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  • Dianthus

    (Pink, Sweet william, Carnation)
    Caryophyllaceae

    The commonly encountered garden varieties are European plants of garden antiquity grown for their attractive, often perfumed, flowers which pick well. They are on the whole easily grown but demand excellent drainage and plenty of sun and are ideally suited to poor, dryer, well drained, alkaline soils. They are often encountered overgrown and root bound, tucked away in the shade, to which they are intolerant, and once purchased are good naturedly smothered with too much "good" garden practice.


    Pinks are known to all by name, which they lent to the colour, if not in person. Classic perennials of English cottage gardens. They have extensive root systems and most varieties offered are quite hardy in Perth with a good drink once a week over summer. They invariably have narrow, glaucous foliage resistant to dry air and high light intensity.

    Sweet williams (Dianthus barbatus) are biennials that will often persist for several years and typically have tall stems bearing clusters of small fringed flowers. They have broader leaves and require a bit softer conditions than the Pinks. The Nigrescens group seem the hardiest of the bunch and can become quite shrubby, potted colour varieties, often sold by the punnet, are worth growing but usually amount to little more than tender annuals.

    Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus). Those developed for the cut flower market are mostly ugly plants needing support and are best left to the dedicated enthusiast or florist. Better garden plants are the seldom seen border carnations, they have the same beautiful flowers of the florist types but are less gawky, don't need staking, are often perfumed and are almost as hardy as the pinks.
  • Drimiopsis
    • maculata   CAG02428

      (African hosta, Leopard plant)
      Height20cmWidth30cmFlowering SeasonSp - SuWaterM - LLightShade
      Drimiopsis maculata
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      A most resilient and dependable pot plant able to thrive for a lifetime on little more than neglect. From forests in south eastern Africa it is ideally at home with a dryer winter rest and moist humid shade during its summer growing season where its glossily handsome, dark spotted, broadly lance shaped leaves will be at their most luxuriant and against which the conical flower spikes in white and green make a reserved display. The green bulbs which crowd the soil surface, fascinating during winter in cooler areas where it is deciduous, store food and water to help it through lean times and it is often encountered unattractively tucked away in the back of collections while attention is lavished on more challenging and oft less attractive subjects.

      Good drainage is preferred and while I think it easier to make happy in a pot it can be a lovely groundcover in miserable shade, with or without root competition, where the frequency of summer irrigation will dictate its luxuriance.

  • Dudleya

    Crassulaceae

    Clump forming rosetted succulents from south western North America.

    They have a low tolerance for summer humidity and are even less tolerant of summer rainfall / irrigation. Excellent drainage is essential and water should never be allowed to collect in the crown of the plants for too long, for this reason they are often grown on their side as commonly found in the wild.

    Best suited to a western climate they make excellent garden plants in the south west and are ideal candidates for pots that don't need watering over summer. On the east coast overhead protection from rain and particular attention to over watering is most likely required. Many are cliff dwellers and these are happiest in light shade or bright indirect light, morning sun is suitable but in full sun they are far less attractive.

    The majority of species are also covered in a white, powdery, water repellent wax which is easily removed by excessive handling making them not only less appealing but also more prone to rotting.
    • cymosa   CAG02287

      (Liveforever)
      Height10cmWidth20cmFlowering SeasonSpringWaterLLightLight Shade
      Dudleya cymosa
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      A clump forming Californian succulent with rosettes of pointed, finger width, white powdered, rose tinted, glaucous leaves. Clusters of upright, rich orange, bell-like flowers are held aloft on short powdered stems in the spring.

      Probably best in a pot unless your fortunate enough to garden in water repellent sand or in dry soil under trees.

      Summer water is best avoided and excellent drainage is essential.

      An excellent frost and drought tolerant alternative to Echeveria.

  • Echinocactus
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