Archive for December, 2008

Kennedia prostrata (Running Postman)

2 Comments »30th December, 2008; Category: Climbers and Ground Covers, Drought Tolerant Plants

Kennedia prostrata

Kennedia prostrata is a dryland creeping plant which, given good conditions will become a dense, flat ground covering plant. In particularly dry areas it is a little sparse, but given more than 350 mm rainfall, the plant will cover an area quite well, up to 3 metres across. Ants will carry the seed around and sometimes more plants will pop up around the garden. As can be seen from the photos, well grown plants are attractive in flower.

This species grows in acid to alkaline conditions, is moderately frost tolerant, and can be trimmed if necessary. It flowers from winter through to early summer, depending on the area. More information can be found here and here.

Kennedia prostrata

Prostanthera aspalathoides (Mint Bush)

No Comments »28th December, 2008; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants

Prostanthera aspalathoides (Mint Bush)

Prostanthera aspalathoides, (Mint Bush)Â is another mallee heath plant found in western Victoria and in the mallee in dry areas of South Australia. It is a pretty shrub in flower and red and yellow forms are found in some areas.

This photo was taken in Little Desert National Park. It grows in the mallee sands and there- fore needs good drainage. The occasional trim after flowering is useful for keeping the bush compact. Nectar feeding birds, like Honeyeaters, love the nectar filled flowers.

This is a species that grows in acid to highly alkaline soil, and is drought and frost hardy. It is suitable for second line coastal planting, and grows to .7m high.

Prostanthera aspalathoides, yellow form (Mint Bush)

Dampiera rosmarinifolia

1 Comment »26th December, 2008; Category: Conservation Parks, Drought Tolerant Plants

Dampiera rosmarinifolia

My son has been scanning our slides, and has burned them to a DVD for me for Christmas. I am going to feature some of the photos on the blog. Many of these were taken as my interest in Australian native plants increased and our holidays took us camping in National Parks.

Dampiera are suckering plants which form clumps, increasing from an underground root stock from which new growth arises. When this happens is a good time to prune out old growth and tidy the clump. This photo was taken in Little Desert National Park in Western Victoria and I suspect it is a subspecies of Dampiera rosmarinifolia. I will check that when I get access to my reference books again.

This is a hardy plant and has grown very well in our 350 mm of rain which we usually get in the winter. It flowers in the spring with these dark purple flowers. We have a pink and a mauve version of this also. It needs well drained soil which can be achieved by mounding the soil. Even as little as 10 cm will improve drainage.