September 07, 2020

Beautiful Winter Blossom - Plant of the Month

When considering the best plant of the month we should consider two things. Firstly, will the plant blossom in this month? Or secondly, is this the best time to plant the best plant of the month? This article will be looking at the best plant of month – for blossoming. Our regular landscaping clients often tell us what their intentions are for their projects and we consult with them in order to help them achieve their goals. These goals may include:

• Preparing a home for sale
• Redesigning gardens for personal use
• Adding plant life to gardens for Clubs, pubs, venues and recently indoors as office managers start to consider the impacts of plants on humans in the workplace.

A perfectly designed landscape ensures that the garden can be enjoyed 12 months of the year with each month or a season hero. Each month could feature a new plant or flower so that you can feel that the garden in in fact a living a breathing thing. Let’s consider July, June and September blossoms so you can plan your gardens hero for the coming year. 

July Plant of the Month

Rhaphiolepis ‘Snow Maiden’, also known as Indian Hawthorn, is a tough, low growing evergreen shrub with high disease tolerance and glossy green leaves flushed copper when new. This long flowering shrub produces white blooms through winter and spring. Ideal for low hedges, pots and garden bed borders. A landscaper’s dream, these low maintenance shrubs prefer a sunny to partly shaded position, withstanding coastal conditions. Thrives in well drained soils and is also frost tolerant. Snow Maiden is salt tolerant and ideal to plant around swimming pools. Rhaphiolepis can grow up to 1m high and 1m wide, ideal for the busy gardener.

Rhaphiolepis Appearance:

Softly fragranced, pink-white flowers contrasted by dark green foliage. Evergreen hedging plant. Flowers in summer with spot flowering during most of the year in warmer climates.

Use In:

These look stunning in seaside gardens, mass planted or in containers.

Location:

This evergreen shrub prefers full sun for best flowering but will tolerate a small amount of shade. Tolerates frost, wind, salt soils and heat. Plant Rhaphiolepis in free draining soil, rich in organic matter.

Rhaphiolepis Care:

Mulch and water well until the plant is established, prune after flowering to promote compact growth and flowering.

August Plant of the Month –

Prunus Blireana 'Cherry Blossom Plum', is a robust and highly decorative small tree with beautiful metallic coppery purple leaves with fragrant, double pink blossom that decorates the bare branches in early spring. Flowering time is from mid-August to mid-September. The summer foliage is an attractive bronze-purple tone that makes a beautiful contrast to all that is green. Ideal as a feature tree or may be mass planted along paths and driveways to create avenues. Deciduous. Slow growing. Grows to about 5m in height and width.

Cherry Blossom Plum Appearance:

A flowering plum with an excellent massed display of double pink flowers followed by bronzy-purple foliage. Attractive as a single specimen or in massed planting for long driveways and avenues.

Use In:

Cherry Blossom Plum flowers best in full sun. Adaptable to various conditions but prefers moist, well drained fertile soils in a position that receives either full sun or part shade.  Beautiful as an ornamental tree or in repeat planting for long driveways or privacy screening.

Location:

This plant of the month needs a sunny position with soil that is moist and well-drained.

Prunus Blireana Care:

This tree needs moderately fertile soil, good drainage and a sunny position. Protection from wind is also important, as strong winds will blow the petals off the plant and ruin the flower display.

September Plant of the Month

Gardenia Florida produces a large, double, milky-white flowers.  The beautifully formed flowers produce a heavenly perfume which can be enjoyed from late spring into summer and autumn. They can be drought and frost hardy once established. Prefers warmer climates but can be grown in cooler climates if planted in a protected position.  Frost tender so must have protection in a cooler climate. Grows to about 1m in height and width.

Gardenia Florida Appearance:

Evergreen shrub with lush glossy dark green foliage and beautifully perfumed flowers.

Use In:

Gardenias make an ideal specimen or potted plant with their dark green glossy foliage and masses of blooms making them a real feature.  These are equally good planted as a hedge as they can be clipped into shape if required.

Location:

Requires full sun, part shade. 

Gardenia Florida Care:

This plant of the month requires a free draining rich acidic soil. Landscapers know that applying a fertilizer regularly will help keep them lush and healthy.  It needs regular deep watering in the warmer months and less in winter. They don t like to be damp so be careful not to over-do it. Prune after flowering to help promote new growth and create a more dense, thick shrub.

Now that we have discussed the plant of the month for July, August and September for gardens and landscapes with NSW weather conditions. If you’re looking for garden inspiration, ‘Better Homes & Gardens’ offer a ‘Plant Encyclopedia’  a great look book.  Otherwise, ask your specialist landscapers or drop into your nearest Nursery and start planning the next addition to your living garden. 

 

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