in active growth, to keep its size in check and encourage bolder foliage or to act as an informal screen.
An exceptional grass from the American tall grass prairies where it is one of the main forage plants.
The tight clumps of glaucous blue leaves are tolerant of heat and drought and will grow in both acid and alkaline soils, so long as the drainage is good and there is plenty of sun. Additional height is gained from late summer from the non-descript flower stems. Winter dormant, the leaves turn varying shades of orange, red and purple during autumn and hold their shape throughout winter.
Cut down to ground level in late winter.