ASTILBE

Astilbe chinensis, commonly known as false goat's beard, tall false-buck's-beard or Chinese astilbe, is a plant in the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae.

It is a herbaceous plant with alternate, pinnately compound leaves, on thin stems. The flowers are purplish-pink, borne in summer. The plant prefers full sun and is planted in moist clay soils.

The variety shown here is the hybrid Astilbe chinensis "purpurkerze".

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ROSA 'PINK INTUITION'

Rosa 'Pink Intuition' is a sport of 'Red Intuition', which was voted International Cut Rose of the Year 2000. Like its sister rose, 'Pink Intuition' is prized for the perfection of its large, perfect, classical Hybrid Tea-shaped flowers, all massed with petals. Tall graceful buds open into blooms, a whirling palette of pinks – bright, rich, magentas slashed with delicate and buoyant pastels – stripes of pinks on pink.

Flowering continually from Spring to late Autumn, stems are laden with bunches of bright, unfading blooms. Long flower stems are ideal for cutting, having an exceptionally long vase life. Flowers do not droop. Blessed with a vigorous growth habit, Pink Intuition thrives in full sun, relishes regular feeding and mulching. Pink Intuition may be planted all the year round. Grows to approximately 150cms high.

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KOTOBUKI BEGONIA

Begonia rex 'Kotobuki' is an exotic foliage plant with large heart-shaped soft leaves, vibrantly patterned. 'Kotobuki' has leaves marked in iridescent pinks and purples. It is a popular houseplant in warm humid rooms and also makes a striking hanging basket or container plant for summer. Ideal outdoor underplanting in shaded and semi-shaded tropical gardens.

Plant in a shaded or semi-shaded location with filtered light or indirect sunlight. Begonia rex appreciates a humid atmosphere so if the air is dry, give it a light mist spray with water. Water lightly but regularly during the first 12 weeks or until the plant is established. Avoid over-watering or over-feeding Begonia rex.

Apply liquid fertiliser at half dilution every 8 weeks for best results. Foliage may die back during the cooler months when plants become dormant. Avoid feeding and reduce watering until plants develop new leaves. Repot during spring only if plants become rootbound. Protect from frost.

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SUNFLOWER

Helianthus x multiflorus 'Flore Pleno' is a robust, perennial plant that produces double yellow flowers throughout the summer. Its deep green foliage is an excellent screen or foil to showcase small plants. Flowers of Helianthus x mult. 'Flore Pleno' are scattered all throughout this "green wall" which makes it an excellent choice for the back of your border.

This is a good plant for cut flowers and blooms for 4 weeks or more. It can be planted in containers and attracts butterflies. Prefers average, neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Well drained soil is good for overwintering, but give Helianthus a good soaking if August begins to overpower. Can be divided in spring every 3-4 years. Cut back by one-half in early to midsummer to prevent staking.

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ROSE GERANIUM

Pelargonium graveolens is an uncommon Pelargonium species native to the Cape Provinces and the Northern Provinces of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is in the subgenus Pelargonium along with Pelargonium crispum, Pelargonium tomentosum and Pelargonium capitatum.

Pelargonium graveolens is an erect, multi-branched shrub, that grows up to 1.5 m and has a spread of 1 m. The leaves are deeply incised, velvety and soft to the touch (due to glandular hairs). The flowers vary from pale pink to almost white and the plant flowers from August to January. The leaves may be strongly rose-scented, although the leaf shape and scent vary. Some plants are very strongly scented and others have little or no scent. Some leaves are deeply incised and others less so, being slightly lobed like P. capitatum.

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HIBISCUS

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GOLDEN EVERLASTING

Xerochrysum bracteatum, commonly known as the golden everlasting or strawflower, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Australia. Described by Étienne Pierre Ventenat in 1803, it was known as Helichrysum bracteatum for many years before being transferred to a new genus Xerochrysum in 1990.

It grows as a woody or herbaceous perennial or annual shrub up to a metre tall with green or grey leafy foliage. Golden yellow or white flower heads are produced from spring to autumn; their distinctive feature is the papery bracts that resemble petals. The species is widespread, growing in a variety of habitats across the country, from rainforest margins to deserts and subalpine areas.

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DAY LILY

A daylily or day lily is a flowering plant in the genus Hemerocallis, a member of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae. Despite the common name, it is not in fact a lily. Gardening enthusiasts and horticulturists have long bred daylily species for their attractive flowers. Thousands of cultivars have been registered by local and international Hemerocallis societies. Daylilies are perennial plants, whose name alludes to its flowers, which typically last about a day.

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ERYNGIUM

Eryngium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae. There are about 250 species. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, with the centre of diversity in South America. Common names include eryngo and amethyst sea holly (though the genus is not related to the true hollies, Ilex).

These are annual and perennial herbs with hairless and usually spiny leaves. The dome-shaped umbels of steely blue or white flowers have whorls of spiny basal bracts. Some species are native to rocky and coastal areas, but the majority are grassland plants. In the language of flowers, they represent "admiration".

Illustrated here is Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’, a common garden and cut flower. It produces especially large heads of steel-blue prickly flowers over a mound of silvery leaves that add texture to the sunny border. Exceptionally good for cutting, fresh or dried. Plants are mid-sized in habit with strong stems. A versatile plant, fitting well into the border and also useful in containers. Drought tolerant once established. Sea Holly is an easy-care perennial that adapts well to most sunny areas with average to dry soil. Remove old stems to ground level in late Autumn or early Spring.

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COSMIC ROSE

One of my photos digitally altered with Photoshop.

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PINK HIBISCUS

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, known colloquially as Chinese hibiscus, China rose, Hawaiian hibiscus, and shoeblackplant, is a species of tropical hibiscus, a flowering plant in the Hibisceae tribe of the family Malvaceae, native to East Asia. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is a bushy, evergreen shrub or small tree growing 2.5–5 m tall and 1.5–3 m wide, with glossy leaves and solitary, brilliant red flowers in summer and autumn. The 5-petaled flowers are 10 cm in diameter, with prominent orange-tipped red anthers. Numerous hybrids have been developed in a variety of flower colours, such as this fine pink specimen.

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CHINESE PLUMBAGO

Ceratostigma willmottianum or Chinese plumbago is a deciduous shrub that provides great interest in early autumn when its slender stems bear pale blue flowers amongst the foliage that gradually turns red as the autumn season develops. This shrub is easy to grow in a sunny, well-drained spot and can be cut hard back in the spring where it can be utilised at the front of beds and borders in small or large gardens. The flowers are very attractive to butterflies.

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