Veltheimia Bracteata is a strange beautiful flowering plant native of Hyacinthaceae family. Commonly known as Forest Lily, it’s bulbous perennial with basal rosettes of thick and waxy, strap-like, glossy, dark green leaves, from which upright flowering stems grow in spring, to be topped by a dense cluster of tubular, pink-purple flowers with yellow spots. But the colour of Forest Lily is variable and could be pale pink Veltheimia, dusty pink Veltheimia, orange pink Sand Onion. The Forest Lily blooms during late winter to spring and each flower-head last about o month. Veltheimia Bracteata is an unusual house or conservatory plant where winter protection is needed. Read the rest of this entry »
Limnanthes Douglasii is one of the flowering plants commonly known as poached egg plant or fried egg plant and Douglas’ meadowfoam, native to California and Oregon. It is a popular ornamental plant. The poached egg plant is an upright to spreading annual which produces a profusion of white-edged, yellow flowers from summer to autumn. But the flower color can vary across subspecies. The deeply toothed, glossy, bright yellow-green leaves are carried on slender stems. Douglas’ meadowfoam is perfect for brightening up a rock garden or path edging and very attractive to hoverflies which help control aphids. The fried egg plant is well loved by bees. Read the rest of this entry »
Abutilon is a genus of almost 150 species of broadleaf evergreens, including annuals, perennials, shrubs and small trees from 1-10m tall. Abutilon is also known as Chinese Bell Flower, Chinese Lantern, Mallow, Indian Mallow, Flowering Maple.
Abutilon ‘Kentish Belle’ is a semi-evergreen shrub bearing dark purple-brown shoots and slender, arching branches. This Abutilon is also called Chinese Lantern, because of its flowers strange shape. The large, bell-shaped flowers, which hang from the branches during summer and autumn, are apricot-yellow and red. The leaves of Abutilon ‘Kentish Belle’ are shallowly lobed and dark green. In cold areas, you have to provide it shelter, warmth and support, by training against a warm wall.
How to grow Abutilon ‘Kentish Belle’
It grows in well-drained, fertile soil, in sun. Prune Abutilon ‘Kentish Belle’ annually in late winter to preserve a well-spaced, healthy framework. Read the rest of this entry »
Most people are very surprised to admire Crocus in bloom from September to December, but it is true. There are Autumn-flowering Crocuses, invaluable for their late-flowering, goblet-shaped flowers with showy insides. They are dwarf perennials with underground corms which give rise to the foliage and autumn flowers. The leaves are narrow and mid-green with silver-green central stripes, appearing at the same time or just after the flowers. All types of fall-blooming Crocus are easy to grow in the right conditions, and look excellent when planted in groups in a rock garden. Rapid-spreading crocus, like Crocus ochroleucus, are useful for naturalizing in grass or under deciduous shrubs. Crocus banaticus is effective planted in drifts at the front of a border, but do not allow it to become swamped by larger plants. Read the rest of this entry »
Speaking about bulbs planting, we reminded you of Crocus, a special innocent flower, with a variety of color, from white, to purple flowers. Very special is yellow Crocus, most used in bouquets and flower arrangements. You can read the references of Crocus as a cut flower, if you want to gladden your house with Crocus cut flowers.
Mention of Crocus flowering period, there are spring-flowering Crocus and autumn–flowering Crocus. Read the rest of this entry »
Convolvulus is a genus of approx. 250 species of beautiful flowering plants, common named bindweeds and morning glories. Morning Glories are annual or perennial herbaceous vines and (just a few species) woody shrubs.
We want to present you some of most common Convolvulus species.
Convolvulus Cneorum, also called Bush Morning Glory, is a compact, rounded, evergreen mounding shrub. Bush Morning Glory bears masses of funnel-shaped, shining white flowers with yellow centers, which open from late spring to summer. Its scented beautiful flowers will rejoice your home garden as much as narrowly lance-shaped leaves, silvery-green colored. Convolvulus Cneorum is excellent as a largish plant in a rock garden, or on a sunny bank. As problems of water supply become more acute, consider Convolvulus Cneorum because of its low water needs. Also in area with cold, wet winters, grow in a container and move into a cool greenhouse in winter. Read the rest of this entry »
Enjoy your red rock garden from spring till late summer. Most of the plants below are easily grown and require no special treatment, which makes the plants for a rock garden more attractive: rock gardening can be an addictive hobby. We recommend you to mix these three shrubs for a perfect rock garden: Berberis Thunbergii ‘Bagatelle’, Helianthemum ‘Henfield Brilliant’ and Leptospermum Scoparium ‘Kiwi’.
Berberis Thunbergii ‘Bagatelle’, also called Japanese Barberry ‘Bagatelle’, is a small, very compact, spiny, spring flowering, deciduous shrub with deep red-purple leaves which turn orange and red in autumn. The pale yellow flowers are followed be glossy red fruits. Good, as we specified before, for a rock garden, but may not survive in areas with cold winters. Berberis thunbergii ‘Atotpurpurea Nana’ or ‘Crimson Pygmy’ is other small purple-leaved berberis, to 60 cm (24 in) tall. Read the rest of this entry »
Shorter alliums are summer flowering, bulbous perennials for the front of a border or rock garden.
They form clumps as they establish; some such as Allium moly, will self seed. Speaking of, Allium moly, also known as Golden Garlic and Lily Leek is is a golden wonder, used as a medicinal and ornamental plant. Besides its amazing yellow blooms, Allium moly has grey-green foliage also quite attractive which remains for a fairly long period. The flowers are borne in clustered heads which may be large or small; those of Allium karataviense can be 8 cm (3 in) across despite its small stature. Flowers colours range from bright gold to purple, blue and pale pink. The seedheads are attractive too, lasting well into winter. The strap-shaped leaves are often withered by flowering time. Those of ornamental chives, such as Allium schoenopraesum “Pink Perfection” and the very similar “Black Isle Blush”, are edible. Read the rest of this entry »
Tall onions grown for garden display are bulbous perennials from the Allium genus; their attractive flowerheads look excellent in a mix border, especially grouped together. The tiny summer flowers are usually massed into dense, rounded or hemispherical heads – like those of Allium giganteum – on they may hand loosely, like the yellow flowers of Allium flavum. When crushed, the strap-shaped leaves release a pungent aroma; they are often withered by flowering time. The seedheads tend to dry out intact, standing well into autumn and continuing to look attractive. Some allium self-seed and will naturalize.
The gardeners who want to obtain amazing home gardens mix ornamental onion, like Allium bollandicum “Purple Sensation” or Allium cernauum “Hidcote” with pink or purple-flowering perennials such as iris, lavender, salvia, peony, hardy geranium and ornamental grasses such as blue oat grass, blue fescue and fountain grass.
How to grow ornamental onions
The ornamental onions grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to simulate their dry native habitats. Plant bulb 5-10 cm (2-4 in) deep in autumn; divide and replant older clumps at the same time or in spring. In climates with cold winters, provide a thick winter mulch for Allium cristophii and Allium caeruleum.
