Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20
An alternative to G. maderense, prima donna of the genus, for those who find it a struggle or just want a more amenable, smaller statured and easier to accommodate plant. Forming evergreen mounds of five lobed, bright green leaves held on long fleshy stems which radiate from a central trunk or trunks. Into summer masses of purple-pink, crimson centred, saucer shaped flowers are produced in large loose clusters. Bold, yet softening and "cottagey", stunning en masse especially against a boldly coloured south wall.
From the Canary Islands, like its more famous cousin, and ideally suited to a mediterannean climate although more tolerant of heavy soil, excess summer moisture and cold.
Technically perennial but collect a few seed each year as it tends to be short lived and doesn't always self seed with reckless abandon.
This Californian annual carries pompoms of soft blue flowers profusely on slender stems which project from loose mounds of rich green, not too lacy foliage, all spring and into summer.
Easily grown, self seeds and is much loved by butterflies, bees and other insects.
Scratch seeds into well drained bare soil in autumn or early winter.
Each pack contains a gluttonous 50+ seeds.
A self sowing Californian annual that parades all spring, into summer, masses of 1cm, five petalled, almost circular flowers, delicately coloured a soft mauve fading to white towards a dark centre which is accented by dainty pale blue stamens. Each a work of art in miniature complimented by lacy soft green foliage.
Does well in a pot to replace or compliment gaudy modern hybrid annuals or could even be planted with other Californians.
Scratch into bare sunny soil, where they are to grow, in autumn or winter.
Each pack contains a generous 50+ seeds.
A biennial poppy of poor dry soils around the Mediterranean Sea eastwards into Iran. Producing 5cm, burnt orange, saucer shaped flowers throughout the baking summer on sprawling, branching stems from appealing rosettes of hairy, blue-grey, pinnate leaves. Valuable summer colour with sumptuous mediterranen foliaged shrubs Euphorbia, Cistus, Santolina etc.
Exposure, excellent drainage and summer dryness are essential for best performance with alkaline coastal sands being ideal, though it's more tolerant of heavier soil and interior conditions than the yellow flowered G. flavum.
Rich soil will inevitably yield a leafy vegetable that flowers poorly and lives but briefly. If it persists for more than two years and self seeds then congratulations at having far greater garden potential than copious irrigation and soil improvers can ever provide.
A diminutive, albeit charming, bulb whose coppery goblets pop up randomly through the year, with or without their accompanying grassy leaves, most often just a few days after rain.
Exceedingly easy to grow it has adapted to be predominantly winter growing here though in habitat around the Gulf of Mexico as well Argentina and Uruguay I would expect it to grow more in summer to coincide with rainfall. It should perform well, at least in a pot, from Albany to Townsville.
Tolerant, maybe even fond, of short periods of drought and flood though freezing is likely bad. An excellent pot subject small and demure enough to be a companion to larger potted celebrities.
Slow to vegatively increase but self sowing in good conditions and then after a few years can make quite a spectacle in mass flower.
A clumping evergreen perennial. Strong, erect stems bear many, dark green, divided leaves. In Winter branches of single, pale green, rose-like flowers are produced and which persist for several weeks. Provide with an alkaline, well drained soil. Plant the crown below the soil level. Tough and very easy to grow.
A deceptively delicate looking shrub, happy in any impoverished soil, with or without root competition, preferably quite dry and well drained, in bright or dark shade, though less likely to flower well in the later. Alkaline soil or even pure limestone are to it's liking though it seems quite content in acid soil. Given adequate drainage it will grow rapidly, forming a loose bush of glossy, dark green, pinnate leaves, flowering constantly through the warmer months of the year with racemes of 2.5cm wide, pale pink, trumpet shaped flowers, in all likelihood self seeding into paving cracks and other inconvenient places, from which it's happily transplanted when very young.
Dead head to promote flowering but only prune back old spent stems when new basal growth has matured, or else risk a fine specimens premature demise.
A clumping evergreen perennial. Dense clumps of hairy, mid-green, deeply toothed leaves. Slender branching stems arise during Spring,Summer and Autumn, bearing pincushion-like flowers of an unusual magenta-burgundy colour. A delightful little plant that is totally unique. Remove spent stems to promote flowering.