78 Great Northern Hwy, Midland, WA, 6056               Ph: (08) 9250 3682               Shop Hours:   10am   >>   6pm

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SUMMER DORMANT

Postage : Seeds only $4 / Plants $20

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  • Ferula
    • communis subsp. glauca   CAG02099

      (Giant fennel)
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      A spectacle.
      From a stiff brooding mound of feathery, dark green, waxy leaves, radiating on stout stalks, thrusts a towering asparagus like stem, 3m or more, bearing large globular clusters of tiny, acid yellow flowers followed by clustered whorls of flattened seeds. This startling display requires three or four years of growth, accumulating energy in its fleshy taproot, before it is produced after which the plant, having exhausted itself, typically dies. Adventitious seedlings usually appear the following winter and you once again get to admire the fabulous foliage while anticipating the next hurrah.

      From limestone soils in the Mediterranean, summer dormant and utterly drought loving it tolerates richer and moister garden conditions but is perhaps most enjoyable and spectacular in barren, well drained, exposed sites where other less impressive plants have failed.

      Quite toxic, unlike its less bold but more commonly encountered cousin Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare).

  • Freesia
    • laxa ‘Joan Evans’   CAG02305
      Freesia laxa ‘Joan Evans’
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      A charming, small, winter growing South African bulb that makes tight clumps of pale green grass-like leaves and bears a profusion of small orchid like flowers on branching scapes.
      This form has white flowers with scarlet markings.

      Dormant over Summer and then in no need of water all that is demanded is good drainage and it should self seed happily, slowly forming colonies among low ground covers, between rocks, in a pot or used as an edging in no water Mediterranean gardens.

  • Lilium
    • candidum   CAG02228

      (Madonna lily)
      Lilium candidum
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      Very much unlike most other other Lilium, L. candidum requires shallow planting, prefers limy soil and grows primarily during winter, forming a basal rosette of glossy, slightly wavy, bluntly lance shaped leaves. With longer days the stem lengthens and by late spring terminates in an elegant bunch of outward facing, 10cm, virgin white, classically shaped Lilium flowers, for which it has been cultivated for millennia.

      The entire plant sensibly retreats to a scaly underground bulb with the onset of summer heat, usually not before shedding it's flat papery seeds which will germinate in unlikely but apparently suitable locations the following winter.

      From Greece, Eastwards into Asia it is ideally suited to our Mediterranean climate, not suffering malaise and early demise as in the East, requiring little if any summer irrigation and is one of the few Lilies that will thrive in the alkaline soil close to the coast.

      For a sunny but sheltered position, possibly amongst low shrubs or other plants, with good drainage, though tolerant of clay if not kept moist in summer.

  • Nepeta

    (Catmint)
    Lamiaceae

    • tuberosa   CAG02240
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      The king of Catmints. Stiff stems. clothed in thick and velvety silver leaves, terminate in richly coloured spires of purple, two lipped, tubular flowers amid rosy bracts. After flowering the whole plant dies back to it's tuberous rootstock to await out the dry summer, emerging with the onset of cooler weather and moisture.

      Minimal summer water and good drainage essential.

      Best left undisturbed once established.

      Superb amongst other Mediterranean type plants eg. Cistus, Lavender, Euphorbia characias and proves to be the perfect vertical compliment to flat heads of Achillea or other horizontal flower types. Beware when planting together with the greenery of more tender plants as it appears in contrast just too content and well suited to our climate leaving them looking shabby and out of place, as perhaps they are.

  • Ranunculus
    • cortusifolius   CAG01433

      (Canary buttercup)
      Ranunculus cortusifolius
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      A Buttercup on steroids from the laurel forest of the Canary Islands. Huge, coarsely haired, umbrella-like leaves emerge from a spidery tuberous rootstock, on stout fleshy stems. After a winter of exuberant growth a sturdy, much branched stem of gloss enamel, canary yellow, green centred, buttercup flowers is thrust skyward. The entire plant slowly shrivels with increasing summer temperatures, only to return the following winter bigger and badder than ever.

      For winter moist, shady sites, preferably dryish over summer and when happy self seeding with desirable abandon. Also growable as a show winning potted specimen.

  • Sonchus

    (Sow thistle)
    Compositae

    • canariensis   CAG02541

      (Giant sow thistle,Tree dandelion)
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      Seuss-like, with bold, plumed rosettes of dark green, skeletal, pinnate leaves on stiff bare branches. Showy, and incongruous to the uninitiated, branched scapes of bright yellow daisy flowers burst forth in spring.

      Summer dormant and impervious to heat and drought, though possibly sensitive to heavy frost. At home in poor, alkaline, well drained soil, wet feet are tolerated poorly.

      The perfect compliment to other similar Canary Island plants, Echium, Euphorbia atropurpea, E. characias, E. dendroides, E. lambii, Geranium maderense for a climatically appropriate "tropical" garden.

  • Tropaeolum
    • azureum   CAG02070

      (Blue Nasturtium)
      Tropaeolum azureum
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      A tuberous species sending up twining hair-like stems, anchoring themselves to any available support with prehensile, dark green, 5 lobed, starfish leaves. Almost unnoticed amongst the foliage of a supporting shrub until the small but very numerous, white throated, blue-purple, typical Nasturtium shaped flowers are produced during cool spring weather.

      Adapted to a winter rainfall climate it promptly returns to a state of hibernation with the onset of summer heat, re-emerging ever more vigorously once the cooler temperatures and moisture of winter prevail. Truly xeric, demanding of summer dryness and once established will happily remain dormant for several years in the absence of rainfall.

      Easily grown in very well drained soil or a deep pot of gravel. Likely to be difficult on the east coast without protection from the worst weather.

    • tricolor   CAG02341
      Tropaeolum tricolor
      CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

      The hair-like stems of this tuberous, Chilean climber, clamber their way through and over shrubs or other surrounding vegetation. Clasping it's prehensile leaves delicately around twigs and branches it scales to a high and sunny vantage and there displays it's small but abundant tricolour blooms, each yellow flower peeping out from the green ruff of it's long spurred red hat.

      A winter grower it retreats to the cool sanctuary of it's underground tuber once temperatures climb much above 30℃, usually in late spring or early summer, and there comfortably waits out heat and drought until coolness and moisture entice it forth once more the following year.

      Demanding only of excellent drainage and summer dryness, any loose soil, sand or gravel will do but not clay, preferably under a deciduous shrub. Otherwise a pot of well drained potting mix kept barely moist and out of the sun over summer will be quite to it's liking.

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