Helleborus for Colour

One of the most interesting and popular plants for winter colour is the Helleborus or Lenten Rose. The most commonly grown variety is Helleborus orientalis.  A native of Greece, Turkey and Soviet Georgia, it’s natural habitat is in scrub and at the edges of woods and forests, and a number of variations are often found in the wild. Hellebores bring a delicate splash of colour... Read More

Onions

There is no real archaeological evidence of onions so the domestication of them as a garden vegetable is really guesswork. Some people believe they were first domesticated in Iran and Palestine but others suggest central Asia. They are known to have been grown in Egypt 3500 years ago as they were left in tombs dating back that far. Other evidence shows the Sumerians grew them and... Read More

Magnolia Campbell

Each spring the first Magnolia to flower is Magnolia campbelli. It is a stately tree suitable for slightly larger gardens and well worth growing. This deciduous Himalayan species eventually grows 24 m tall with a 12 m wide crown in the right conditions and there are few this size in NZ, usually they are a lot smaller. Its slightly fragrant flowers grow up to 25cm in diameter and... Read More

Heleborus orientalis

One of the most interesting and popular plants for Winter colour is Heleborus orientalis or Lenton Rose. In recent years both in New Zealand and overseas plant breeding programmes have created new and named cultures of beautiful plants. Flowering in later in winter they send upright stems up through the old leaves. The slightly nodding flowers open to show beautiful markings and... Read More

Forsythia

Spring would not be spring without Forsythia. Forsythias grow well in almost any garden soil and are very hardy. They do need a lot of sun to ensure they flower well in spring. Each spring the Forsythia is one of the first and most colour flowering shrubs to welcome the new growing season. Its bright yellow flowers appear all along long arching or upright branches. Prune Forsythias... Read More

Plant Forum

Plant Forum by Alan Jolliffe Alan Jolliffe has worked in local and central government and tertiary education in a variety of senior roles including Curator of Botanic Gardens and Director of Parks and Recreation. He is very interested in future trends and ideas that will enable people to enjoy living in a world which looks after all its resources. Alan will be introducing... Read More

Winter Flowering Plants

Hamamelis mollis – Witch Hazel Great for very cold places this large open branched shrub produces interesting  flowers with strap shaped bright yellow petals all along the branchlets. There are a few cultivars  namely H.mollis ‘Brevipetala’ and ‘Ruby Glow’. Chimonanthus praecox – Winter sweet Excellent upright shrub for the back of the border in summer then... Read More