Today I noticed the finger lime in the front garden was almost leafless. At first I assumed it was another casualty of the flooding rains of early March 2022. But on closer inpection… I’d say this is the chrysalis of an Orchard Swallowtail butterfly. They’ve been breeding on the K-lime on the other side of […]
Chrysalis of an Orchard Swallowtail on Finger Lime Read More »
(was Melastoma affine, also known as Native Lassiandra) 6 March 2021 – after the rain I have found both my Melastomas in flower. But only the one in the front garden appears to be the native Melastoma malabathricum Native Lassiandra is a rounded shrub grows to three metres high with lilac flowers to five cm
Melastoma malabathricum was Melastoma affine (Blue Tongue) Read More »
Host plant for Painted Lady Butterfly Evergreen perennial with prostrate spreading habit Green or Silver Grey Leaves to 5 cm x 25 mm Small Yellow flowers in terminal clusters most of the year. I’ve tried this plant several times as a groundcover without success until one plant in a pot against the back wall was
Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Yellow Buttons) Read More »
Known as Kangaroo Grass. According to Kumbartcho, local habit is Tussock Forming Erect Habit Evergreen Perennial to 60 cm High Full Sun, Adaptable / Well-Drained Green slender leaves to 50 cm Flowers in spikes to 1.5 Metres high in Spring to Summer Brown pointed seed capsules to 7 cm, often pendulous Family: Poaceae Natural Habitat: Eucalypt Forest
Themeda triandra Kangaroo Grass Read More »
Above ground growth needs to be controlled and what that implies for the roots means it’s not really a small garden plant, so it’s in a pot. It’s been shifted around the garden looking for a home, finishing up in the front garden where it can climb the fence. New leaves on the Callerya megasperma.
Callerya megasperma – Native Wisteria Read More »
Shrub to 4 Metres High Dense Rounded Habit Evergreen Perennial Aspect: Full Sun / Shaded Soil/Conditions: Adaptable/Moist Green glossy leaves to 14 cm long White perfumed 4-petalled 8 mm flowers in clusters in Spring Black 8 mm globular berry fruit Family: Rubiaceae Natural Habitat: Dry Rain Forest Special Features: • Butterfly and Moth Attracting •
Pavetta australiensis Pavetta Butterfly Bush Read More »
Atractive nitrogen-fixing vine with common name of Wild or Native Lucerne Attracts Chequered Swallowtail, Common grass-blue and the Tailed pea-blue butterflies Small purple flowers attract native bees. I got the tubestock from Kumbartcho Nursery and put it in this hanging pot and forgot about it. Transplanted December 2019 in front of pond near the bee
Cullen tenax – Emu foot Read More »
Tree to 20 Metres High with cream fragrant flowers darkening to yellow in autumn through to summer. This one is staying in a pot Bird Attracting Butterfly Attracting Bee Attracting Prune young and regularly for best effect
Hymenosporum flavum (Native Frangipani) Read More »
Common names: Sago Bush, Rice Flower, White Dogwood, Pill Flower Shrub to 2.5 Metres High by 2 Metres Spread Full Sun / Semi-Shade, Adaptable Description: Dense Upright Habit Evergreen Perennial Dark Green aromatic leaves to 15 mm long White flowers in 3 mm clusters of 20 to 100 in Spring to Summer Attracts Australian Painted
Ozothamnus diosmifolius – Rice Flower Read More »
Glycosmis trifoliata – known as Òrange Berry or Pink Lime Bush Rounded open habit, evergreen, perennial shrub to 4 Metres Full Sun / Semi-Shade Moist /Well-Drained Green glossy leaves to 15 cm long White flowers to 5 mm in clusters in Spring to Summer Pink soft berry fruit to 12 mm diameter Family: Rutaceae Natural Habitat: Dry
Glycosmis trifolata – Pink Lime Bush Read More »
Alphitonia excelsa, commonly known as the red ash or soap tree Fast growing, semi-deciduous tree – when planted in a well-drained position it makes a splendid shade tree which can grow to a height of about 21 m in warm moist conditions – keep in pot Food plant for the caterpillars of the moonlight jewel (Hypochrysops delicia )
Alphitonia excelsa Read More »
Tubestock from Kumbartcho Nursery December 2019 Label says: Scrambling / Climbing Woody Vine or Ground Cover to 5 Metres, Evergreen Perennial, Bright Green leaves to 12 cm, Yellowish flowers to 5mm, Purplish-Black grape-like edible fruit Semi-Shade / Shade Soil/Conditions: Moist / Well-Drained Joseph’s Coat Moth Host Plant Bird Attracting Hanging Basket plant Indoor Plant Aboriginal
Cissus antarctica (Kangaroo Vine) Read More »
Dianella berries (November 2018) on front verge. Rich purple berries follow delicate flowers. Bought as tubestock (3), Kumbartcho, December 2016. Planted on west side of tank. Bought as tubestock (30), Kumbartcho, December 2016. Planted on south side of verge. Dianella flowering September-October 2022. This is blue tongue territory. Sweet peas in foreground, Doryanthes excelsa – Gymea
Dianella brevipendunctulata – Blue Flax-Lily Read More »
Pentas have hairy green leaves and clusters of flowers in shades of red, white, pink, and purple. I planted some in the front bed from a punnet of seedlings and forgot about them until a year on I found this one thriving despite considerable neglect.
Bought as tubestock at Kumbartcho Nursery 10/12/2016 Planted at the base of a birdbath by the back tap. The little birds – fairy wrens, brown honeyeaters and willy wagtails, perch on the bottle tree, take a dip, then back up to dry. The purple-flowered Orthosiphon aristatus doesn’t seem as hardy as the white with purple tips.
Orthosiphon aristatus – Cat’s Whiskers Read More »
commonly known as the Waxvine or Common waxflower Bought as tubestock from Kumbartcho Nursery 10/12/2016 Planted in pot with native violets at base. Wikipedia – Hoya Australis says it is an evergreen climbing vine which may reach 4–10 m (13–33 ft). It has simple opposite glabrous (shiny) leaves 3–6 cm long and 2–5 cm wide.
I got some Okinawa spinach cuttings from Diane at BLF. They strike very easily, stand up to summer heat, and are another option for greens. And it seems it is also attracts the Blue Tiger butterfly.
A flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to Australia from Queensland to Tasmania. It is known in Australia by the common names false sarsaparilla, purple coral pea, happy wanderer, native lilac and waraburra. (wikipedia) Hardenbergia violacea is usually a climbing plant whose branches twist around the stems of other plants. It is moderately
Hardenbergia violacea Read More »
Attractive, scrambling shrub to 1m. Flowers white or pale mauve from spring to autumn. Sticky fruits adhere to clothing, skins and pets and may be a minor nuisance near walkways or other high traffic locations. (ref) Grows as an understory plant in monsoon forest and vine thickets (ref) Food plant for Zebra Blue butterfly. Bought:
Plumbago Zeylanica Read More »
New plant bought Kumbartcho 5/3/2021 Bought: Nambour Garden Show July 2016 and put in pot. Planted: Against back fence to climb on wires (southfacing, gets sun in summer) Survived for 2 years Links https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pararistolochia_praevenosa http://www.saveourwaterwaysnow.com.au/01_cms/details_pop.asp?ID=291 http://richmondbirdwing.org.au/
Pararistolochia praevenosa – Richmond birdwing butterfly vine Read More »
Bought: Nambour Garden Show July 2016Planted: Against back fence to climb on wires (southfacing, gets sun in summer)Prefers full sun or part-shadePruning after flowering can restrain growth and plants respond well to hard pruning. It is important to note that Pandorea species develop a strong and penetrating root system and should not be planted near
Pandorea Jasminoides – Bower of Beauty Read More »
