Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20
The succulent alternative to Babies tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) without the same need for constant moisture and high humidity. This variegated form creates a dense, ground hugging mat of trailing stems clad in grey-green and white leaves margined in dark red. Small cluster of white flowers are produced in spring adding to its pale effect.
Very useful topping around larger potted plants or as a not too vigorous companion for bonsai.
As with many succulents it is not tolerant of drought or much sun in our summers, gardeners in more humid environs could expect otherwise, but short dry spells are likely beneficial to growth and it is easy and relatively fast.
An exceptional plant forming a dense mat of needle-like, very glaucous foliage, studded with flat, stippled, pink and pinked, delicately scented flowers throughout the year but in abundance through spring.
A variety we have grown for many years and it has never failed to impress both in beauty and hardiness. Drape it over walls, across or in paths, with a few small spring flowering southern African bulbs for some garden pizzazz, or have it spill from a large planter with a choice succulent companion.
One of the wild ancestors of the modern strawberry found along the Pacific coast of both North and South America as well as Hawaii.
A vigorous ground-cover spreading by surface rooting runners and well adapted to sandy soil or anything but the most compacted clay, where it will form a weed suppressing dark green mat composed of serrated, trifoliate leaves of which the underside and stalks are densely clothed in short soft hairs.
Perhaps at it's most useful in shady sites, even solid dark shade, where it demands far less summer water than most any alternative. Plant with Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) for some added spring colour.
Of course this is still a Strawberry and the small, tart, but highly aromatic fruit are formed during spring and early summer from pure white rose-like flowers typically hidden amongst the foliage.
A glorious perennial cultivar found by us many moons ago amongst a batch of seedlings.
The marmalade blooms, daisy-like with pinked petals (technically ray florets), vary in their shade of citrus through the year, from glowing tangerine in spring and autumn, fading to buff lemon over summer and always paling toward the rim. Abundant in bloom like all Gaillardia, and just as tolerant of heat and drought, the flowers hover over a weed suppressing blanket of silvery green leaves.
Self seeds gently, mostly coming true with a few of the typical red and yellow.
Cut back to the new basal growth as it emerges in winter or spring to maintain a semblance of tidiness.
Best in well drained soils or sand, Gaillardia struggle in compacted, damp clay.
An exceptional groundcover, the silver foliage flowing over hot, bare soil and amply furnished with 8cm wide, soft lemon, fully double, daisy-like flowers.
Not to be confused with your everyday road verge Gazania>, although Lemon Soda is equally as tough, this is a much more beautiful plant a must for every sunny garden and being fully double cannot self seed.
Trim off spent flowers occasionally.
Introduced to us via a keen gardener from Zimbabwe, who brought her favourite plants with her upon immigrating to Perth. We are ever grateful.
A flat ground covering variety grown mainly for its beautiful satiny foliage which is round, scalloped and an unusual greenish bronze. As a garnish, trailing sprays of small, rounded, pale pink, five petalled flowers carry on through most of the warmer months.
From New Zealand and Chatham Island stock it is evergreen and less shade loving than most of the European species and is easily grown in moist soil with good drainage, even in a pot.
An annual removal of old flowering stems is all the attention required.