Plant of the Month.

The Examiner newspaper and their garden scribe Les Hodge have developed a “Native Plant of the Month” which appears in Les’ garden page in the Saturday Examiner prior to our meeting on the third Tuesday each month. The article features a different native plant’ botanical details and is illustrated with a large coloured photo of the plant selected. It creates a lot of interest in plants that otherwise would not be so well known. On Les’ page he also gives our group invaluable publicity about our meeting the following Tuesday.
These are some of the Plant of the Month articles.

NATIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY 2010    DELIGHTFUL DAISIES What is the common link between the following: sunflowers, lettuce, chrysanthemum, dahlia and artichoke? If you said they are all members of the daisy family then you are right. This huge family, with the scientific name Asteraceae, contains something like 20000 species worldwide, in about 1000 genera and includes many species of economic importance (and some of the worst weeds). The former family name, “Compositae”, provided a clue to the characteristic feature of these plants, which is that all of them have composite flower heads. What we think of  as the flower is actually a cluster of tiny flowers (known as florettes) in some species only a small number but in others, such as the cultivated sunflower, hundreds of florettes. You can see the individual florettes if you use a magnifying glass or microscope. Each of the tiny florettes produces its own seed which is often attached to a feathery pappus which everyone knows as thistle down (see insert in photo). The pappus along with the attached seed is capable of travelling long distances when a wind is blowing, which explains why many members of this family can spread so quickly. In Tasmania there are dozens of native members of this family, ranging from quite large trees to tiny herbs. In between these extremes there are medium size shrubs and several beautiful  species which would be described as paper daisies. The flower heads of these paper daisies range in size from just under a centimetre in diameter to about 4cm diameter. Their colours in the Tasmanian species are white or golden yellow but many of the buds are also attractively coloured e.g. pink or orange. Paper daisies are generally very hardy, as indicated by the fact that large colonies of some native species survive along our roadsides, flowering for long periods in spring and summer in some very harsh environments. Some species can be induced to flower twice in one year by cutting them back after the first flowering is completed. Propagation is easy from seed – just collect the thistle down before it flies away, making sure that the seeds are still attached. By buying just a few plants from a nursery  and propagating from these you can have a wonderful  display within a couple of years. (The species shown in the photo is Xerochrysum bracteatum or golden everlasting which has flower heads up to about 4cm across. The inset shows the feathery pappus with the seed attached below it.)
NATIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY  2010   NATIVE HOP BUSHES Native plants formed much of the diet of aboriginal people before white settlement. Early European explorers and settlers often sought to supplement an inadequate or boring diet by experimenting with native plants or by following the example of the local aborigines. The leaves of many plants have been used as “greens”, replacing spinach or silver beet and the fruit and leaves of many species have provided nourishment and flavour. The genus  Dodonaea has the common name, hop bushes, because the fruit of some species have been used in place of hops in beer- making.  The fruit also contain chemicals called saponins which are effective surfactants and the fruit have been used in place of soap, hence the name of the family to which the genus belongs is Sapindaceae which literally means “Indian soap”. The family contains many species of commercial significance including lychees and rambutans.  In Tasmania we have two native species of hop bush one of which, Dodonaea filiformis (fineleaf hopbush)  is endemic to Tasmania while the other, D. Viscosa (broadleaf hopbush) is widespread in temperate regions of the world.  Both Tasmanian species are excellent garden plants, hardy and tolerant of a wide range of conditions although good drainage and at least part sun are necessary. D. filiformis is a shrub to about 3m tall while D. Viscosa  grows to about 5m in height and could be described as a small tree. The flowers of hopbushes are fairly insignificant with the male and female flowers growing on separate plants. The three-winged  fruit, which are green initially, turn quite a bright orange-red as they mature and from a distance it looks as though the plant is covered in flowers. Remember that fruit will occur only on female trees. The foliage of both Tasmanian species is attractive and plants of both species are fairly slender and  well shaped. An attractive purple-leaved form of D. Viscosa, often referred to as D.v. var purpurea is available. Hop bushes can be propagated easily from cuttings and some species can be grown from seed.
NATIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH  2010   CONVERSATION PEAS One of the most striking sights in the arid areas of central Western Australia is the magnificent Sturts Desert pea, Swainsonia formosa. While you will not find it in the Tasmanian bush, it can be grown here very successfully in a container. A pot of this species with its large, brilliant crimson flowers is a wonderful substitute for a vase of cut flowers. A few pots on the sun-deck makes a great display. Flowers are produced over a period of several weeks if suitable conditions are maintained. The first European to collect the plant was William Dampier, when he visited West Australia in 1699. An attempt has been made to honour Dampier with a change to the scientific name of the sturts desert pea. As yet the change has not been widely accepted. As the common name suggests, this species is a member of the huge pea family (Fabaceae) with its thousands of members, many of which have great commercial significance as food plants, forage plants or as ornamentals. Sturts desert pea is the floral emblem of South Australia but also grows in arid areas of WA, NT, QLD and NSW. While the flowers, five to seven centimetres long, each with its two black “eyes”, are the most striking feature of this species, the grey-green pinnate leaves (several leaflets to a feather-like leaf) are also attractive. Sturts desert pea has been grown successfully in Northern Tasmania by planting scarified seed (seed treated with hot water or scratched with sandpaper or a knife) directly into potting mix in a container. Use a largish pot so that transplanting is unnecessary as this species does not like root disturbance. The scarified seeds germinate quite quickly and rapidly develop deep roots, a trait necessary for survival in their normal habitat. The plants need full sun, a sheltered position and good drainage although they do best with regular watering. Seeds and plants of Sturts Desert pea can sometimes be obtained from local nurseries; otherwise seeds can be ordered from suppliers in other states. Reputable suppliers will have arranged approval from Quarantine Tasmania before delivery to you. Websites such as www.nativegrowth.com.au and www.wildflowersofaus.com.au offer seeds of this species and others.
NATIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL  2010   Bursaria Spinosa – Prickly Box This beautiful but much underrated relative of the common garden plant, Pittosporum undulatum, has a very interesting natural history. The generic name comes from the Greek word bursa which means purse and refers to the shape of the seed capsules. The specific name spinosa, as you might guess, refers to the spines which appear on young growth, providing protection for the plant itself and for birds nesting in it. Prickly box deserves to be a feature of gardens simply because of its beautiful and plentiful white starry flowers which appear late in summer and  attract large numbers of insects which feed on  nectar;  birds (which may feed on nectar or on the insects) are also attracted. Birds also benefit from the spider webs built in the prickly box to catch the myriad of insects; several species of birds use the webs in constructing their nests. Among insects hosted by this species is a small wasp which helps control Christmas beetles by parasitising their larvae; (Christmas Beetle causes great devastation to Eucalypt species). Prickly box is also the essential food source for the Bright Copper Butterfly caterpillar. The caterpillars have a symbiotic relationship with ants; the caterpillar secretes a honey-like product which is eaten by the ants which protect the caterpillars from predators. Prickly box has an interesting connection with World War 2. A sun screening chemical, aesculin, was produced from its leaves and used to protect turret gunners who were exposed to long periods of sunlight during bombing raids over Europe. European and Californian horticulturalists have landscaped with prickly box for over a hundred years. Its highly scented flowers and its attractive bark, leaves and seed capsules (which are useful in floral arrangements) make it a delightful specimen plant. It also  makes a useful hedging plant, growing to a height of about 3m and is  an ideal replacement for hawthorn and other introduced species which are likely to become weedy. Bursaria spinosa is the only species in the genus Bursaria and is native to all parts of Australia except WA and the Northern Territory. It is hardy and will grow in almost any situation except perhaps, water logged sites. Propagation is from seed or cuttings and it is readily available from nurseries which stock native plants.
NATIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH FOR MAY 2010   Natives provide warm glow in colder months With a bit of planning it is possible to have colour in your garden even in the coldest months of the year and native plants should be part of your planning. Flowers provide not just colour but food for those birds which over winter in the state. Many of our natives are also very good as cut flowers and in many species the foliage is attractive. Fruit, which develop from the flowers, can prolong the colour display and in fact if you visit the Tasmanian bush in the cooler months you will notice the profusion of beautiful fruit (brilliant white, pink, deep red and purple) on many of our native species. A big advantage of using natives is that in most cases the species are not invasive, despite the fruit being eaten by native fauna. Cold-season flowers, in a wide range of colours, can be found on native species of various habits, from groundcovers to bushy shrubs. A useful groundcover is the native violet, Viola hederacea, which occurs naturally in Tasmania. This species spreads quite rapidly (though not invasively) and flowers profusely all year. Numerous other groundcover or low-growing species flower during the cold months, including species of Grevillea, Hakea and a prostrate form of Goodenia ovata (native to Tasmania) which produces golden flowers for much of the year. The beautiful Correas, several of which are native to Tasmania, begin flowering in April with a range of colours available from white through red and pink to green. Many of their bell-shaped flowers are two-coloured and they are excellent bird attractors. Most species are very hardy, C.alba growing naturally on coastal sand dunes subject to salt spray. Epacris species such as the local E. Impressa and the magnificent pink and white flowered  E. longiflora are in bloom for much of the year. Acacias are generally autumn and winter flowering and vary in habit from low-growing groundcovers, through medium-sized shrubs to tall trees with the familiar spikes or spherical heads of golden flowers. Other beautiful and hardy winter-flowering plants include shrubs such as Eremophila  “Winter Glow”  (yellow flowers), Crowea exalata with its beautiful pink star-shaped flowers, various members of the genus Scaevola with their violet ‘five-fingered” flowers and Thryptomene saxicola (pink flowers). Several species or varieties of the genus Callistemon (bottle brushes) flower in autumn and winter. Several native daisies produce impressive displays of colourful flowers over autumn and winter, including species of  Brachyscome and Xerochrysum (the latter often being sold under its former name Bracteantha). This is not an exhaustive list of winter-flowering natives; there are many others available at nurseries which stock native plants. As usual when buying plants, make sure they are propagated from stock of “proven performance” and that the species are not likely to be invasive, especially if you live near native bushland.
NATIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE  2010   Native Plants for an easy care Cottage Garden Cottage gardens traditionally evoke images of massed informal plantings of exotic annuals and perennials.  Using a random mix of annuals, bulbs, lilies, groundcovers, climbers and small shrubs, all planted closely together, highlights differences in colour, foliage and form.  Beautiful cottage gardens can also be created using Australian native plants thus reducing water requirements and the need to re-plant each year with punnets of annuals.   Now is a good time to plan your approach. The height and vigour of your chosen plants will depend on the area developed.  The larger the space, the taller the plants you can consider. Cottage gardens usually only contain plants less than 1 metre in height.  When planting, remember to reduce the height of your plants from the rear towards the front.  With a native cottage garden, you can   use more small flowering shrubs than in exotic cottage gardens, probably because the choice of suitable specimens is endless.  With the right choice you can ensure colour all year round. Small flowering shrubs such as correas flower throughout winter and the drought resistant eremophilas, with their wide range of flower and foliage colours, are guaranteed to create a feeding frenzy with nectar loving birds.   See if you can locate thomasias in your nursery.  All are attractive but try T. petalocalyx or T. grandiflora, both superb. Their flowers are in the pink/purple/mauve range and are on display for many months of the year.  Scaevolas are also small shrubs with long flowering periods. The blue and gold flowers on Scaevola nitida are bigger than the smaller groundcover varieties.   Verticordias are well-worth consideration with V. plumosa displaying bright pink/mauve feathery flowers clustered along its stems, for about 6 weeks each year. Like many natives, it requires good drainage.  Shrubs with compact growing habits are particularly suitable for cottage gardens.  Pimeleas fill the bill here.  P. ferruginea is a striking example.  It  has small, bright green glossy leaves and massed deep pink pin-cushion flowers.   There are increasing numbers of dwarf cultivars of larger shrubs coming on to the market whose size makes them eminently suitable such as Banksia ericifolia “Little Eric” or Melaleuca linarifolia “Copper Tops” Having planted an attractive and varied base of small flowering shrubs, the trick now is to provide accent and contrast by interspersing them with random plantings of strappy, slender-stemmed or tufted species.  There are numerous plants in this category, many which grow in Tasmania.   Bulbine lily (Bulbine bulbosa), a Tasmanian native, is one to consider.  It has slender stems of yellow flowers.   It grows profusely in rocky crevices in the Cataract Gorge in spring and summer, testament to its hardiness. It would provide a spectacular show mixed with native bluebells or campanulas such as Wahlenbergia stricta.  For colour and reliability it is hard to go past kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos) especially the smaller hybrids which grow no taller than 40 –60 cm.  Colours range from red, orange, yellow and green and they have lengthy flowering periods.  Remember to protect from snails.  Clustered plantings of the common narrow-leafed trigger plant (Stylidium graminifolium), with its deep pink flowers and tufted leaves, can also provide an attractive counter point for example, to the bright yellow flowers of the small native hibbertias such as H. serpyllifolia. The common flag iris (Diplarrena moraea) seen flowering in open bushland throughout Tasmania, is worth planting randomly throughout the garden, and in spring its long slender stems (60cm) supporting pretty white flowers would add a delicate look.  Generous and random plantings throughout of the chocolate lily  (Dichopogon strictum) would add wavy touches of blue and, in summer evenings, give off perfume redolent of chocolate.   Small native grass varieties such as Poa mollis will also provide contrasting tufted textures. Remaining gaps can now be in-filled with bright and colourful displays from plants such as native daisies.  The commonly termed paper-daisies include species of xerochrysum, rhodanthe, helichrysum and chrysocephalum.  With colours ranging from white, yellow, orange and red they are a highlight in any cottage garden.  Xerochrysum bracteatum is a popular yellow one.  Brachyscomes, sometimes known as the Swan River daisy, have dainty blue, pink or white flowers for most of the year and is an excellent plant in any domestic garden.  If you can find room for lechenaultias, their dazzling display and low growing habit make them well worth planting.  Its flowers come in a dazzling array of colours like L. formosa, or L. biloba which are red and blue respectively.
Zierra Littoralis Kangaroo Paw Xerochrysum
NATIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH FOR JULY  2010   RICHEA   The genus Richea was named after Claude-Antoine-Gaspard Riche a naturalist on Bruni d'Entrecasteaux's 1791 expedition. A member of the Epacridacea family, Richea consists of 11 species all but two of which are endemic to Tasmania. Richea pandanifolia (leaves similar to pandanus),  commonly referred to as Pandani, is one of Tasmania’s most distinctive plants and has the honour of being the tallest heath plant in the world. Naturally occurring in sub-alpine and alpine regions Richea pandanifolia was described by Lord Talbot de Malahide as “one of those plants…which…transport one in imagination to the remote past”. In the wild Pandani can be a small shrub or small tree often with a single, narrow trunk. Large tapering leaves with a wide sheathing base grow to 1.5m long. The dead leaves cloak the trunk for many years keeping it warm and protected from the extreme alpine temperatures. Clusters of pink flowers form among the upper crowded leaves during early summer. A very slow growing plant it can take 10-15 years to flower. Richea dracophylla (with leaves like the genus Dracophyllum) naturally occurs in wetter parts of sub-alpine montane forests of the south-east.  A  woody, open branched shrub to 2m sometimes taller. Large tapering leaves, with red tips make this a striking foliage plant. Spikes of creamy/white flowers occur in large clusters towards the end of the branches in late spring / summer. Seedling plants may take 5-6 years to flower. Richeas can be a challenge to grow in the garden but don’t despair, they are quite reliable in containers. For best results pot on in spring or early autumn using a good quality native potting mix and a larger container. You may want to sit  a plastic pot inside a bigger ceramic pot. Make sure plants are kept moist and select a semi shaded site away from hot winds. For those up to the challenge -  plants in the garden need acidic soils rich in organic matter with excellent drainage but which are also moisture-retentive. A semi-shaded location in the garden with morning sun is ideal. Make sure plants in the garden or in containers do not dry out especially over drier months. Now just sit back and wait for those truly spectacular flowers and in the meantime enjoy the unique foliage.