Tohm's A - Z of Plants. D is for Doryanthes

Splendid in their form and colour

For a native plant that provides dramatic visual effect, you can’t beat Doryanthes. The genus Doryanthes contains only two species, both of which are among the largest lilies in the world.

The Gymea Lily (D. excelsa) originating from a region around Sydney provides a spectacular flower display on a stem 3-6 metres high. You need to be pretty tall or have a high vantage point to get the most out of this flower. The Spear Lily (D. palmeri) native to northern NSW and south east Queensland also produces its flower on a large stem though this bends over providing a stunning flower at ground level.

Both have sword like leaves up to 3m long and large red flowers on very large red terminal heads (about 500mm across). Sweet nectar is produced over a period of several months attracting many nectar feeding birds to your garden.

Doryanthes plants prefer to be grown in full sun or part shade and will rot if the soil is boggy. While its foliage is frost tolerant, the developing flower needs to be protected.

As the plant grows larger, its stem draws deeper into the soil giving it the ability to withstand extended dry periods. It does however require deep friable soil to perform this task. The growth of a Doryanthes plant will be restricted in heavy clay soil. I know of a 10 year old plant in these conditions which is less than 1m high.

The Doryanthes will present well as a pot specimen for a number of years and is a good alternative to the more delicate Agave attenuata. Be aware that the plant will not be restricted by its confined quarters, preferring to break out of the pot as its stem swells. If planting in your favourite ceramic pot, be sure to pot up or plant out early enough to avoid the problem.

From seed, the Doryanthes will take 8-10 years to flower. So the gardener who cannot wait that long should obtain an advanced plant. Otherwise, be patient and enjoy the foliage until the flowers eventually arrive.

Tohm's A - Z of Plants. C is for Curcuma

Makes a gorgeous cut flower
that lasts for weeks

This gorgeous member of the ginger family fits under an umbrella known as tropical gingers. Originating from tropical Asia through to Northern Australia, there are approximately 80 species of curcumas and hundreds of cultivars.

Unlike many other gingers, curcumas die back in autumn with lush foliage emerging again in mid spring earning it the nickname of Hidden Ginger.

All have stunning flowers ranging from 50mm to over 300mm, with such a broad spectrum of colours that even the fussiest of gardeners will be satisfied.

Curcumas are the ideal sub-tropical alternative to temperate bulbs and are an easy plant to keep providing a few simply rules are followed.

1. Some like sun while others prefer shade, so research your choice and plant with the appropriate aspect.

2. They do not like winter water. Plant them in soil which is well drained and rich in organic matter. Remember, they originate from the rainforest floor.

3. When the spring shoots appear, fertilize well and ensure an adequate water supply.

4. Mark the spot where the plants are so you don’t accidentally dig them over during the winter.

Tumeric (C. longa) is probably the best known of the species. Here are a few other varieties that I would recommend. For a full sun position, try the ‘Siam Tulip’ (C. alismatifolia) or ‘Voodoo Magic’. If the aspect is more filtered light, ‘Jewel of Burma’ (C. roscoeana) or ‘Jewel of Thailand’ (C. cordata) are ideal choices. If you prefer natives, the ‘Cape York Lily’ (C. australasica) is the plant for you.

Curcumas make great pot plants as they can be hidden away behind the shed during winter and brought out as a stunning display when the flowers appear. It is important during winter not to water curcumas as the rhizome will rot. A great way to ensure this is to simply lay the pot on its side.

Some varieties are fantastic as cut flowers, lasting for weeks in the vase. Curcuma plants are usually only sold when flowering and will be available in the shops from around Christmas.

Tohm's A - Z of Plants. B is for Bracteantha

Little rays of sunshine in the garden

Botanical names of plants are used to help avoid confusion created by several plants using the same common name or a plant having various common names. But occasionally the classification of a plant can lead to more confusion for the home gardener than common names.

A great example of this is a plant most of us know as the Paper or Everlasting Daisy. The genus has had four names since it was first described in 1803 with many species drifting in and out of the club as studies intensified. Many of us would have grown up knowing it as Helichrysum bracteatum. In 1991 it was reclassified as Bracteantha bracteata, a name under which it is still marketed today. However, one year before that classification, Russian botanist Nikolai Tzvelev had assigned it the name Xerochrysum bracteatum which is currently the plants official botanic name.

Fortunately this confusion has no impact on the plant’s growth or popularity with cultivars receiving awards around the world.

The strawflower is a member of the Asteraceae or daisy family and can be found growing naturally in most regions of Australia except the tropics. It is best known for the stunning daisy flowers which retain their colour even when removed from the plant and dried. The flower head is surrounded by layers of stiff paper like bracts which are a modified leaf, not a petal. These blooms are often used in dried flower arrangements and potpourri.

It can be treated as either an annual or perennial depending on the region it is grown. Wet summers of the sub tropics often lead to rot at the base of the stem. Plant out fresh ones in late autumn to provide your garden with the glowing flowers through to Christmas.

Strawflowers are versatile in the home garden. They can be used in rockeries, cottage or bush gardens and annual garden beds. They can be grown from seed, though the colour of the flower and the size of the plant may vary. If a consistent plant size and colour is required, select one of the many cultivars available. These have been carefully bred since the mid 19^th century to provide us with a wide range of stronger colours. Modern varieties are often more compact than their wild or seeded cousins.

This is a particularly drought tolerant plant making it useful to the gardener who does not water their garden. Plant out in full sun into well drained, slightly acidic soil.

Dead head throughout the flowering season to ensure bushiness and more blooms. If grown as a perennial, prune back old woody growth early in winter.

No matter where the name changes take us in the future, the Helichrysum/Bracteantha/Xerochrysum will continue to be an important and outstanding flowering plant in gardens throughout the world.

Tohm's A - Z of Plants. A is for Austromyrtus

A midyim berry ready to eat!

Once considered much larger, the Austromyrtus genus has recently undergone a bit of pruning leaving it with only 3 species. They are a genus of shrubs found in the Myrtaceae family, which includes plants such as tea trees, bottle brushes, lilypillies and eucalypts. The name is derived from Australis, Latin for southern and myrtus, the Greek word for myrtle.

Found between Sydney and South East Queensland, they mostly appear with small white flowers of 5 petals which are followed by soft edible berries. These are a great attractant for small birds. Known as a source of bush food, Austromyrtus species and their cultivars have well and truly endeared themselves to the home gardener due to their splashes of colour, versatility and hardiness.

The most common of this genus, Austromyrtus dulcis, is a spreading heath land shrub, equally at home on the range.  Also known as the Midyim berry it will grow to 0.5 m high and up to 1.5m wide. After a blanket of beautiful small flowers in Spring, the Midyim will fruit profusely through early Summer and to a lesser extent in Autumn. The fruit are sweet with a mild cinnamon taste and are quite aromatic. I have found this to be a favourite among young children who will happily sit for long periods beside a shrub while they graze on the fruit.

It is interesting to note that the local costal region of Mudjimba has been named using an indigenous word meaning –‘place of the midyim shrub’.

Popular cultivars for the Austromyrtus are sold as ‘Blushing Beauty’ and ‘Copper Tops’. Both are small, compact shrubs with beautifully coloured foliage in the red hues. These can be pruned into an attractive low hedge or included in cottage style gardens.