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.

Camellia Sasanqua and Camellia Japonica

Camellia Sasanqua and Camellia Japonica

It is getting right into Camellia season at the moment and we have lots of questions about Camellia Sasanqua and Camellia Japonica so we have prepared an article on both of these. Simply put Camellia Sasanqua can handle more sun than Camellia Japonica.

We find that both are very hardy plants and work well a screening plants at the back of the garden border. Perhaps a little slow to form a hedge, however if you are patient they are great hedging plants requiring little maintenance and providing a great show of flowers in winter through to spring.

And if you are interested in Camellias why not check out the 2010 Camellia Festival
Saturday, 21st August, 2010 1 - 5 P.M. and  Sunday, 22nd August, 2010 10 A.M. - 4.30 P.M.
Mount Waverley Community Centre, Miller Crescent, Mount Waverley.VIC

Four new Catalogues coming soon......

With Four new catalogues coming out this week its a great time to come an visit us. Two of these catalogues Lynn's Rare Plants and Raithby Plants being new additions... as they say never seen before on the internet. On the front page on Tuesday 8th.

Another new addition is Golden Ray Liliums, a fantastic collection of Liliums, must be the largest in Australia, Asiatics, Orientals and more.

We also have a new Catalogue from Drewitts Bulbs and an update from Tesselaars. You can find them all at www.nurseriesonline.com.au

We are looking for Arisaema Griffithii Bulbs or Seed..... Let us know if you have any.

Two new catalogues

Liliums are a great and Golden Ray Gardens have a fantastic range. You can find them on our Liliums Page (New to www.nurseriesonline.com.au this week)

And from Raithby Plants, for the first time on the Internet a catalogue of interesting bulbs and perennials. Well worth a look, follow the link to the Raithby Plants Catalogue (Also New this week)

What new plants are we growing this year ... Some Epimediums Species Tulips, and some Fritillaria, we really like all of these . As well as a few smaller growing Banksia such as Banksia Spinulosa 'Coastal Cushion' . Also some fruit trees are going in Avocado 'Bacon' is one.....

New Catalogues. Hellebores from Post Office Farm. Bulbs from Tonkins Bulbs

POST OFFICE FARM NEW CATALOGUE

This new 2010 catalogue lists over 40 different varieties of Helleborus, including several new introductions.

WEB www.postofficefarmnursery.com.au

TONKINS BULBS NEW CATALOGUE

We hope to have the Tonkins Bulbs winter catalogue up and running by the end of this week. Some of these bulbs are fairly rare and unusual and will be in limited numbers, so be quick.

Keep a look out for our next newsletter, or check for the latest a little later this week at www.nurseriesonline.com.au

Also check out the NEW ROSE SUPPORTS.... see the article on our front page.

We are enjoying.

Gardenia Radicans.

A low growing and seemingly fairly cold tolerant fragrant gardenia.... look for it your local nursery.