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SUMMER DORMANT

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  • Acanthus
    • mollis ‘Hollard's Gold’   CAG01102

      (Golden bear's breeches)
      Height1mWidth1.5mFlowering SeasonSpringWaterL - MLightSun - L. Sh.
      Acanthus mollis ‘Hollard's Gold’
      $12.00earn 60 points

      One of the most beautiful chartreuse leaved plants you could ever grow.

      Large, 60cm plus, sharply scalloped, red stemmed leaves form spectacular rosettes over Winter, from the centre of which emerge each Spring, sturdy, 1m tall stalks topped with large hooded pink and white flowers, enclosed in sharp leafy bracts.

      Both the leaves and flowers are excellent for cutting and the flowers remain interesting even when dried.

      Will happily go dormant over Summer if grown dry, my prefered option as it can then be grown in full sun for best colour and the curled golden leaves erupting from the bare earth each Autumn are a breath taking sight.

  • Arisarum

    Araceae

    • proboscidium   CAG00101

      (Mouse plant)
      Height15cmWidth1mFlowering SeasonWi - SpWaterL - MLightFilt.Shade
      Arisarum proboscidium
      $12.00earn 60 points

      A curious groundcover for moist shade from Italy and Spain, which potted makes an excellent conversation starting centre piece for the dinner table. The purple hooded white spathes, that shelter the spadix and flowers, with their long tail-like appendages appear amongst the glossy, dark green, arrow shaped leaves like a family mice grubbing for food. Slowly spreading by the underground stolons to which it retreats during summer, emerging again in late winter with fresh foliage and a new family of mice.

      Tolerates considerable dryness when dormant but demands adequate moisture in winter and spring while actively growing.

      Resents disturbance and typically will not flower well until it's settled in for a year or two and then improving with time. In a container re-potting is neither desirable or necessary but annual replacement of the surface soil and the addition of slow release fertiliser will be greatly appreciated.

  • Dracunculus
    • canariensis   CAG02357

      (Canary Island Dragon Arum)
      Height80cmWidth30cmFlowering SeasonSpringWaterLLightLight Shade
      Dracunculus canariensis
      $12.00earn 60 points

      A more subtle Dragon Arum from the Canary Islands with a tapering white spathe that ensorcells a stiff creamy spadix atop a fleshy stalk of palmate foliage. Elegant, lush and not stinky, it forms loose colonies in shaded sites, perhaps at its best emerging from a sea of suitable woodland groundcover, Pelargonium tomentosum, Cyclamen hederifolium, Parochetus africanus, Cosmos diversifolius or Viola banksii are some suggestions. Or have it peeking out between bold shrubs, like Echium candicans and Aeonium, which can offer it protection.

      Easily grown in any soil, summer deciduous and then no water is necessary.

      As with many drought loving geophytes these are decidedly unsuited to life in a pot, plants sold are two years old and need to get in the ground ASAP.

  • Euphorbia
    • dendroides   CAG01595

      (Tree spurge)
      Height2.5mWidth2.5mFlowering SeasonSpringWaterLLightFull Sun
      Euphorbia dendroides
      $12.00earn 60 points

      Undoubtedly one of the greatest and hardiest of the genus. The dome like crown of branches atop the central trunk becomes denser and more magnificent with time. During spring each branch bears a cluster of small green flowers, each held in showy, bright chartreuse bracts, then with rising summer temperature the narrow, soft green, glaucous leaves flare yellow, orange and red before being shed to conserve moisture over summer when its structural form can be most admired.

      At home in limestone soil around the Mediterranean Sea it will happily tolerate all but poor drainage and heavy shade though lean soil, drought and exposure yield the finest form and colour.

      Prune not. It is properly shrubby with persistent branches, unlike herbaceous types (e.g. E. wulfenii).

  • Nerine
    • ‘Coral Queen’   CAG02271
      Height30cmWidth30cmFlowering SeasonAutumnWaterLLightSun
      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.

  • 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)
      Height60cmWidth30cmFlowering SeasonAutumnWaterLLightFull Sun
      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
      Height30cmWidth60cmFlowering SeasonSpringWaterLLightFull Sun
      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.

  • Watsonia
    • aletroides   CAG01174

      (Shrimp plant)
      Height1.2mWidth30cmFlowering SeasonSpringWaterLLightSun
      Watsonia aletroides
      $12.00earn 60 points

      Tubular, pale mouthed, coral flowers are artfully staggered to one side of slender vertical stems above a dense clump of red edged, sword-like leaves. A South African bulb (corm) that is summer deciduous and therefore eminently drought hardy, in fact a dry rest is essential.

      Stunning thrusting from between the simple mounds of cool coloured staples, Catmint, Lavender, and maybe a few of the Dutch Iris ‘Wedgwood’ that flowers simultaneously.

      Easily grown in any very sunny summer dry soil, heavy soils and wet feet in winter are tolerated and may even be preferred.

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