RARE & ENDANGERED NATIVES!

Go wild and plant an endangered species for cut flowers & foliage. 
I may have mentioned before my Dad loved native birds so he selected mostly native plants in my family's back garden to attract them. It was the era of the 70s native garden with the idea that you planted and let things go wild, AKA the lowest of maintenance. In the bush, natives are exposed to fire and pruning from native animals. Mum couldn’t help herself, she was always in the garden pruning this or that. In fact Mum's pruning often extended the life span of some of the short lived natives. So much for low maintenance!
These days, a lot of natives on the market are new compact improved versions of the original, so we don’t need to prune as much. They still have the glorious attractiveness to native birds but some can also have the bonus of longevity in the garden and when cut for floral arrangements. Here are three that I can’t resist planting so I can have texture and flowers in the garden and in a vase.  

EUCALYPTUS CRENULATA
Commonly known as Buxton gum, or Victorian silver gum, Eucalyptus crenulata is listed as "endangered" as it grows in a very small area of Victoria.
It is super tough because it has a lignotuber. Once established it is resilient to fire and even snow. As a result it can  be coppiced and will reshoot from the lignotuber at the base of its trunk. It can be kept as a bushy shrub with juvenile foliage by cutting periodically to 20-30cm from the base or a useful small/medium tree or screen. It will brighten dark corners as it has bushy aromatic silvery blue green foliage. It responds well to coppicing and pollarding and can grow 1-1.5 m per year when well watered. Not many eucalyptus are happy in part sun, but this one is. Young shoots are often a silvery rose colour with a white blooms, glaucous buds, twigs and underside of the leaves give the whole plant a silvery appearance.
Spring flowers are creamy white and fluffy with a beautiful sweet perfume
FULL SUN TO PART SHADE HEIGHT : 4-12M WIDTH: 2-6M

ANIGOZANTHOS 'MASQUERADE'
The ever popular Masquerade Kangaroo Paw is NOW BACK IN STOCK.
Bred by Kings Park in WA, this unique flower colour of iridescent teal and purple flowers that contrast against light blue green foliage. Bush Gems Celebrations Kangaroo Paws are prolific flowering all year round. Remove old flower stems and leaves as close to base as possible. Water only when the top of the potting mix has dried out. Watering requirements will increase when plants are in full flower. Can be brought indoors to a bright position as a decorative piece for 1-2 weeks, before being returned to its outdoor position.
Well suited in well drained soil to tub and pot displays, these are the perfect gift idea.
FULL SUN - HEIGHT 50CM x  40CM

BRACTEANTHA 'MOHAVE PINK'
These strawflowers with big, brilliantly coloured papery flowers above green foliage are easy to grow in a sunny spot.
This Bracteantha spans the seasons from Spring to Autumn. Mohave’s superior branching and mounding shape make it fabulous in pots, perfect for mixed containers and landscaping on the edge of garden beds. 
FULL SUN - HEIGHT 40CM WIDTH 40CM

Everlasting flowers and foliage 
 filled with inspiration- Carolyn

Kale - Red Russian & Dwarf Blue
Red russian kale is a large growing annual with attractive , red purple leaves. Blue dwarf kale is a compact  annual with attractive curled blue leaves. Most varieties of kale are sweet tasting leafy vegetables that are high in vitamins C and K ,antioxidants and betacardene. All parts of the plant are edible and the more it is picked the more it will produce. Remove flower stems to increase harvest time. For maximum health benefits do not over cook the leaves. Prefers moist but well drained soil in a part to full sun position. Fertiliser regularly with Maxicrop Seaweed Fertiliser in spring, summer and autumn.

Red Russian       Height 75cm x Width 50cm
Dwarf Blue         Height 35cm x Width 45cm

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