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Gardening in Oz

Those plants that you can't live without?

21 years ago

If you found yourself moving to a new property with a bare patch to work with, what would be on your short list of plants that you couldn't live without? We are assuming here that the new conditions are perfect for growing them, whatever they are.

Personally, I'm finding this a difficult one to answer. My list would include Stachyurus praecox, Hosta sieboldiana elegans, Hamamelis 'Pallida", Cyclamen hederifolium 'Bowles Appollo" and Stipa gigantea (to name but a few). I'd have to move further south to stand a chance of growing any of them in Australia, with the possible exception of the last one. I'm still evaluating the sub tropical plants.

So what would you choose?

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Comments (5)

popi_gw
21 years ago
Well Jan

To make a home, my home, I have always felt the need to have a lemon tree, parsley, mint and chives. They are the first plants I start to think about.

I like your list , very impressive!

P
Sparaxis
21 years ago
Well - given that I did just that, and brought with me, 22 trailer loads of plants potted up over 2 years from my old garden, then I don't think I am qualified to answer that. By trailer load I mean - for every trailer load full, the car was also chockers full - the boot, the back seat, the passenger seat.
I just wouldn't be able to narrow it down.
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Granville44
21 years ago
That is some move, Sparaxis. Your garden must be magical. I don't know that I can narrow it down much either but being a rose lover I must say I can't do without them. And then the WA natives like grevilleas would be an important part of the garden.

I love the ground covers like Running Postman which cover up the harsher, barer patches. Backea are great - just love them. And the solana which just bloom and hang over the walls with lovely purple flowers most of the year.

But I'm rattling on - no this is too hard - can't narrow it down. And I haven't even started on the trees.

Barb
kathy_nq
21 years ago
When I moved to Brandon recently, I brought 120 pots of plants with me. Mostly hibiscus, hippies and a few others. As I start work at 7.45am and don't get home until after 5, then have to cook meals and feed animals, it's a fair amount of watering every day.

Kathy
Liatris
21 years ago
Oh, Jan, please don't ask me to choose - it'd be like asking which of your children you love the most.

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