Seasonal Stars

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

Our autumn is notable more for massed flowering than the foliar flamboyance of northern climes where autumn flares and fades in a flash. Of course, there are exceptions. We’ve got every base covered from a versatile tree that can be a shrub, hedge or potted specimen to lower-level shrubs and colourful perennials.

Sasanqua camellia

From Japan and China, the versatile Camellia sasanqua happily grows into a small tree 5-8 metres tall – if you have room, a forest planting is stunning! We grow them mostly as shrubs or hedges for privacy to screen neighbours. Lightly fragrant flowers are white, pink or red; single, semi-double and double. Birds such as honeyeaters and lorikeets also flock to their nectar. Sasanquas thrive in part-shade to full sun, are much faster growing than Camellia japonica , and less fussy about soil. The ideal is an acid (pH 5-6), humus-rich loam. Feed in spring with an organic fertiliser such as Kahoona to add iron and magnesium to boost flowering. In hot weather, water and mulch to protect surface roots. Prune in late winter after flowering and if hedging, prune lightly until April. Any later and buds won’t develop. Feeling creative? Sasanquas are ideal for large pots, espalier and bonsai.

 

Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’

Banksia spinulosa or hairpin banksia naturally grows from Cairns to Victoria to about 3 metres over a wide range of climates. Plant breeders have recently introduced dwarf varieties from coastal NSW. These include ‘Birthday Candles’, ‘Honey Pots’ and ‘Coastal Cushions’ among others. Banksias prefer a sandy loam or well- drained clay soil. Flowers are yellow, orange and even red and dwarf forms grow up to 1 metre. They form rounded mounds making them ideal for mass planting. They also adapt well to containers and bonsai. Banksia are in the Protea family and are phosphorus sensitive, so feed only with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser. It’s  probably a good idea to keep them in a native plant environment to avoid accidental fertilising.

Correa

There are so many correas but one of the best is ‘Dusky Bells’. Not surprisingly, the flowers are a dusky pink. Autumn is the main flowering season but they keep going to spring. ‘Dusky Bells’ is a cross between Correa reflexa (ranging from southern Queensland to Tasmania) and Correa pulchella , from South Australia. Correas don’t like the tropics or wet summer regions. They prefer a temperate, dry summer climate and well-drained soil. Hybrids grow about a 1 metre high with a wider spread. They have a naturally mounded habit and suit modern native garden styles where structure and shape are important. Croweas make great companions. Look out for ‘Northern Belle’ or ‘Chef’s Hat’. Collectors fairs are a good place to find cultivars.

 

Anemone

Several species of anemone (Japanese wind flower) have gone into the breeding of these popular autumn flowers usually sold as Anemone x hybrida . Colours range from white to various shades of pink with single or semi-double forms. They like a deep rich, woodsy soil so dig in some well-rotted compost at planting time and keep moist in summer as they emerge from dormancy. These are shade loving plants best massed under deciduous trees with dappled sunlight. Flowers appear on long stems which wave in the breeze. Like other perennials, anemones spread by runners and can be divided after flowering. If there’s room for only one, choose ‘Honorine Jobert’, the most outstanding by far, with glistening white flowers and golden stamens. ‘Snow Angel’ has semi-double white flowers but among the pinks, look for ‘Hadspen Abundance’ or ‘Pocahontas’.

 

Cyclamen

The cyclamen we see in pots every autumn are hybrids of Cyclamen persicum bred for container growing. They need cool night air and minimal watering from the base not over the leaves. Bring them back indoors in the morning. There are other cyclamens too, all growing from corms and suited to naturalising in woodland gardens in cooler, mountain regions. C. hederifolium comes from deciduous Mediterranean woodlands indicating they like dry summers and wet winters. Their marbled ivy-shaped leaves hang on over winter and are a major feature. Mulch the ground in summer. Cyclamen coum is a winter bloomer with small rounded leaves. None like competition or overshadowing by other plants.