Gardening

The world's first double-flowering Native Hibiscus is now available, reports Judith Sleijpen.

Judith Sleijpen recommends Salvia 'Heatwave Glitter' to brighten up your garden during the coming months.

There are many different types of body wraps that all have a lot of benefits, including providing a great natural therapeutic way to relax, as Clare McCabe finds out.

The Cleome is commonly known as the Spider flower, however many feel the flowers are far too beautiful to be likened to such a creature, says Judith Sleijpen

Little Blue Trumpets (Brononiella pumilio) is a colourful native groundcover that is under threat in its natural habitat in Victoria, says Judith Sleijpen.

Australia's most recognised horticulturalist, landscape designer and Peninsula Living's celebrity contributor, Jamie Durie, says that regardless of where you live or how big your outdoor space is, there are ways to bring wildlife to your backyard.

Helichrysum 'Ruby Clusters' is a charming perennial wiht silver foliage, and unusual red buds in spring from which it takes its name.

Growing 40 centimetres high and spreading up to 60 centimetres wide, 'Silvery Moon' (Convolvulus 'Silvery Moon') is a small, hardy perennial that provides year-round interest with its silver foliage.

Growing 30 centimetres high and spreading up to 80 centimetres wide, the Fan Flower (Scaevola 'Topaz Pink') is a hardy, Australian native groundcover with deep pink flowers that cover the plant throughout the warmer months.

Originally from China, Daphne is an evergreen shrub, reaching about one metre high and wide. Recently plant breeders have developed a new variety of Daphne (Daphne x transatlantica "Eternal Frangrance') that grows about 60 centimetres in height and spreads up to 90 centimetres.

Daisy Fields Gold (Bracteantha bracteata) is an Australian native displaying brillant, golden yellow flowers from spring through autumn.

Agastache ‘Dryspell Orange’ is a hardy perennial growing about 60 centimetres high and 60 centimetres wide with mid-green leaves that have a minty fragrance when crushed or bruised.

The Pineapple Lily (Eucomis comosa ‘Sparkling Burgundy’) is a bulb with unusual and striking burgundy coloured leaves. Sword-like in shape and rich in colour, this plant provides dramatic visual impact.

Sutera 'Dark Pink' is a very rewarding, low maintenance groundcover growing about 10 to 15 centimetres high and spreading up to one metre, forming a mat of green foliage.

African cape daisies (Osteospermum ecklonis) have proven to be very hardy garden performers, surviving even when neglected, although sometimes they can become rather untidy, says Judith Sleijpen.

Tiny Tim (Euphorbia x martinii ‘Tiny Tim’) is an evergreen perennial with a compact, mounded form, growing about 50cm high and wide. The new foliage is a captivating red hue that gives way to a fresh and vibrant display of lime- green flower spikes appearing in early spring.

Originally from tropical South America, Lasiandras (Tibouchina) are evergreen shrubs or small trees, ranging in height from one to 12 metres.

The Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa columbaria) belongs to a plant family comprising annuals, biennials and perennials. It takes its common name from honey-scented blooms of multiple florets with protruding filaments that produce a pincushion effect and range in colour from white, yellow, red, blue and mauve to deep purple.

The bellflower (Campanula ‘Resholdt’s Variety’) belongs to a plant family of nearly 250 species, consisting mostly of perennial herbs, with a few annuals or biennials. They are widely dispersed over the northern hemisphere, with many originating from the Mediterranean regions.

It’s easy to understand how the Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) got its name. In early summer, this hardy, clump-forming perennial with mid-green leaves produces beautiful, loose clusters of white flowers at the top of 30cm tall erect stems.

Million Bells (Calibrachoa ‘Million Bells’) is the common name given to a range of quick-growing, tidy, upright, dome-shaped, evergreen perennials growing about 30cm high and spreading up to 50cm.

Nature provides its balance in a complex network of mutual dependence, with each species providing benefits to other flora and fauna.

Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium ‘Devon Skies’) is an evergreen perennial that grows about 25cm high and 40cm wide, forming an attractive, tufted mound of grass-like foliage. From the beginning of spring and continuing throughout summer, it displays clusters of dainty, yellow-eyed, soft, sky-blue flowers.

Developed as a result of an extensive breeding program in Europe and Japan, Diamond Frost (Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’) is a hybrid plant with delightful flowers, compact growth and remarkable hardiness.