Other Flowers and Plants

Meet Lagurus Ovatus more commonly called ‘Bunny Tail Grass’, known as such because it resembles the fluffy tuft of a rabbits tail.

This is an annual grass easily grown from seed, which reaches a height of generally between 30cm – 50cm. Great in the ground or mass planted in large pots receiving full sun to part shade.

Seeds can be planted directly after the last frost, or started early indoors or in a greenhouse. Flowers are produced after approximately 12-14 weeks.

The soft, tufted flowers are produced during spring & summer. They are long lasting so great for cut flower displays. They are also very easily dried and coloured.

To colour, simply add the desired amount of food colouring to a vase of water. Turn stems upside down so that the ‘bunny-tails’ are immersed in the water. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes then drain and allow the flowers to fully dry. This is so easy and fun….experiment with a range of colours!

Celosia is definitely a flower for show. Colourful full blooms are perfect in a cut floral arrangements. The waxy heads can be easily dried.

These annuals are simple to grow from seed or cuttings in mid to late spring once the soil is warm. They like full sun and heat. Frost is definitely an enemy of these beauties.

There are a number of different varieties from the popular plumed, through to crested, wheat, combed and corals. Colours range from pinks and reds through to deep yellow and orange.

Celosia are low-maintenance and can withstand the harsh heat of Australia summer.

Hebes are a hardy, low-maintenance evergreen shrub perfect for the harsh Australian environment. Most are frost tolerant and are able to withstand the heat of summer with routine watering.

There are a wide range of varieties available, offering different sizes, shapes and colours……from 30cm dense ball shaped domes to 1.5mtr thick attractive hedges perfect for shaping. Foliage is just as varied, solid greens in a a range of shades, to variegated leaves with tinges of yellows or deep burgundy tips.

Flowers are produced from autumn to spring, available in white, pale through to deep bright pinks, purples, crimson and blue.

Scabiosa, also known as the ‘Pincushion Flower’. This is a wonderful flower to plant alongside your vegetable garden as they are attractive to bees, butterflies and insects. They are also make great cut flowers with long straight stems.

In Australia Scabiosa is usually grown from seed as an annual in spring. Seeds can be started indoors earlier and seedlings transplanted after the chance of frost has passed. They prefer full sun and will flower from early summer into autumn.

Bloom colours range from pink to deep dark red, lavender, white and yellow.

Zinnia are part of the daisy family, and are very easy to grow from seed from early to mid spring after all risks of frost have passed.

They are a hardy, drought-tolerant annual that thrive in the warmth of our Australian summers. Full sun is preferred, but in some very hot areas, the harshest of summer sun may lead to some sun bleaching of blooms. This is easily prevented by adding some shade cloth protection from the afternoon sun.

Available in a range of varieties and bold, rich colours, Zinnia also make a great cut flower. Dwarf 15cm high varieties are perfect for border planting or pots, with other varieties reaching up to approximately 1metre tall with long straight stems.

Zinnia produce single through to full-double blooms, in a multitude of flower head sizes, so they pair beautifully in a vase alongside your favourite Dahlias. Blooms are produced throughout summer into autumn when the first frosts arrive.

Zinna is a wonderful addition alongside vegetable beds as the bright open blooms are perfect for attracting pollinators and beneficial insects.

There are so many varieties of Marigold available, but they fall into three main types:

• French Marigolds: Don’t let the name fool you! Originating from Mexico, these dwarf varieties with their bold foliage are used as bedding plants and are also perfect in patio pots. One of our favourites is ‘Fiesta‘ with it’s frilled, double blooms and intense colouring.
• African Marigolds: Also originating from Mexico, these Marigolds form a large dense bush producing palm-sized double blooms, usually in single shades ranging from yellow to deep orange. A common favorite of African Marigold is ‘Crackerjack‘. African Marigolds are commonly used for culinary purposes.
• Signet Marigolds: A dwarf bush reaching approximately 30cm tall, this variety produces masses of small bright yellow and orange blooms. Often called the ‘lemon marigold’ not because of the yellow blooms, but due to the wonderful lemon fragrance produced throughout summer right through to the first frosts of autumn..