Best Plants 2010 - Perennials - Nurseries Online

From Lambley Nursery we have a list of some of the best perennials for 2010. The first is Agastache 'Sweet Lili' - Sweet Lili Humming Bird Mint (pictured). 
David and Marcus from Lambley say....
We found this beautiful plant growing in a bed of A. rupestris. It is obviously a hybrid, perhaps between A rupestris and A. cana or A. mexicana. It has all the virtues of the race, tough drought tolerant, long flowering and beautiful, so beautiful I've named it for my granddaughter. Most Agastache are pollinated by humming birds in the wild. A. 'Sweet Lili' is covered, from early summer until winter, with apricot tinted rich pink flowers. 120cm x 60cm. Sun. 


For the full list with photographs visit our Best Plants 2010 part 2

A list (with photographs and notes) from Don Teese at Yamina Rare Plants is on the way....

All the best to all our readers, full info on new catalogues next week.....

New Release Aloes - Best Plants of 2010 part 3

New Release Aloes from Aloe Aloe.

Michael from 'Aloe Aloe' has releases a range of new plants. Aloe hybrids sold are clones of unique selected superior plants with proven hybrid vigour so that gardeners and landscapers can be guaranteed quality plants that will alwaysperform and outshine other seed grown aloes.  These plants are stronger, cope better with a wider range of extremes (rain, dry, cold and heat) but also have stunning flower displays that last longer and flower younger, with superior and wide ranging colour tones.

Pictured is Super Red™ - The flower performance of Super Red is truly spectacular as its flower season (masses of red flowers) lasts from late summer to winter and it can produce its first flower at a very young age. The grey-green plant starts growing a stem from an early stage and the rosette divides when the plant is closer to maturity allowing an even greater flower display. Suitable as a feature plant in the garden, in a large pot or in tough landscaping conditions. (140cm x 90cm).

More Top Plants from 2010 

Magic Garden Roses have always been a favourite for mail order roses as well as supplying retail. Some of the top roses for 2010 were : Honey Dijon - A perfumed Hybrid Tea Rose, Loving memory - A great Rose for cut flowers, Remember Me and Mothers Love as well as Purple Tiger which is the only purple striped rose we have seen and an old favourite of ours Ashram a lovely golden coloured rose.

Links to new catalogues coming soon at www.nurseriesonline.com.au

New Catalogues Coming Soon - Best Plants of 2010 part 2

New catalogues from Tonkins Bulbs (Bryan H Tonkin),  Hillview Rare Plants and Drewitts Bulbs are all on the way late this week or early next week. 


From the new Tonkins Bulbs catalogue we are particularly fond of the miniature daffodils (hoop petticoat) and especially Narcissus Bulbocodium citronus with its lovely clear lemon flowers. Marcus Harvey has some great Calochortus with 'nudus' being our favourite, check out the cyclamen as well. Tim Drewitt has some great Dwarf Gladioli.  
Links to all of these will be at www.nurseriesonline.com.au as soon as the catalogues are finalised.


More of the best for 2010

At Wallara Roses the thornless roses 'Smoothtouch' were very popular with the  Grandma’s Rose and Grandpa's Rose (pictured left) from the Charmwell  range with the along with Golden Iceberg being sought after. Smooth Prince was another popular rose from Wallara Roses.


Moving North, Bob from Paradise Distributors reports that Jade vines and the White bat plant were really popular, if you have seen the flower of the White Bat Plant you would know why, check out the Photograph and fact sheet on Bat Plants.  Bob also gives mention to a few other sought after plants, these included, Brisbane lily (Proiphys cunninghamii), Heleconias in general were popular, Vanilla Orchid, Adenium obesum and the Bromeliad 'Aechmea fasciata' with its long lasting long lasting flower. Birds nest ferns and Hoyas were also popular. We think that the Yellow anthurium Black Anthurium are also great plants.


And we will have more later this week.....

The Best Plants of 2010 - Roses Part 1

So what were the best selling Roses for 2010 ? This depends on who you ask and where you are located. In Sydney Green E Roses list some of the best sellers for 2010

Heritage Roses are always popular and some of the best sellers were Mutabilis, Gruss an Aaachen, Reine des Violettes and Madame Alfred Carriere.

Iceberg is always a favorite, landscapers love it, other popular roses at Green E Roses were Mr Lincoln, Oaklahoma, The Childrens Rose, Camp David, Grimaldi (a French Delbard) and Henri Matisse, a Grandiflora style rose with great perfume

Amongst the climbing roses Nahema  (French Delbard) was popular,  Lamarque a heritage Noisette Rose, Crepuscule and Dublin Bay were all sought after as were 'Renae' a thornless pink, climbing rose along with 'Climbing Pinkie'

Jubilee, Graham Thomas Rose and Gertrude Jekyll a fragrant David Austin also figured in the best seller list. For the more information on the Visit BEST PLANTS OF 2010 at www.nurseriesonline.com.au

More Best Of 2010 later this week....

Darwinia macrostegia, or Mondurup Bell - Plant of the Month

Darwinia macrostegia, or Mondurup Bell is originally from Western Australia and to grow these successfully away from the natural environment it is best to look for grafted forms. With very attractive flowers that last for nearly 3 months  Darwinia macrostegia, will eventually reach 1m by 2m in ideal conditions. Flowers begin to form in autumn and reach full size in spring. 

We grow ours in a large pot on a north facing verandah, lots of sun. The large pot provides a cool root run and after it finishes flowering we move ours to a cooler position. Try not to over water or over feed. 

Darwinia macrostegia can be pruned lightly after flowering to maintain shape if required. 

If you are growing these in the garden remember that drainage is important, Darwinia do not like wet feet, even the grafted forms. Also look for Darwinia squarrosa, Darwinia leiostyla, Darwinia citriodora and Darwinia grandiflora 
Find our more about Darwinia at Nurseries Online Australia

Deciduous Magnolias and New Release 'Jury' Magnolias

Deciduous Magnolias are really hitting their straps right now and although cultivars and species such as Magnolia Denudata and Magnolia Stellata are well known it is the new releases that we are exited about.

For many years Jury is name that has been associated with Magnolia breeding in New Zealand and indeed around the world. Over recent years 3 new releases have caught our attention, Magnolia 'Felix', Magnolia 'Black Tulip' and Magnolia 'Vulcan' 

Three magnificent new deciduous Magnolias that all make great feature trees.  Magnolia 'Felix' is pictured left. With flower sizes up to 30cm across this is a truly spectacular cultivar. 'Black Tulip has much darker flowers and they are tight in formation, yes they look like great big round tulips. The flowers last longer on 'Black Tulip' because of this.

So if you are looking for deciduous magnolias now is a great time to find them in flower at your local nursery. Check out our Magnolia Nurseries page for specialist Magnolia Nurseries.

If you are Melbourne this weekend check out the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society Spring Show

Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th September  Sat 1pm - 4.30pm; Sun 10am- 4.30pm For Details 

Dahlias, Fritillarias and Raithby Plants

Dahlias are a garden favourite, easy to grow in a well drained position, very colourful flowers and a huge range including,  Cactus dahlias, Formal Decorative Dahlias, Balls, Pompons, Waterlily and Anemone to mention a few. Dahlias are best planted after the risk of frost is over, and in Southern Australia that is around about Melbourne Cup Day. We notice Dahlia tubers in some stores already, it just might be a little early to plant them. Dahlia tubers need to be firm and free of disease.
Jenny Parish from Country Dahlias has a great catalogue, just updated and well worth a look. The plant pictured is called 'Formby Art' and is a great looking flower.


Raithby Plants now have their own web site, some very interesting perennials available from them.
Check out all of the new releases at www.nurseriesonline.com.au

Fritillarias are beginning to flower down south we hope to bring you some pictures next week. We have grown these from seed and are looking forward to seeing the rewards. If you have a gardening picture or story to share, let us know. Happy gardening and watch out for the Orchid shows that are popping up all over the country over the next few months.