The Golden Rule
The Age
Saturday April 22, 2006
Plant natives in autumn and you will be rewarded in spring, writes Diana Snape.
Last summer we broke a garden rule and did some planting. We were staying home for most of the time so thought it would be safe as we could keep an eye on the little plants and come to their aid if needed.We went away for just three days, including New Year's Eve, when the temperature in Melbourne rose to more than 40 degrees. Most of the new plants survived but we did lose a couple and have reinstated our garden rule.For us, autumn is the ideal season for putting in Australian plants, especially early in the season when the soil is still warm, mornings are dewy and days are warm or mild.Plants can establish their roots and then settle in over winter, ready for their main flush of growth in spring. The nursery is quite full. Many of the plants were bought but many I have propagated from cuttings, including two eremophilas. Desert-lovers by name, these like well-drained soil, plenty of sunlight and good air circulation. Though tolerant of dry conditions, they appreciate adequate moisture. If drought persists, eremophilas may well be plants of our future. Fortunately there are many lovely species.Eremophila nivea has long been admired for its appealing colour scheme, shared by E. bowmanii (Bowman's Emu-bush). This is a beautiful small shrub with furry, silver-grey leaves and large, soft, deep lilac flowers. It comes from inland NSW and Queensland.We bought two grafted plants, which have done very well, and cuttings have struck readily. This will be an experimental planting because they are not grafted: how long will they last, I wonder? Even one year would be worthwhile, longer a bonus. (I am hoping for many years.)Last spring we bought several other eremophilas, non-grafted, from the Friends of the Arid Lands Botanic Garden in Port Augusta, South Australia. This unique garden has a wonderful display of eremophilas and is always worth a visit. Eremophila macdonnellii has thrived in a sunny position in a mounded, sandy bed. It too comes from inland Australia and responds well to pruning. A low, spreading little shrub, it has small blue-green leaves and long purple flowers. We are planting several of its offspring grown from cuttings, some quite close for a massed effect.Austromyrtus inophloia is a quite different plant, a shapely, medium-sized, leafy shrub from much less arid areas to the north. Its great assets are a pleasant form and attractive foliage, mid-green ovate leaves, with new growth a soft, reddish shade. The small cream flowers are nice too. We have three bought plants in large pots and will now try growing another in the ground, in dappled shade. Like its tough, smaller relative Midgen Bush (A. dulcis), it has proved an excellent garden plant, much sturdier than it looks.I am excited about a new boronia we are trying for the first time. Called Boronia Purple Jared, it is a hybrid of the well-loved Brown Boronia (B. megastigma) and attractive Red Boronia (B. heterophylla), both from Western Australia. These two are similar in the size range given, although our Brown Boronias have never reached one metre, let alone two or three! B. Purple Jared is reputed to be a hardier and more reliable plant. It still has a beautiful perfume, and the deep purple-red-brown colour of the flower is right there in this season's fashion colour range.I hope it has sufficient moisture in its sheltered, semi-shaded position.As a change from shrubs, Nodding Blue Lily (Stypandra glauca) is a rather sprawling but delightful plant. Its long, arching stems are hugged by long, narrow, blue-green leaves. Our first Nodding Blue Lily in the front garden grew and flourished; in spring it produced multiple stems with terminal clusters of starry flowers, their blue contrasting with yellow anthers. It seemed popular with little skinks, seen darting around its base. After several years it outgrew its allocated space. We cut it back but it would have regrown just as vigorously, so we reluctantly transplanted it to the roomier back garden. Now, to keep it company, we're planting another one nearby in a more open position. I think the little lizards will find it.That's enough planting for one morning. Here's hoping for some gentle autumn rain in this season of garden restoration and renewal.
© 2006 The Age