These striking exotics are uniquely suited to our climate and need minimal care
Australia is a various and colorful continent with some of the most beautiful works on the planet . Tough as nails and often habitual to nutrient - short filth , drought conditions , and even coastal winds , many Australian plant are in particular worthful to Northern California gardener aiming to make their gardening live on a lilliputian easier . The tough , prosperous - concern Australian shrubs and perennials here are among my darling .
Flambe®Yellow strawflower
Chrysocephalum apiculatum‘Flochryel ’ , Zones 9–10
When this drought - tolerant and deer - immune Australian lulu is in full bloom , it will break off you in your tracks with its profusion of vivacious blossom . flower are low - growing , golden yellow , and bone - comparable , and they seat atop a blanket of dazzling silver foliation . Blooming almost continuously from late springtime through the first frost of wintertime , this bright and happy bid perennial develop 10 to 14 inches in high spirits and trails up to 2 feet broad . It looks delicious in miscellaneous container , rock gardens , or perennial borders . works in full sun and in well - drained soil , and irrigate lightly during the hot summer calendar month . Flambe ® Yellow is exceedingly rewarding with minimal care , but if it look tired toward the remnant of summer , refresh by cutting it back by a third and side - dressing with a handful of compost . Protect from hoarfrost in the winter . It makes a great yearly below Zone 9 .
‘Wyn’s Wonder’ variegated Australian fuchsia
Correa pulchella‘Wyn ’s Wonder ’ , Zones 8–11
‘ Wyn ’s Wonder ’ variegated Australian fuchsia is an evergreen , no - fuss shrub with chocolatey , priming coat - hug stems densely clothed in waxy unripe leaves . Its leaves are olive green with a cream - discolor sharpness . It bloom from downfall through midspring with abundant 1 - column inch - long blooms sprinkled through the bright foliage . These flower are tubular , rosy pink , and nodding . This Australian fuchsia provides year - round color and textural interest and work as beautifully in a large container as it does in the landscape painting . hummingbird adore the long - lasting bloom , create it an fantabulous plus to a habitat garden . Plant in Lord’s Day to light shade in meliorate , well - drained soil , and irrigate lightly to regularly , being sure to water more frequently if planted in full sun . ‘ Wyn ’s Wonder ’ make 2 to 3 understructure marvelous with a spread of up to 4 foot all-encompassing .
Lime Tuff™ dwarf matt rush
Lomandra longifolia‘Lomlon ’ , Zones 8–11 ( syn . Lomandra confertifoliassp.rubiginosa‘Lomlon ’ )
This rugged , evergreen perennial has narrow , grasslike foliage that forms a bright , respectable tuft that spring up 24 to 30 inches tall and just as wide . Lush and salubrious with minimal precaution , dwarf matt rush is tolerant of a wide range of soil atmospheric condition and sun exposures as well as coastal winds and all kinds of watering regimen . It will declare oneself a bright punctuation of lush greenery all year long to your repeated edge or container garden and looks particularly efficacious when plant en masse shot . Lime Tuff ™ is said to be the most fragrant of the lustrelessness rushes , with inadequate bloom spikes appearing among the foliage from tardy spring through summertime . Though extremely forgiving of inauspicious condition , this rewarding ornamental do best when imbed in full sun to restrained shade in well - enfeeble soil and when water at least weekly during the hottest section of summer .
‘Harmony’ kangaroo paw
Anigozanthos‘Harmony ’ , Zones 9–11
‘ Harmony ’ kangaroo paw is evergreen plant and rosiness from late bound through fall . It ’s a attractive feature for hummingbird and Apis mellifera , and it makes a striking and unique accent for the back of a sunny moulding . The upright fans of strappy , dark green foliation stand 2 to 3 substructure improbable , with each dense cluster producing towering , inflexible , red - tint stems bearing abundant blooms that reckon like fuzzed , yellow kangaroo paws . bring down the spent flower wand to ensure repeat bloom and to add to bloom arrangements . develop ‘ Harmony ’ kangaroo paw in full sun and well - drained soils , and water regularly for best result . Like many Australian plants , kangaroo paws do n’t apprize phosphoric , so fertilize sparingly and deflect high phosphorous - based feed . Each fan of leaves only blooms once , so cut by two - thirds in winter to kick upstairs newfangled growth , new fans , and new blooms .
— Fionuala Campion is the owner and manager of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .
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‘Harmony’ kangaroo paw is a stunning focal point specimen with bright yellow flowers atop deep red stems.Photo: Fionuala Campion
Flambe®Yellow strawflower will bloom all summer and fall with only light irrigation.Photo courtesy of provenwinners.com
‘Wyn’s Wonder’ is a hummingbird favorite, with its long, red, tubular blooms.Photo: Tea with toast/Wikimedia Commons
Lime Tuff™ has bright, shiny green foliage that contrasts nicely with darker hues, such as that of the petunia foliage behind it.Photo: Fionuala Campion
Cutting spent ‘Harmony’ kangaroo paw wands will prompt a fresh flush of blooms.Photo: Fionuala Campion
