#reddish foliage

[selvaggea]

09.11.2021

The avenue leading to winter

is tree-lined

with golden and reddish foliage.

[malleedesign]

New Post has been published on http://malleedesign.com.au/another-furry-leaved-beauty-lasiopetalum-baueri/

Another furry leaved beauty: Lasiopetalum baueri

This is commonly known as Slender Velvet Bush, which is a most apt description of this interesting under-storey shrub. Lasiopetalum baueri has rusty coloured , furry new growth and pretty delicate pink flowers in Winter.

The dried flowers are long-lasting and have potential as a cut flower and the attractive foliage lasts for ages in a vase.

Lasiopetalum baueri grows into a dense shrub appriximately 1.5 metres high and the same across, it enjoys a well drained position with as little humidity as possible.

It can be grown amongst other low growing species to show off its unusual leaves, I especially like the way it contrasts with the Correa ablba on the left in the photo above.

There is also a prostrate form available which grows into a lovely dense mat, that does an excellent job of suppressing weeds. The prostrate form down like growing over gravel or rocks as opposed to mulch which breaking down and can cause fungal issues for this species.

Lasiopetalum baueri responds well to regular tip pruning after flowering, this will maintain its softly dense habit and stop it from getting too leggy and weak, which can always happen to quick growing species especially when planted in the shade.

[malleedesign]

New Post has been published on http://malleedesign.com.au/bright-climber-or-scrambler-for-dry-shade-hibbertia-dentata/

Bright climber or scrambler for dry shade: Hibbertia dentata

Hibbertia dentata is one of my favourite climbers or low growing scramblers to use in shady spots, unfortunately I find it quite difficult to source but it is definitely with using if you can get hold of it. One of the reasons I love this plant is the reddish new growth of the tendrils and new leaves, it is a deep burgundy red and adds a bit of extra interest to the plant, especially when used as a ground cover.

I have seen Hibbertia dentata used as a grouncover for a pathway with light foot traffic through a garden (I’m sorry but I didn’t get a photo ), it had become quite flat and prostrate but the red new leaves really showed up.

In the image above it was growing underneath some Eucalypts in dry part shade and was doing an excellent job as a weed suppressant.

  Hibbertia dentata flowers from August through to December and has an interesting way of going about it, each flower lasts only about a day, but the flowers appear continually over the spring period. I’m sure there is a technical term for this but I’m not sure what it is….

  This is a common species in open forests in and around Sydney , it can also be found all the way up the NSW coastline.  It is sometimes called a light climber as it twins around the stems of nearby shrubs and trees but is is not at all aggressive like its relative Hibbertia scandens and poses no real threat of damaging climbing frames or other plants.

[malleedesign]

New Post has been published on http://malleedesign.com.au/in-support-of-agonis-burgundy/

In Support of Agonis 'Burgundy'

So there is an out break of a plant disease that started in Australia a couple of years ago in nurseries called ‘Myrtle Rust‘ it affects all plants in the Myrtaceae family and it is incredibly dramatic. It is still about and is moving through our bushland at rapid rate.

These rusts are serious pathogens which affect plants belonging to the family Myrtaceae including Australian natives like bottle brush (Callistemon spp.), tea tree (Melaleuca spp.) and eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.).

Myrtle rust is distinctive in that it produces masses of powdery bright yellow or orange-yellow spores on infected plant parts. It infects leaves of susceptible plants producing spore-filled lesions on young actively growing leaves, shoots, flower buds and fruits. Leaves may become buckled or twisted and may die as a result of infection. Sometimes these infected spots are surrounded by a purple ring. Older lesions may contain dark brown spores. Infection on highly susceptible plants may result in plant death.

See http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/myrtle-rust, for more information.

Unfortunately, this has resulted in some of my favourite native plants becoming totally neglected, people are steering clear of them at an alarming rate and some are just simply not grown at all anymore by nurseries. One of these is Agonis ‘Burgundy’.

  Yes, it is susceptible to Myrtle Rust, however I don’t think this is a reason not to try growing it, I have had one in my garden for over 3 years and it is fine.

  Agonis ‘Burgundy’ grows to about 3 metres high and 1.5 wide, it has a beautiful weeping habit with deep red new growth and makes an excellent feature shrub or small tree. The above photo was taken in Melbourne and I also noticed how well they grow in Tasmania, I am assuming that the frosts down there are so far keeping Myrtle Rust at bay. If that is the case then hopefully we will perhaps see them re-appear in larger numbers up here on the NSW East Coast where the humidity is higher and Myrtle Rust is more prevalent.

So why not plant one if you can? keep the diversity out there, there may be a percentage chance that it dies from Myrtle Rust but then again it might not and I think the beauty of this plant is worth the risk…. now you just need to find a nursery that stocks them! heehee