The Garden Clinic

Rhodanthe ‘Paper Stars’

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

This pretty daisy is covered in tiny white paper flowers with a yellow centre. It’s ideal for gardens with a cottage feel.

Showy Honey Myrtle

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

The contrast of the pinkish/purple flower heads, the deep green shiny foliage and the light-coloured, almost-smooth paperbark makes this an excellent feature for the bush garden.

A story about the breeding of grafted gums

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

Graham Ross tells the inspiring story of Queensland nurseryman Stan Henry’s determination to create a flowering gum that anyone could grow.

Acacia cognata 'Limelight'

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

We have successfully grown the shrub form of ‘Limelight’ in Sydney for ten years – through drought and flooding rains! – and love its waterfall of luminous lime leaves.

Agapanthus

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

The sparkling blue and white flowers of agapanthus cool the summer garden, and new colours are a real thrill.

Ajuga

18 March, 2021 |

This reliable blue spring carpet deserves its go-to reputation. Let’s take a closer look.

Algerian iris

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Also called the winter iris, this plant originates from the Mediterranean and North Africa and consequently enjoys impoverished soils. It produces flowers on and off throughout the winter.

This gorgeous plant will stop you in your tracks in a garden of either native or exotic plants. It’s a spectacular new form of the native hibiscus, or ‘blue hibiscus’ with attractive blue-green foliage, and masses of deep mauve flowers.

Angel's Trumpet, Brugmansia

18 March, 2021 | Sandra Ross

It’s easy to see why the common name for the dramatic Brugmansia is angel’s trumpet. These sub-tropical beauties offer months of flowers and fragrance, all in an easy-care package.

Arno's South East QLD Report

18 March, 2021 | Arno King

The days are starting to cool off and it's a very pleasant time to get stuck into the garden. Before you know it, the day has gone. We’ve been waiting patiently for the ‘wet’ to finally arrive and, and moisten the soil. Now that it’s started to rain, there has been a great surge of growth.

Arnos Subtropical Kitchen Garden

18 March, 2021 | Arno King

Looking for herbs and vegies that are well suited to the subtropics? Arno has you covered.

August Jobs

18 March, 2021 | Robin Powell

Daffodil displays are the prize in August. It's time to get out there and enjoy them.

Australia’s First Camellia?

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

Her journey and namesake, has criss-crossed the oceans and lands from Australia, China, England and Europe for four centuries creating one of gardening’s most intriguing stories. But is she Australia's first camellia? Graham Ross finds out.

Autumn crocus

18 March, 2021 | Libby Cameron

This tough little bulb flowers in profusion after rain – hence its sometime alias, the storm lily. It has shiny evergreen foliage and the flowers are white and open, like fragile crocuses.

Autumn-toned Climbers

18 March, 2021 | Sandra Ross

Leafy deciduous climbers give fabulous summer shade when trained to cover a pergola, and some of these colour in a dramatic way once temperatures drop in autumn.

Banksia

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

Visitors to Empress Josephine’s garden at Malmaison outside Paris were wowed by her banksia collection. Two hundred years later gardeners still thrill to these bold and beautiful flowers, but have cold feet about growing them. Graham Ross explains why, and reports on the new cultivars now available.

Beautiful Bamboo

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

Bamboozled over whether bamboo is a garden pest or a garden saviour? Graham explains why this lovely group of plants can be both – and how to choose the right one for your needs.

Beauty Bush

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

A vase-shaped deciduous shrub, grown for its outstanding purple berries, which cluster along the stems in autumn, following the tiny lilac flowers.

Begonias

18 March, 2021 | Sandra Ross

You might be most familiar with the sun-hardy bedding begonias, the ‘wax flowers’ whose red and white blooms shine on through hot weather. But there are many other types of begonias, some with beautiful patterned leaves as well as those simple, charming, waxy flowers.

Best bulbs for...

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Follow our guide on what to plant.

Blooms and Brushstrokes

18 March, 2021 | Penelope Curtin

In their floral history of Australian art, mother and daughter team Peneloep and Tansy Curtin uncover the stories behind some of our favourite floral artworks.

Blue Ginger

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

There is no blue quite like the cobalt of Blue Ginger. And the good news? It's a cinch to grow and loves the company of frangipani, hibiscus and angels trumpets. Hello holiday at home.

Boab Tree

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

A mature boab tree is a majestic sight. Though it doesn't grow exceptionally tall, just up to 15 metres, the trees appear huge because of their swollen trunks. These can reach 20 metres in diameter.

Boongala

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

An inspiring native garden rings bells for Linda Ross and to the sound of birdsong she changes her tune about the best plants to create pretty gardens.

Bootlace Oak

18 March, 2021 | Ally Jackson

The common name of this hakea describes its long, thin leaves, which grow up to 70cm long. We think it must have been named when not in flower as the stunning 12cm long, pendulous blooms in shades of yellow, orange, white or green would surely have distracted its discoverer from the lovely, lace-like foliage.

Bottlebrush

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

You can use bottlebrush as a feature tree to attract birds and bees; in a regularly spaced row to screen neighbourly views; as a groundcover over an embankment; or as a low hedge at hip-height.

Brachyscome multifida

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

The pretty hybrids of this groundcover daisy are the result of years of development in native plant breeding.

Bromeliads

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

Graham has discovered the brilliance of bromeliads. Now he's keen to make up for lost time and introduce you to the all-year-round splendour of these easy care show-stopping sensations.

Brown Boronia

18 March, 2021 | Libby Cameron

All boronias have fragrant foliage and flowers, but not all share the sweet scent of the brown boronia.

Bulb Time

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Plant these time bombs in autumn for an explosion of colour in late winter and spring. Linda says they are bulbalicious!

Bulbs: Buried Treasure

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

There are few gems in the garden as reliably dazzling as bulbs. Buy now, plant soon and in spring your reward, for barely any effort at all, is a garden bejewelled with colour.

Cabbage Palm

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Cabbage palms are a stunning native palm indigenous to Sydney. Captain Cook noted them on his first excursion onto land at Botany Bay. Livistona grow in moist, sheltered gullies along the coast. They were common around Sydney Harbour and can still be seen in remnant bushland along the coastal fringe.

Camellia japonica

18 March, 2021 | Graham Ross

The Camellia japonica is the queen of winter, unrivalled for glamour, yet she is down to earth, easy to manage and long-lived. Graham Ross has the details.

Camellia reticulata

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

If Camellia japonicas are the stately queens of winter then Camellia reticulata are the cheer girls that dance us into spring. They are hard to find, but by no means shy, with gorgeous flowers like big ruffled skirts. Linda Ross takes a peep.

Camellia reticulata favourites

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

Our favourite Camellia reticulata

Camellia sasanqua

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

An evergreen shrub from Japan with subtly fragrant autumn flowers.

Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

This small, deciduous shrub or tree has bright pink, pea-shaped flowers that open on bare stems. The flowers are followed by interesting, flattened, purple pods like long beans. And the leaves? Well they speak for themselves!

Cherry Blossom

18 March, 2021 | Ally Jackson

It’s no wonder the Japanese dedicate a whole month of ‘Hanami’ celebrations to the beautiful blossoms of the cherry. You know spring’s arrived when their pink-hued blooms blanket these perfectly shaped trees.

Chinese Lanterns, Abutilon

18 March, 2021 | Sandra Ross

These versatile shrubs with their charming bell-like flowers are commonly called Chinese lanterns, even though all 1000 species are native to South America!

Climbing ‘Pierre de Ronsard’

18 March, 2021 | Linda Ross

The Meilland family in the south of France created this beloved climbing rose in 1987. They named it after the 16th century French poet, whose sensuous, romantic and musical poems were highly regarded during his life.

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