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DROUGHT TOLERANT

Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20

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  • Nerine
    • ‘Coral Queen’   CAG02271
      Nerine ‘Coral Queen’
      $12.00earn 60 points

      Firework clusters of spidery, bright coral pink blooms on smooth, fleshy stalks from papery brown bulbs that increase fairly rapidly to form impressive clumps after several years and then keep getting better for a lifetime. The strappy green leaves only emerge well after flowering which commences with falling temperatures and the addition of water in autumn.

      Deciduous over summer and then needing a dry rest but tolerant of some summer moisture. Easily grown in any lean, well drained soil, barely covering the bulbs, they will adjust themselves to their preferred depth. An excellent pot subject and fantastic table centrepiece when in flower.

  • Origanum
    • dictamnus   CAG01473

      (Dittany of Crete)
      Origanum dictamnus
      $12.00earn 60 points

      Highly pettable, rounded, stem hugging, grey leaves are covered in soft cobwebby fur, more like a friendly garden pet than a plant. All summer long, stiff stems of gracefully pendant, tawny pink bracts disclose small, tubular, soft pink flowers above the low mounds of foliage.

      If I was going to be stranded on a desert island this would be the oregano I would take, it would also probably be the most likely to succeed.

      Summer drought, exposure and well drained alkaline soil preferred but will grow happily, if somewhat more slowly, in clay soils that aren't too wet.

      Slow growing and hence almost maintenance free with removal of spent stems all that is necessary.

      Can be used in the kitchen but the flavour is very similar to other much faster growing and less attractive oreganos. It otherwise has been used historically for healing, enhancing astral projection and as an aphrodisiac.

      The Dittany of both Aristotle and Harry Potter.

  • Oxalis

    (Wood sorrel)
    Oxalidaceae

    A globally distributed genus with as many different growth habits as there are habitats.

    Cormous species from winter rainfall regions of southern Africa are of most relevance to Perth gardens, being hardy and colourful while requiring no summer water. Well suited to massed display and accepting of pots unlike most geophytes. Many too flower in autumn and winter when blooms can be scarce.
  • 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.

    • reniforme   CAG01972
      Pelargonium reniforme
      $12.00earn 60 points

      Rosettes of kidney shaped leaves that appear to be cut from grey velvet bear small clusters of brilliant magenta flowers year round.

      Relaxed of habit and gently suckering, a colony lends itself to the company of other smaller plants of gorgeous foliage like succulents and grasses for the making of scrumptious compositions in large containers or tessellated over a greater garden area as hyperboles meadow. Otherwise just use it beside paths or to glam up the feet of shrubs as it's quite happy in partial shade.

      From the Eastern Cape but hardier than many from the region. Easily grown in any well drained soil with some summer moisture.

  • 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.

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