Mass Appeal

As I was wandering around the city recently, enjoying some nice spring weather (and even nicer company!) I saw a few nice examples of practical and purposeful landscape planting, in new developments and existing, established landscapes.

One thing I've taken notice of a lot lately is the use of mass planting, which made me wonder how I feel about the use singular species planted in big numbers - is it a practical and economic way to fill the green void or just lazy landscape design?

A combination of two grass species -
giving different  heights, colour and texture

Don't get me wrong, mass planting is an extremely useful & practical tool when it comes to alleviating or rehabilitating soil erosion and controlling, dispersing or reducing water run off. Also in nature mono-cultures or low bio-diversity systems also exist and in trying to recreate these vegetation communities, a mass planting outcome is required.

Mass planting of Pachysandra terminalis in
the Tiergarten in Berlin - mimicking it's
natural occurrence.

Away from the recreation of natural systems or planting to protect fragile areas, mass planting in the landscape can create stunning displays of form, texture and seasonal colour. Rows of hedges can be clipped to shape, cutting bold blocks of shape or serpentine lines through the landscape. Grasses and strappy leaf plants can provide multi faceted interest with their long, thin leaves as well as texture & colour contrast through their flowers and inflorescence. Seasonal perennials & annuals will give bursts of brightness throughout the warmer seasons and will attract the eye of passers by.

Pretty Petunia's - they give seasonal colour but need replacing.

However there are pitfalls to planting on mass. By choosing colourful, seasonal annuals you will face the need to constantly replenish them. As the seasons change they'll begin to fade out and begin to look ratty - this is okay of course if your landscape has the budget for maintenance and replanting, if not then there's a good chance it will become an eyesore.

A mass planting of Lomandra longifolia in a park, it mimics
a natural setting but without proper maintenance
looks poor after awhile.

I don't want to sound all doom and gloom but there are a couple of other negatives to mass planting that you will need to know about before undertaking such an exercise.

The first issue is the increased potential for disease and pest problems to occur. In any system with low diversity or a total mono-culture the chances of a disease or a pest causing a problem increases significantly, there just isn't any buffers or filters, does the potato famine of Ireland ring a bell?

But this also gives rise to the "only the strong survive" theory, where the stronger plants that resist will build up tolerances that will be passed on in their genes or will develop mechanisms, such as mass seeding, to counteract the problem of decline.

Gazania tomentosa - tough, great colour
contrast but has the potential to be a problem.

The last point brings me to the next issue - mass planting can encourage the spread of plant species due to increased numbers of seed (or vegetative reproduction) being produced  in a small area. Take the humble Agapanthus, a favourite of the landscape industry and gardeners alike for decades due to it's robust, waterwise nature.

Agapanthus sp. - tough, waterwise, indestructible, weed?

In this writer's opinion, Agapanthus are likely to be, along with the cockroaches, the only thing to survive a nuclear holocaust . There are a number of leafy, bushland suburbs around Sydney that this easy going plant has become a problem, especially in areas of the Blue Mountains with high amounts of run off (to carry seeds into nearby bush) and older storm water systems, here Agapanthus has become a garden escapee.

Of course with monitoring, control as well as the development and advancements in plant breeding we have been available to identify high risk species, manage their movement throughout the landscape and also created sterile or resilient forms that can be enjoyed without the worry of spread or decimation due to pest and disease.

I have always been a fan of the form and function that nature creates, the randomness and beauty from letting nature take it's course. That can't always be achieved in the man made world but we are trying to put our creative spin on things.

So I guess it comes down to choosing wisely, as with any planting situation - do your homework. Look around, what works in your area? What is suitable for your budget and do you have the time to look after it properly? Proper research and planning always goes a long way.

Sprung

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it is just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so" - Mark Twain.

It is a glorious time of the year, there's something in the air that's for sure, a change is a coming! Like a bear shaking off hibernation - plants are starting to wake up all across the country, spring is in the air! Many cultures celebrate the return of spring and why wouldn't you, it signals a return to warmer weather and an increase in general well-being.

In Japan, the annual blossoming of cherry trees has become a significant national event attracting thousands of local and international visitors. The Cherry blossoms, or Sakura, symbolises the transience of life which is a major theme in the Buddhist religion.

Attending the Cherry Blossom Festival on the 28th of August at Auburn Botanic Gardens it was crazy seeing people lose their sh*t for these spectacular blooms - I can only imagine the chaos they create in Japan.

Blossoms, like Prunus X blireana, are sure sign Spring is in the air.

For a green thumb it is a pretty exciting time and in years where the winters have been mild like this year, you get that feeling a little earlier - it's the horticultural equivalent of being a kid at Christmas time.

"Spring is nature's way of saying "Lets Party!" - Robin Williams

In a previous blog I mentioned how cool it is how it is to look to plants to show us what time of year it is but it's also pretty interesting to think of how the natural world around us can also inspire our mood and well-being.

Is there anything more delicious than sitting outside letting the sun kiss your skin? Especially after the bitterness of a long, cool winter. There is something about the change of seasons, more so when we leave winter and head into spring. It is a sense of rebirth that gives us hope, renews our urge to get outside and enjoy the sights and smells of our surroundings again.

Personally, seeing the Hardenbergia violacea in flower always says spring isn't too far away.

We can look at the surge in plant growth the same way we look at our own shift in vitality. The swelling flower & leaf buds mimic our own surge in energy levels and excitement, soon we can put away the winter clothes and shop for more appropriate summer attire.

Magnolia denudata flower just about to open, older trees can be laden with dozens of flowers.

The bursting leaf buds mirror our own urge to jump out of bed in the morning, greet the day and catch some sunlight - Ok maybe that's a bit far-fetched, who really wants to get out of bed any earlier? But now there is more opportunity to seize the day with the increasing amount of daylight hours.

Fraxinus raywoodii flower buds ready to burst.

New spring growth results in contrasting foliage colours, this also signals it's time for us to get outside and work on getting some colour into our pale, wintered skin. But remember kids - don't forget to Slip, Slop, Slap!

The vibrant red new growth of Metrosideros Fiji Fire™  contrasts the green older foliage.

The flourish of new growth also signals the increase in work in the garden coming up, I don't know about you but my pruning hand gets a bit itchy at this time of year, but remember don't get too ahead of yourself, there will be a lot of spring flowers to come, don't want to delay them too much.

The "Red Tip" form of Acmena smithii minor showing why it's a popular hedging specimen.

The soft new growth of Rhaphiolepis 'Oriental Pearl' is a stark contrast to its leathery older leaves.

As I sit here writing down notes for this blog, enjoying the sun on my face, looking up at an almost entirely blue sky, I am reminded of the great joy and hope the upcoming spring has to offer. It's Mother Nature’s way of a fresh start, wiping the slate clean.

Sitting here listening to many number of people also enjoying the sun, the smells of the first BBQ's firing up again and the increased laughter and squeals of children at play -  these are the sights, sounds and smells of change in the air, you should definitely get out and get a dose of them!

Ich bin ein Berliner

If you had told me two years ago I'd visit Berlin twice (let alone once) in 6 months I'd would of looked at you funny before disregarding your nonsense and moving on.

My first trip was in December and I fell in love with the city almost straight away, such a wonderful vibe, and so much history and if you ever want to get that Christmas spirit back - you should definitely visit during the festive season. Although it was winter we got rather lucky with the weather.

Our latest visit was in May, so spring in Europe and the difference, to a green thumb like me was immense. Berlin is a very green, leafy city, so the skeletal trees and shrubs of winter were replaced with vibrant green foliage and a lot of spring flowers - a new reason to fall in love with this city.

My new favorite deciduous tree - Aesculus hippocastanum 

On our way out of Berlin after arriving I was scratching my head a bit - had we been here before? It was that dramatic, some areas looked so different in spring - well from my horticultural perspective. I was pretty excited to explore this new "green" city in a different season.

I got to spend a couple of days by myself on our recent journey and there is no better way to discover a new (or slightly new) city then pounding the pavement - also the exercise is really good! Berlin is a pretty easy place to find your way, even with all the great and reliable public transport options (take note Sydney) finding your way by foot is relatively easy - even armed with a city map from 2004.

"You are here" - one of many maps in the Tiergarten

So it's Wednesday the 18th of May. My plan - to explore the Tiergarten, a great big urban park (one of Germany's biggest). In December we kind of passed by on foot, not really exploring the grounds, but this time I was determined to get in and see as much as possible, keep in mind it's a whopping 520 acres!

Its beginnings can be traced back to 1527, so by no means a modern park. Established as a hunting area for the aristocrats of the time. It remained hunting grounds until around 1740 when the first public gardens were opened and in 1742 Fredrick the Great ordered the fences to be torn down and the park be open to the people of Berlin.

Statues depicting hunting scenes

Today it is still very much a park of and for the people and you won't see better examples then in spring and summer when the sun is shining. The recreational pursuits that the park were established on are at the fore, with plenty of recreational pursuits are catered for - walking, running, cycling, ball sports, picnic's, reading, table tennis and you'll see almost as many dogs as people (Berlin is a very pet friendly place).

A trip through the Tiergarten on a nice warm, sunny day will see good crowds of locals and tourists alike. You'll be able to spot the locals from the tourists though - they'll be the ones with shirts off taking advantage of the sun that eludes them through the winter months. It's a place where the vibe of the city is on full display. There's a good chance you'll run into the smaller, furry and cute locals too.

All the locals enjoy Springtime in the Tiergarten

With my neck craned skyward, taking in all the greenery, I made my way around the park in no real order - just trying to take in the biggest cross section of the Tiergarten as possible. There are multiple maps through the park, so as easy it is to get lost, it's just as easy to find your way around. There are many landmarks in the form of monuments scattered within the grounds, these make for multiple photo opportunities. Beethoven-Haydn-Mozart Memorial "Golden Lizzy" - The Victory Column in the heart of the Tiergarten Statue of Queen Luise The display gardens within the park are quite spectacular, so well maintained with wonderful displays - in particular the Rose and Rhododendron gardens. Now I haven't been all over the world but I can say the Rhododendrons here are the most amazing specimens I have seen.

It's also the other plant species that I saw that made it such a wonderful experience - Pachysandra terminalis (a relatively uncommon and sometimes hard to find plant in Australia) carpeting the ground along with Bergenia, Hosta and Limonium - for a Horty like me it's fascinating to see these plants thriving outside a pot.

A perky bunch of Dryopteris filix-mas A carpet of Pachysandra terminalis White Rhododendron bordered by Varigated Hosta

The other thing I found very interesting was on the trees. In a lot of places in Germany, including the Tiergarten you'll find two things on the trunks of trees: bird houses and numbers. Firstly the bird houses (or Vogelhaus in German - remembering the 'v' is pronounced like an 'f') - like the locals, the avian counterparts don't like the colder months and with the great majority of the trees being deciduous the houses provide much needed shelter through winter - you'll find them in the private and public gardens alike.

Number "21-49" a Betula pendula The numbering on the trees is something different that you won't find in Australia. I noticed these metal tags or plastic plaques on a lot of trees in public areas during my first visit. Now it's not always the most flattering thing to be thought of as "just a number" but in this case it means each tree is recorded and ultimately viewed as an asset. These records also help in the planning of tree maintenance and management. It is a little out dated when you consider modern technology available today (QR Codes, GPS and the like) but it is a system and one tree managers of Australia could certainly benefit from.

 

A well earned lunch - worth moving to Berlin for!

So after a walking around for over 3 hours, what does one do in Berlin? Buy yourself a beer (you can get one anywhere), and a good doner kebab (you can find a lot of these too) and sit in a park and enjoy both! Berlin is a great city at any time of the year but is such a warm and wonderful place when the sun is shinning and the trees are green.

Lyres & Figs

Rain forests must be one of my favorite vegetation communities. I think growing up in Tasmania helped forge this love affair with trips to places like Cradle Mountain, Mt Field National Park and much of the West Coast capturing my imagination.

There is something about walking into a rain forest that transports you back to almost a prehistoric time. That sense you get that time has forgotten these surroundings and that any moment you might just catch a glimpse of an ancient creature.

A few weeks back my girlfriend and I stayed at Kiama Downs, about two hours drive south of Sydney. After starting the day the right way, watching the sunrise at Cathedral Rock, after a coffee we looked for something to do and a little day trip to Minnamurra Rainforest was quickly planned.

Driving along the road up to the entrance of the park you can see and feel the shift in the environment around you, there are many more taller trees with lush undergrowth littered with tree and ground ferns. Arriving before the 9am gate opening, we waited in line for the Ranger to come and let us in.

Once you are inside the park you can really notice the improved air quality and get a feel for the change in micro climate, the reduction in sun light due the large trees makes the temperature drop, coupled with the age of the place and your surroundings certainly gives you goose bumps.

A quick trip through the visitors centre and we started on our 4.2 km hike, dressed in thongs of course!. The first 500 metres or so is raised boardwalk and fairly easy going including suspension bridges, viewing platforms and informative signs along the way. Once you get off the loop walk onto the falls walk it gets a little bit tricky with some steeper terrain but very manageable (even though we stopped for a breather a couple of times).

There is an amazing amount of diversity in the rain forest. Although you are generally confronted with a lot of green, there is still many wonderful things to draw your eye such as the statuesque tree ferns and palms or the mass of vines and creepers making there way over and under vegetation like natural electric or data cables or the array or ground ferns growing on the forest floor and also the epiphytic types clinging to rock walls.

A strangler fig using another Ficus sp. as moral support.

The rain forest canopy is made up of many trees and palms, all reaching up tall, stretching their leaves towards the sunlight like children reaching for the cookie jar on the top shelf. It can get very crowded in the rain forest. This crowding in turn can slow down the succession of plant species within the community, like mentioned before, time can stand still in the rain forest and no one here is in much of a hurry. Though when one of the elder statesman fall, the race is on to make the most of the newly increased sunlight hitting the forest floor. Seeds laying in wait spring to life, germination of many species can be rapid and opportunistic. Those "middle management" trees that have been laying in wait make their move, racing to reach the heights of the canopy and take that promotion.

The sounds you hear within the rain forest are quite soothing, very peaceful indeed, giving you a sense of being alone, a million miles away from civilisation. There is something almost scary about the quiet and being in a place like this too, like a dinosaur or some other long extinct beast may cross your path at any moment. Although the worst you are likely to come across here at Minnamurra is the resident Lyrebird, who's daily ritual of digging and scratching can have you looking around wondering what is going on.

The superbly named Superb Lyrebird

These Australian native birds are pretty unique - you don't get on the 10 cent piece for nothing! The male Lyrebird has one of the most impressive calls of any bird. We didn't get to hear anything out of the ordinary the day we were at Minnamurra Falls but male Lyre's have been known to mimic sounds such as other birds, mobile phone ringtones, car alarms, camera's and chainsaws in their attempt to win a mate. To get a better understanding, check out this clip from David Attenborough's BBC Wildlife.


What really caught my eye though were the amazing amount of Bird's Nest Ferns (Asplenium australascicum) growing in the branch axis of trees within the National Park. The number of these ferns scattered through the park was unbelievable. These majestic ferns, suspended throughout the lower canopy look like crowns fir for a king. The Bird's Nest Fern gets it's name from it's appearance once you look in the centre of the plant you'll know why. It is a popular plant for indoor and outdoor application, but seeing them in the 'wild' is something else entirely.

Asplenium australasicum - a crown in the tree tops

Our little hike through Minnamurra Falls inspired me to write this piece. A walk through any rain forest is something I highly recommend to anyone who needs a dose of nature or just wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. Walking aside, it's good for the mind, body and soul! Get out there and get amongst it

You've Got Tree Mail

Over the years I have had many conversations with plants, to many people it might sound like I have an unhealthy mental state but for the most part I find it very therapeutic.

What's wrong with telling a plant that it’s beautiful, give your plants some encouragement to grow strong or keep flowering. It can't hurt right? Well at the very least we are providing CO2 (carbon dioxide) to the plant to convert into sugars & carbohydrates that aid in their growth.

So why continue to talk to trees? They don't talk back right? Due to a very clever and innovative scheme devised by the City of Melbourne they now do. The Urban Forest Strategy has assigned an ID number and email address to over 70,000 of it's trees and the trees (or should I say a member of council staff) will respond.

Initially this scheme, introduced in May 2013, was to engage the community, get residents involved in the management of trees in public spaces and encourage them to report any health issues or hazards that the tree may be facing. What a great idea right? In such a technology driven world, what better way to get people involved in the welfare of the trees that surround them.

The response since has been pretty amazing, thousands of emails flooded in from all over the globe to council or should I say to the trees themselves. The subject hasn't always been about the tree's health or well-being, what the emails to the trees has shown is that the public and visitors are engaging with the trees, confessing their love in a modern tree hugging way. Some of the email conversations between people and trees are sweet and tender:

Weeping Myrtle, Tree ID 1494392

Hello Weeping Myrtle,

I’m sitting inside near you and I noticed on the urban tree map you don’t have many friends nearby. I think that’s sad so I want you to know I’m thinking of you.

I also want to thank you for providing oxygen for us to breath in the hustle and bustle of the city.

Best Regards,

N.

Golden Elm, Tree ID 1028612

I used to think you were the Magic Faraway tree when I was a child.

Now that I’m an adult, I still look forward to seeing you as I come around the bend after a tedious crawl down Hoddle Street.

A loyal friend always there waiting to say hello

Golden Elm, Tree ID 1037148

Dear 1037148,

You deserve to be known by more than a number. I love you.

Always and forever.

To: Algerian Oak, Tree ID 1032705

Dear Algerian oak,

Thank you for giving us oxygen.

Thank you for being so pretty

I don’t know where I’d be without you to extract my carbon dioxide. (I would probably be in heaven) 

Stay strong, stand tall amongst the crowd.

Others just hilarious, proving plants have a sense of humor:

To: Willow Leaf Peppermint, Tree ID 1357982

Willow Leaf Peppermint, Tree ID 1357982

Hello Mr Willow Leaf Peppermint, or should I say Mrs Willow Leaf Peppermint?

Do trees have genders?

I hope you've had some nice sun today.

Regards

L

Hello

I am not a Mr or a Mrs, as I have what's called perfect flowers that include both genders in my flower structure, the term for this is Monoicous. Some trees species have only male or female flowers on individual plants and therefore do have genders, the term for this is Dioecious. Some other trees have male flowers and female flowers on the same tree. It is all very confusing and quite amazing how diverse and complex trees can be.

Kind regards,

Mr and Mrs Willow Leaf Peppermint (same Tree)

Western Red Cedar, Tree ID 1058295

Hi Tree,

Are you worried about being affected by the Greek debt crisis? Should Greece be allowed to stay in the European Union?

Regards,

Troy

Hi Troy,

I seem to remember the Greeks razed you to the ground one time—are you still angry at them?

Greece is not out of the woods yet, but may be out of the EU….Some say that they should be allowed to devalue their currency in order to recover their economy, but the EU will not allow them to do that. Some say that it is partly the austerity program, which has made it this bad. They say austerity was a disaster for Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union and for the recovery of Asia from the GFC…

I don’t know, but then I’m only a tree.

Regards,

Western Red Cedar

So what does this all prove? That there is a connection between people and plants. That trees are important to the health of our society, they enrich our lives in varying ways and ultimately they do add great value to our lives.

I think this is a wonderful idea and shows the City of Melbourne is the national leader in innovation when it comes to tree management. This strategy has application all over Australia and the world, in fact a council member for the Upper West Side for the State of New York has tried to introduce a bill proposing the same strategy.

Will you be taking time out to talk to a plant? In this day and age it might just respond to you.

Hortimacultralist

A what?

Yes that's the typical response I get from non-green thumbs when they ask me what I do for work. It's actually surprising the amount of people who don't know what a horticulturalist is. Ok we aren't a glamorous profession like Builders, Plumbers or Electricians (and not as well paid) but we are friendly folk, that is until you start asking us stupid questions like "I'm after a plant, it's got green leaves...."

So what is a horticulture? Dictionary.com defines it as:

1. the cultivation of a garden, orchard, or nursery; the cultivation of flowers, fruits, vegetables or ornamental plants
2. the science and art of cultivating plants

Horticulture has a very long history, dating back thousands of years and correlates with the time our nomadic hunter gatherer ancestors transitioned into a more sedentary lifestyle requiring the cultivation of plants for food and medicinal purposes.

It's one of those passions passed down through the generations from parents or grandparents to children. For those who of you have followed my blogs, you will know that the spark that ignited my horticulture passion came from my Nan and I think most people get their green thumb from their grandparents.

It's unfortunate that that link or transition is disappearing from our culture. Busy lives and less opportunities due to the pressure of urban sprawl have made it harder for plant knowledge and passion to be passed on within a family unit. Of course there is still a lot of opportunities for people interested in the field to get involved but I really believe that spark we need (and this goes for any passion) is really important in the formative years, when we are discovering more about the world we live in.

More than a decade ago saw the boom of DIY gardening shows (of course Burke's Backyard and Gardening Australia had roots well before this). It was a great time as the message of getting into the garden resonated with many and the visitors to garden centers increased. Home gardeners had access to a lot of information via media and in turned headed back out into the garden. Most of those shows have now disappeared and the humble Horticulturalist can be relied on a bit more for plant knowledge - so don't be afraid to ask questions when buying plants, we are happy to pass on what we've learnt.

A recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald titled "Horticulture not seen as a viable career, even though it's crucial for our cities" had me feeling a bit disappointed. It's sad to think that many people turn away from the field because it's not high profile enough.

Sure it can be a tough industry and a lot of hard work, especially when you are subject to the seasons and weather conditions throughout the year. Couple that with the high turnover of staff you see in the industry you can't help but agree with these kind of headlines. If you want to get anywhere and want to get anything out of life you've got to start somewhere and put in the effort -  find your passion, find the niche in the market and developed that, the possibilities could be endless.

The positive message that the article emphasizes is the importance horticulture still has in the modern world, especially in our cities where the development and management of open spaces for educational and recreational pursuits is critical for the community to keep that sense of connection to the natural world.

The way we use plants in the landscape is evolving very quickly to keep up with the needs of the urban environment. The use of plants to ascetically soften buildings or green walls and rooftop gardens to reduce building temperatures, the use of rain gardens to harness, clean and reduce run-off from storm water and the increase of community and street verge gardens are also becoming more popular in cities and have all been driven by horticulturalist's passionate about increasing the plant/life balance.

There definitely is a science behind why and how plants grow the way the do and in a lot of cases why they don't always behave the way you want them to. I have many friends that ask me for advise and it's quite satisfying for me to help them out. There is never a shortage of photo's being sent to my phone asking "what's this?" or "whats wrong with this?" I hope that my answers are always helpful and I can pass something on that will inspire my friends to keep trying to green their thumbs.

There is something special about nurturing nature, seeing plants and gardens grow and develop. The natural world can be so beautiful and interesting if you give it a closer look. Horticulture can be very rewarding and there are many more opportunities today than ever with new horticultural pathways opening as our cities grow.

50 (or so) Shades of Grey

Before you start thinking this is some badly written story about things best left behind bedroom doors, think again!

In reality it is a not too badly written piece about my fondness for grey leaf plants and some of my favorites you should try growing in your garden.

I have always had an attraction to silver leafed plants, it's that striking grey that stands out among all other green life in the landscape. It's that year round colour that gives them the edge. They really have a knack for drawing the attention of passers by.

One of the main strengths of the grey or silver leafed plants is their toughness. Having evolved in some of the toughest environments around the world, most examples are low maintenance, water wise and in some cases, salt tolerant.

Widely used by both the home gardener and landscape designer not only for their durability but as an amazing colour contrast in the landscape, complementing other forms, textures and flowers. Like a good piece of jewellery bringing an outfit together, grey leafed plants can tie a garden together very nicely.

Many grey leafed plants get the colour from fine hairs on their leaves. These hairs aren't just an awkward fashion accessory, being hirsute (or tomentose as us Horticulturalists would say) allows the plant to capture moisture from the air, reflects the sun's heat and reduces wind speed over the leaf surface which alleviates moisture loss from the leaf.

So without further ado, here is a list of some of my favorite silver coloured plants:

Eremophila nivea - a real beauty and an Australian to boot! It's hairy stems and leaves give it a soft silvery appearance. It has very showy mauve flowers from late Winter to early Summer. In the wild (native to Western Australia) it is at a very high risk of extinction (an even better reason to give it a try). It is suitable to more drier, less humid inland areas. If you are wanting to try this amazing plant in your garden, do yourself a favour and find a grafted form which is a much better performer.

Helichrysum petiolare - hard to top the Eremophila but the Licorice Plant comes pretty close. Not baring a striking floral display, this plant relies on it's mass grey appeal to catch the eye. The mounding habit makes it an ideal choice as sprawling ground cover, for under planting or allowed to spill over retaining walls. Responds well to pruning and does best in open areas where it can spread.

Convolvulous cneorum - the aptly names Silver Bush really lives up to it's name. A sprawling/mounding shrub that produces abundant white flowers through Spring & Summer. Prune moderately after flowering to maintain bushiness. Works well in under planting or as a border in a variety of soil types.

Rhagodia spinescens - The Creeping Salt Bush is a hardy and quick growing Australian Native. As the name suggests it is salt tolerant and has a wide natural distribution across mainland Australia. Rhagodia responds well to pruning and can be maintained in more formal hedging but also works well as a sprawling filler in garden beds.

Kalanchoe tomentosa - The Panda Plant or Pussy's Ears (cute names for a cute plant) gets it's common names from the soft, flurry leaves it produces. This succulent is very easy to care for. A great addition to any succulent or water wise garden, giving great colour and texture. It can get a bit leggy with age so don't be afraid to prune back before this happens but keep the cuttings, as it is very easy to propagate and free plants are always good.

Leucophyta brownii - Yet another native (ok I am a little biased), the Cushion Bush has a tangled branching arrangement, forming a rounded shrub to 1 metre. Their form is one of the most interesting features. The modified stems and leaves allow it to survive in it's natural coastal habitat along exposed areas on cliffs and dunes. It prefers a similar position in the garden where drainage is good and humidity low. There is a dwarf form also available called 'Silver Nugget' which gets to 50cm tall.

Actinotus helianthi - The Flannel Flower gets it's name from the soft, woolly feel of the leaves. This is one grey leafed plant that does produce a striking floral display. A mass of star shaped white/cream flowers appear in Spring. This iconic Sydney species is best seen in it's natural habitat on sandstone and is especially prevalent after bush fires. To see some good examples of Actinotus in the landscape, it's well worth visiting Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens and Mount Annan Botanic Gardens. If you are considering growing this beauty, good drainage is the key. For a native the Actinotus can be a heavy feeder, so don't be afraid to sprinkle some native plant food around. Tip prune after flowering to encourage bushiness.

Stachys byzantina - Commonly know as Lamb's Ear's and once you see and feel the leaves of this plant you'll know how it got it's common name. On mass, Stachys looks amazing and is used well as a border or under planting in cottage and perennial gardens. This easy to grow plant is great for children's gardens due to it's sensory appeal. Flowers are borne on spikes rising from the main plant and can be purple or white. Trim flowers as they finish. Plants can die down somewhat in winter depending on temperatures but will respond well when favorable weather returns.

Senecio serpens - Blue Chalk Sticks (another self explanatory common name) are another tough succulent, ok they aren't totally silver/grey but blue/grey still counts. Looks great on mass and when allowed time to fill in spaces in any water wise garden. This Asteracea family member (The Daisy Family) produces white flowers in Summer but are generally insignificant and can be removed when finished. Light, regular pruning will keep the plant looking full and reduced plants from getting leggy, bare stems. Sometimes confused with Senecio mandralasicae, S. serpens tends to be a more upright and compact form, compared to the trailing and more vigorous S. mandralasicae - either plant is worth having in your garden and can be propagated easy from cuttings.


So there you go, some food (or plants) for thought - of course there are many more grey plant options, but as I said at the start, these are my favorites. What silver leafed plants turn your head?

I urge you adventure into the "grey", it will add pizzazz and draw attention to your garden.