Lasiopetalum baueri (Slender Velvet Bush)
Lasiopetalum baueri (Slender Velvet Bush)
The plant in the photo (two plants in fact) were pushed out because of the development taking place. This patch was suppose to be saved.
Lasiopetalum baueri is a pretty plant when in flower and attractive anyway because of the overall rusty appearance caused by the dense hairs on the stems. It is drought tolerant and hardy to most frosts. It puts on its flower display in spring and responds well to light pruning after flowering. It would make a good hedge or low screen plant. The one I have in the garden is a rounded shrub because of the tip pruning that I do to take cuttings
More Banksias
There were a number of Banksias in flower at the arboretum including Banksia ashbyi mentioned the other day. This photo is much better.
All the plantings are on deep sand. The soil seems to hold moisture quite well despite being in a low rainfall area.
Banksia ashbyi
Banksia hookerana (Acorn Banksia)
We took a day off today to check out the birds and plants at the Arboretum. We took a picnic lunch and thermos and found a spot near the Banksias which were in flower, to have lunch. Actually there were a lot of plants in flower so hopefully I have some good photos to down load.
Banksia hookerana was one that was covered in flowers, some still to open fully. It is a medium shrub 2-3m high. It is frost and drought tolerant and would make a good low windbreak plant. I think it would be a good cut flower also.
Banksia hookerana
Disphyma crassifolium (Rounded Noon-Flower)
No Comments »27th October, 2006; Category: Climbers and Ground Covers, Drought Tolerant Plants, Frost Hardy Plants
Disphyma crassifolium (Rounded Noon-Flower)
The leaves seem to take on the reddish hew when it is in a dry position.
Rescuing More Plants
No Comments »20th October, 2006; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, Frost Hardy Plants, Kangaroo Paws And Other Tufted Plants
Poor little grass tree from the previous post. I realised that it has been mown every spring for the last five years. It hasn’t had a chance. Now that I have rediscovered it, I am determined to give it some TLC to see if it will achieve some size.
There is one minor problem. It is in the spot where I want to grow some Banksias. I am not sure that Xanthorhoea and Banksias go together. I suppose in the south east, Banksia ornata and Banksia marginata both have Grass Trees in the vicinity.
Today has been a “rescue plants day”. I have some Geraldton Wax (Chamaelaucium ‘Meringur Mist’) which I want to use as a hedge plus windbreak. I think this Geraldton Wax will manage if we have heavy frosts again. It is certainly a drought tolerant species. It originated in a garden at Meringur, south west of Mildura which is a frosty location. I have found that the frost rating given to species is only valid in times of normal rainfall. In a drought year, the frost damage can be quite severe.
There was a frost warning for here tonight. It is quite likely that my tomato and Zucchini plants may suffer.