Olearia macrodonta

Olearia macrodonta
“New Zealand Holly”
ASTERACEAE

Evergreen Shrub

Zone: 7/8 – 11
Native habitat: New Zealand

Conditions
Soil: Any
Moisture: well drained, drought tolerant once established, doesn’t like soggy conditions
Light: full sun (best) to part shade
Exposure: seaside; likes hot and dry
Plant size (h x w):6′ – 8’ x 5′ – 6’
Other:

Aesthetic

Shape/stem: Upright, Ridged pale grey-brown stems, peeling bark with age
Leaf: Tough, serrated grey-green with silver-white felty undersides, alternate,  ovate, to 9cm
Flower: large, clusters, fragrant (fantastic scent), white daisy-like
Bloom: Summer
Other: tough and fast growing Treatment (how to…)
Plant: general
Maintain:  low maintenance; Clip off leaves when blacken or wait for them to fall off; can be pruned hard, but usually don’t require any pruning at all
Propagate:  cutting

Uses
Landscape: can fill in a spot quickly, architectural  low maintenance, hedge, screen, containers. wall-side, coastal,
Companion planting: 
Medicinal:
Other: Attract beneficials (birds & butterflies)

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals:

Interest
Local info,: not native
Pot size (to purchase):  Can be hard to find
Nature: vigorous medium-sized evergreen shrub
Identification (key features): see features described above and photo bellow

Cultivars: O. m. ‘Minor’ 3’ x 3’
Comments: AGM winner

Polystichum neolobatum

Polystichum neolobatum
“Long-eared holly fern” “Asian sober fern”
POLYPODIACEAE

Evergreen Perennial Fern

Zone: 5 – 8
Native habitat (range): Asia

Conditions
Soil: rich; tolerate clay
Moisture: well-drained, moist, even moisture
Light: part sun to full shade, morning sun is best
Exposure: general
Plant size (h x w): 24′ – 30′ x 24′ – 30′
Other:  takes dry shade

Aesthetic
Shape/stem: clumping, stiffly upright to vase shape, arching stems, tidy
Leaf: fronds dark green, divided, glossy, leathery
Flower: no flower (reproduce by spores)
Bloom:
Other: fronds yellow in too much sun

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: give adequate water for first few years and plant in the proper place
Maintain: Don’t cut all the leaves at the same time, groom off dead leaves as they appear, carefully. Top dress with well compost (do not fertilize).
Propagate: spores, division

Uses
Landscape: front yard, front of a garden bed, woodland, shade garden, mass planting, slope, mixed boarder, edging, woodland margin, townhouse garden, winter interest
Companion planting:  nice with soft-textured ferns, and plants with paler green foliage; nice on its own or en mass
Medicinal: not known
Other:

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals: rabbit resistant

Interest
Local info,: not native but adapts well to our conditions
Pot size (to purchase): 4″ -1g
Nature: evergreen fern with tidy form all year round
Identification (key features): upright form lasting through all seasons with shiny double pinnate fronds

Interesting facts: great plant pick
Cultivation:
Comments: fronds are so stiff that they do not collapse in our occasional snows

 

Erigeron karvinskianus ‘Profusion

Erigeron karvinskianus ‘Profusion’
Syn. E.mucronatus
“Mexican fleabane Daisy”
ASTERACEAE

Deciduous Perennial

Zone: 6-9
Native habitat: Mexico to Panama

Conditions
Soil: average to poor soil
Moisture: well drained, medium to dry moisture
Light: full sun (best) to part shade
Exposure: general
Plant size (h x w):6″ – 12” x 24″- 36”
Other:

Aesthetic
Shape/stem: low, spreading; mat-forming, stems green, narrow, woody at base
Leaf: Lanceolate, green, narrow, hairy
Flower: Open white, fade to pink, then lavender (= all colours continually present), daisy like, little, 15mm,
Bloom:Early spring until frost. Long flowering.
Other: fast growing

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: easy to grow by seed; grow in fertile, well-drained soil, don;t let it dry out in summer
Maintain:  Easy to pull out (to get rid of if you so desire). Can shear down in late fall/winter if looking ratty or in early spring; can deadhead to encourage more flowering
Propagate:  seed (self-seeding)
Uses
Landscape: mass planting, ground cover, filler, beneficials, rock gardens, edges, wildlife gardens, holes or spaces in a bed, rock wall, coastal,
Companion planting: nice under roses, could pairs well with light coloured grasses, and tulips 
Medicinal:
Other: Attract beneficials (birds & butterflies)

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals:

Interest
Local info,: not native
Pot size (to purchase):  4″
Nature: matting pretty deciduous perennial
Identification (key features): daisy-like blooms in pink and white; mat-like form lanceolate, green, narrow and hairy
Cultivars:
Comments: self-seeding annual in colder climates; now found naturalised, particularly on walls in the South West of England

Libertia peregrinans

Libertia peregrines
“Wandering Chilean Iris”
IRIDACEAE

Evergreen Perennial

Zone: 8 – 10
Native habitat (range): New Zealand

Conditions
Soil: fertile is best, to average
Moisture: well drained is essential, average
Light: full sun (best for good color) to part shade
Exposure: seaside
Plant size (h x w): 12″-18″ x 12″
Other: tough

Aesthetic
Shape/stem: clumping to form a dense patch
Leaf: grass-like, evergreen leaves, fans of coppery, leathery, stiff, narrow leaves, olive green in spring, bronze with orange mid-rib by winter
Flower:panicles of saucer-shaped white flowers among the leaves
Bloom: late spring early summer

Other: spreads by stolons and tend to wander but not invasive; seeds are attractive

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: general, plant and walk away, easy to grow, if planting off-shoot peg them down while establishing
Maintain: low maintenance, cannot cut them down like phormiums when spend (brown) groom out dead don’t cut; mulch for winter; spread by runners, easily pulled out if in undesired area; let flowers stay (don’t deadhead) as seed pods have aseptic interest, let it wander where you want
Propagate: division, seed

Uses
Landscape: front boarder, front of house, mixed boarder, edging, container, cottage,, informal, seaside, mass planting
Companion planting: nice echo to other colours, nice with bright colours
Medicinal: none known
Other: 

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals:

Interest
Local info,: not native, occasionally water for our dry summers
Pot size (to purchase):  1 gallon
Nature: gerneally regarded as a foliage plant spring amoung sprawling linear basal foliage
Identification (key features): new foliage olive green turning vivid orange shades, foliage out of base in fans of sword-like leaves; flowers dainty 3-petalled white in late spring nest down in the foliage
Interesting facts:
Cultivation:
Comments: if looking for a more uniform look try Oxides ‘Tuampo sunset’

Dryopteris erythrosora

Dryopteris erythrosora
“Autumn Fern”
 Dryopteridaceae

Evergreen Perennial Fern
(deciduous in colder climates)

Zone: 5 – 9
Native habitat (range): E. Asia

Conditions
Soil: humus-rich, moderately fertile, slightly acidic
Moisture: must have even moisture
Light: part shade to full shade (best for colour), can take a bit of sun but will pale out
Exposure: general
Plant size (h x w): 1.5′ – 2.5′ x 1.5′ – 2.5′
Other:

Aesthetic
Shape/stem: upright form, clumping, triangular, loose form
Leaf: fern-like, basal, compound, pinnate, lance-shape to ovate, arching fronds, stunning coppery pink-red fronds in spring/summer, turning limey to deep green
Flower: no flower
Bloom:
Other: spreads slowly by underground rhizomes

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: give adequate water for first few years easy-to-grow
Maintain: low maintenance, do not take out all old fronds at once but only remove the oldest ones as showing their age
Propagate: spores, division

Uses
Landscape: woodland, shade garden, mass planting, slope, mixed boarder, front of bed, edging, container, woodland margin, townhouse garden, cottage
Companion planting:  hakonechlora, hostas or rhododendrons to create contrast and drama, companion plants with gold leaves and blue foliage look great against the deep green fronds of other ferns
Medicinal: not known
Other: grown for colour of new fronds

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals: rabbit resistant

Interest
Local info,: not native but adapts well to our conditions, evergreen in Victoria
Pot size (to purchase): 4″ -1g
Nature: evergreen fern with excellent coppery pink foliage  on new fronds Identification (key features): best id is bronzy-red new growth. upright young fronds

Interesting facts:
Cultivation:
Comments: autumn fern, is somewhat misleading, as it refers to the russet tones of the new fronds, which appear more in spring than in autumn; can’t go wrong, very tolerant

Asplenium scolopendrium

Asplenium scolopendrium
“Hart’s tongue fern”
ASPLENIACEAE

Evergreen Perennial Fern

Zone: 5 – 9
Native habitat (range): Temp. N. Hemis.

Conditions
Soil: lots of humus, will tolerate high clay content
Moisture: well-drained is essential, needs even moisture
Light: part shade to full shade
Exposure: general
Plant size (h x w): 12″ – 24″ x 12″ – 24″
Other: needs optimum conditions

Aesthetic
Shape/stem: clumping, shorter, contained, rosette, arching
Leaf: fern-like, basal, simple, rich green, strap-shaped fronds, 30-75cm, margins often undulate, undivided fronds
Flower: no flower, spores borne in conspicuous transverse stripes beneath the fronds
Bloom:

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: give adequate water for first few years
Maintain: low maintenance, can wait till ned leaves come out then cut out older dying ones
Propagate: division (spring), spores

Uses
Landscape: wet area of a grade, front yard, fern grotto, woodland, shade garden, mass planting, shade mixed boarder, river bank coverage,
Companion planting: nice under  shrubs and trees light higher branching structure; combo ideas cyclamen, erythronium, trilium
Medicinal: not known

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals: rabbit resistant

Interest
Local info,: not native,
Pot size (to purchase):
Nature:  evergreen fern with good textural interest
Identification (key features): id by line of spores on back of undivided undulate frond as shown in photo;

Interesting facts: AGM winner
Cultivation:
Comments:

 

Blechnum pennamarina subs. alpina

Blechnum pennamarina subsp. alpina
“Alpine Water Fern”
BLECHNACEAE

Evergreen Perennial Fern

Zone: 4 – 7
Native habitat (range): S Hemisphere

Conditions
Soil: richly organic, slightly acidic
Moisture: consistently moist
Light: part shade to full shade
Exposure: general
Plant size (h x w): up to 6″ x 6″ – 12″
Other: survive but will not thrive in drier conditions; don’t like mulch

Aesthetic
Shape/stem: clumping/mat forming
Leaf: fern-like, basal, simple, pinnate, green
Flower: no flower
Bloom:
Other: rhizomatic (spreading);
>similar to this photo>

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: give adequate water for first few years; rhizomes should be just under the surface so plant high
Maintain: low maintenance, Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary, be sure it gets good water in a hot dry summer here
Propagate: division (spring), spores 

Uses
Landscape: fern grotto, woodland, shade garden, container, mass planting, slope, mixed boarder, front of bed, edging, ground cover, bank coverage, rock crevice
Companion planting: nice under rhododendrons or other shrubs and trees light higher branching structure; combo ideas cyclamen, erythronium, trilium
Medicinal: not known
Other:

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals: generally rabbit resistant

Interest
Local info,: not native, grows well here
Pot size (to purchase): 4″
Nature: spreading ground cover evergreen fern
Identification (key features): height is key, simple pinnate fern-like leaves spread out in a mat of green, likes shade, moisture and rich soil

Interesting facts:
Cultivation:
Comments:

 

Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’

 Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’
Was Sedum spectacle ‘Autumn Joy’
“Stonecrop” “Sedum Autumn Joy”
CRASSULACEAE

Herbaceous Perennial

Zone: 3 – 9
Native habitat : Asia

Conditions
Soil: any
Moisture: well-drained, moderate to dry, drought tolerant once established
Light: full sun to part shade
Exposure: general
Plant size (h x w): 1.5′ – 2′ x 1.5′ – 2′
Other: give it too much water and too rich conditions it will go floppy

Aesthetic
Shape/stem:  clump forming, tidy, upright (to leaning as ages)
Leaf:succulent pale blue-green ovate leaves to 4 inches
Flower: dense terminal clusters, star-shaped flowers, change from pink to rich rose to copper with the fall season
Bloom: end of August to fall
Other: pops up in early spring

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: general
Maintain:  zero maintenance; cut down old stems in fall, especially if has been given too much moisture (some stems will look nice over winter, if so cut them down the following spring but be cautious about cutting new growth); chealsey chop with produce multiple flower heads
Propagate:  division (easy to do in fall)

 
 Uses
Landscape: edging a boarder,  filler, container, cottage, cut flower, mixed boarder, classic boarder, mass planting, nice in a river along the edge of beds, fall garden, Mediterranean garden, rock garden
Companion planting: pairs well with grasses, spring blooming perennials; nice at the front of a bed with shrubs behind
Medicinal: none known
Other:bees and butterflies like

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none significant; may see batritus if given wet conditions
Deer resistant: no
Other animals: rabbit resistant

Interest
Local info,: not native but very common
Pot size (to purchase): 1g
Nature: useful classic boarder plant; late summer to fall interest
Identification (key features): succulent leaves (green, oval, serrate), flower clusters dense terminal (look like broccoli blooms) change colour from pink to copper red in fall
Interesting facts: AGM Winner
Cultivars/Species: 
Comments:

Geranium ‘Rozanne’

Geranium ‘Rozanne’
“Geranium”
GERANIACEAE

Herbaceous Perennial

Zone: 5 – 8
Native habitat : Europe

Conditions
Soil: high-organic
Moisture: well-drained, medium moisture
Light: full sun to part shade
Exposure: general
Plant size (h x w): 1′ – 2.5′ x 1′ – 2.5′
Other:

Aesthetic
Shape/stem: clump forming, vigorous, spreading,
Leaf: neat, dense, lobed, slightly marbled, deep green
Flower: bowl-shaped, bright violet-blue, 5cm, white centre,
plenty and long lasting  Bloom: late spring to fall (first frost)

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: general; water while establishing, will spread rather quickly if given the space so keep this in mind
Maintain:  no maintenance; cut down old growth when looks bad late fall
Propagate: basal cutting, division (spring),  does not go to seed

 Uses
Landscape: container, front bed, mixed boarder, down a driveway, ground-cover, underplanting, cottage, informal, townhouse, fall interest, wildflower, filler for holes in beds
Companion planting: nice with peonies, nice under roses or shrubs, nice interplanted with very early spring blooming perennials; colours of silver, white and pastel pink pair well
Medicinal: none known

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: none
Deer resistant: yes
Other animals: rabbit resistant

Interest
Local info,: not native
Pot size (to purchase):
Nature: plant of the centenary
Identification (key features): neat, dense, spreading mound with lobed, slightly marbled, deep green foliage and bowl-shaped, bright violet-blue with white centre flowers that last from spring to frost
Interesting facts: Named plant of the centenary by the RHS: Thousands of people voted for the Plant of the Centenary from a shortlist of 10 – one for each decade the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been held
Cultivars/Species: 
Comments:

Dahlia spp. & cvs.

Dahlia spp. & cvs.
ASTERACEAE

Herbaceous Tuberous Perennial

Zone: 8
Native habitat : Mexico (primarily)  but have been widely cultivates all over

Conditions 
Soil: fertile, humus rich
Moisture: well drained is essential, average
Light: full sun
Exposure: winter protection
Plant size (h x w): 12″-5’x 12″-3′
12″-24″ (bedding plants) or 3′-4′ (decorative)’ can be up to 7′
Other:

Aesthetic
Shape/stem:some have herbaceous stems, others have stems which lignify in the absence of secondary tissue to esprout following winter dormancy
Leaf:pinnately divided, usually serrate, green to black in colour, 
Flower: wide range of colours, sizes and styles; flower head is a composite (both central disc floret and surrounding ray florets); single to double blooms; flower heads can be flat to rounded
Bloom:  mid-summer to fall
Other:

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: general; be sure to water; stake at time of plant; ideal to lift yearly; be sure to plant in a well-draining site; plant in May to early June
Maintain:  high maintenance; lift for the fall or protect with mulch so they survive the winter; usually need string, place stake in the ground at planting time as to not spear tubers; deadhead to keep flowering sign; see handout given for all the proper pruning techniques as well as proper care through seasons

Propagate: basal shoot cutting, seed (indoor start), division of tubers (when shoots are 1″ tall separate into portions, ensure each section has both roots and shoots)

Uses
Landscape: bedding plant, cottage garden, cut flower, mixed boarder, boarder
Companion planting: pair based not the colour of flower and size; looks gorgeous with most anything 
Medicinal: none known; tubers were eaten in the past
Other:

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease: prone to earwigs and mildew
Deer resistant: no
Other animals: 

Interest
Local info,: not native
Pot size (to purchase):
Nature: gorgeous flower; bedding plant
Identification (key features): best id by flowers (refer to diverse photos shown in post)
.Interesting facts: great variety results from dahlias being octopoid (eight sets of homologous chromosomes; most plants have two); they are the national flower of Mexico; grown as a food crop by the Aztecs
Cultivars: 
Dahlia merckii: -tough species (Botanical Group) – multi-branched, mid-green leaves of toothed leaflets, profuse broad-rayed lilac-pink flowers with yellow disc florets, 5′
D. ‘Twyning’s After Eight’ – AGM winner – long-flowering stylish (Single-flowered Group), ivory-white single flowers, strong stems,  almost black foliage, 3-4ft’
D. ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ – AGM winner – peony-flowered (Miscellaneous Group), almost black foliage, semi-double deep-red blooms, 3.25′
Comments: hybrid dahlias have been organized into ten (10) different classifications or groups (single, anemone, collarette, waterlily, decorative, fall, pompon, cactus, semi-cactus and miscellaneous)