Scent- sational blooms

As the days grow longer and the evenings warm, fragrant plants bring a sense of calm and luxury to the garden. Their aromas linger in the air, transforming verandahs, patios and pathways into tranquil retreats. From tropical climbers to heady shrubs, here are nine beautiful plants that promise to perfume your summer garden

Grow our cover

Divide and multiply cymbidiums

Unlock your orchid’s full potential! Divide cymbidiums every few years to refresh growth and multiply flowers.

Grow your own vanilla pods

Cultivating vanilla isn't easy, but for the determined home gardener, the payoff is sweet.

Charming Camellias

Call in the Wild

Borrow ideas from this wonderful native garden to transform your backyard into a vibrant, eco-friendly haven teeming with life.

Spring Pot Luck

Sandra shares some of her favourite plant combinations to capture the exuberance of spring.

The Samurai’s Camellia

Once revered by Samurai, the Higo camellia faced extinction. Join Graham on his journey to uncover its history and share his personal connection to this esteemed flower.

How to: Cultivate Clivias

Nurseryman and breeder of fine clivias, Peter Hey, shares common problems with solutions to help you grow beautiful clivias.

Pretty in Pink

A sweet selection in pink for planting now.

How to Grow: Tall Bearded Iris

Discover everything you need to know about Tall Bearded iris from Sandra Ross in conversation with expert iris growers, John Taylor, Graeme Grosvenor, Lyz Taylor (Kinspirit Iris), and David Kennedy (Highfield Garden, Little Hartley).

Happy in the Heat

Embrace those hot, dry sun-drenched parts of your summer garden — there are plenty of plants that love it that way

Big, Bold and Beautiful

The soft clouds of hydrangea flowers are a promise of summer. Let’s take a closer look at growing these plants.

Finding the Right Shade

Are you neglecting the shady parts of your garden? Horticulturist Roger Fox shares how to to make them shine

Dahlia Problems

Dahlias are rewarding plants to grow; they give you cut flowers for months through summer and autumn. President of the Dahlia Society of NSW & ACT, Graeme Davis shares common problems with solutions to fix them. Once you know these four common problems, your dahlias will be happy and healthy.

Purple Reign

Winter Wonders

Magnolia Magic

With their elegant blooms and regal appearance, magnolias are considered the aristocrats of the garden. Here, Graham explores new varieties that are worthy of a place in your garden.

Seasonal Splendor

Autumn has arrived! Online store owner and cut-flower enthusiast, Bec Shelley shares her favourite blooms to sow now.

On The Edge of The World

Situated against the rugged and dramatic backdrop of the Banks Peninsula in New Zealand, Fishermans Bay Garden is a garden like no other. Sandra talks to owner, Jill Simpson to uncover her inspirations for this extraordinary landscape.

Seasonal Stars

Autumn is summer’s last hurrah with many plants providing a stunning finale before winter’s subdued moodiness.

Meet: Richard Walsh

Richard fell for roses when he bought his first home in 1967. He joined the Rose Society in 1972, and that was the start of his long journey with roses.

Bloom on

Once summer draws to an end, you might be thinking about what flowers to sow to keep the colour blooming into autumn. Owner of online store Veggie Garden Seeds, Bec Shelley shares her favourites.

Summer: an abundant season

Summer is the season of generosity, spreading its largessewith bountiful colour, shade and perfume. Horticulturist and Ross tour leader, Paul Urquhart shares his top five.

Cutting Garden - Summer sizzlers to plant now

Continuing our series on cutting flowers; now is time to plant flowers for summer vases. We have chosen cleome, dahlia, cosmos, rudbeckia and zinnia.

Potted Plants

Spring may be here, but it’s no time for rest! Horticulturist and landscape designer, Colin Barlow shares his tips on how you can create a fabulous potted display, overflowing with late spring and early summer colour.

Spring bling

Rare beauty

Meet: Craig Scott

Cutting Garden: Fill your home with flowers

Easy, economical, and exciting... bulbs, seedlings and seeds to plant for a never-ending supply of cut flowers

Preening your paws

Now is the time to clean up and divide your kangaroo paws. Angus Stewart, author and native plant expert explains.

Flannel Flower

How to grow this iconic Aussie wildflower. Maria Hitchcock OAM shares her tips.

Winter Stunners

John Elton is a passionate plantsman and volunteer at The Illawarra Grevillea Park Botanic Garden, Bulli, NSW. The park is 2.4-ha showcase of the rich and wonderful native species we have in Australia. Here, John shares his love of natives and what you should grow for winter colour. 

Tasmania

Tasmania has more than its fair share of fine gardens. Libby Cameron takes us for an armchair ride.

Meet: Angus Stewart

Well known through his appearances on Gardening Australia, Angus Stewart has moved to Tasmania where he is experimenting and hybridising new and even better kangaroo paws.

The Sweet Life

Nothing beats sweet peas for cut flower colour, charm, and scent! Master gardener, Colin Barlow shares his tips for tall, healthy, and vigorous blooms.

Chantecler

Surrounded by dramatic snow-covered mountains and nestled into a sheltered Wakatipu Basin in Central Otago, near Queenstown in southern New Zealand, you’ll find Mike Henry’s garden, Chantecler.

Award-winning Azaleas

Begonias - On angel’s wings

La vie en rose

Delight in the magic of Walter and Kay Duncan’s dreamy landscape, The Heritage Garden, in Clare Valley, South Australia.