Karin's Garden

Leucospermum x “Scarlet Ribbons” – Pincushion Protea

This is a small bush, growing up to 1.5M, flowering through late spring and early summer. Orange stamens rise above a cushion of red ribbons in each inflorescence.

The flowers are long-lasting, making the bush a stunning sight. Also excellent as cut flowers. However, this fabulous plant is not easy to come by, is difficult to propagate, and is not long lived. Which presumably explains why there are only a few of these around Motueka.

Click here to go to the Leucospermum x “Scarlet Ribbons” page in Karin’s Garden.

This is a low growing, evergreen spreading perennial, flowering in spring. This is apopular ornamental plant worldwide; spreading easily, but not invasively, through its rhizomes. It grows to a height of about 20cm with a profusion of star-like white flowers above silvery-grey foliage.

This is a superb plant for covering the ground, especially a sloping bank, or for cascading from a dry stone wall. It is a tough and reliable plant, only requiring a comprehensive shearing after flowering.

Click here to view the Cerastium tromentosum page in Karin’s Garden.

This is a large shrub or small tree, typically growing to 4-3M tall and wide. Abundant dense heads of bright blue flower clusters in spring, contrast with the dark foliage.

This is a very unusual plant when in flower. It is almost completely covered in bright blue flowers, which is rare – Wisteria is a climber, Hydrangeas are smaller, Lilac are not this bright blue, and Plumbago is smaller and also not this bright blue.

Click here to view the Ceanothus papillosus “Roweanus” page in Karin’s Garden.

This is a winter growing bulbous plant, flowering in spring to a height of 60cm before a brief period of summer dormancy. Dense raceme of tubular pink flowers on a long stem, above glossy wavy-edged strap-like basal rosette.

This plant requires so little maintenance, yet grows in shade and provides interest in winter through spring. And it is almost evergreen, apart from a brief period of dormancy in high summer.

Click here to view the Veltheimia bracteata page in Karin’s Garden.

This is a spring blooming bulb, with long semi-evergreen strappy leaves similar to a hyacinth, with big conical heads of many star-shaped bright blue flowers rising to about 40cm.

This is a very striking and reliable plant which is adored by the bees. Though somewhat messy in growth habit the vibrant blue colour catches the eye.

Click here to view the Scilla peruviana page in Karin’s Garden.

These are small plants with flowers to 15cm followed by leaves to 30cm. Exquisite showy pink to purplish flowers arise on bare stems in spring.

These are charming, vibrant spring orchids. Growers have developed an amazing range of colours, which you can inspect at The Pleione Website. A good range of varieties are available from Blue Mountain Nurseries in Tapanui. These are flowering in my garden just now, having been planted in August. My challenge will be getting them through next winter.

Click here to view the Pleione page in Karin’s Garden.

White petals with a vivid blue eye in early summer, above rather thin grass-like foliage. It grows to about 40cm and the flowers only some 3-4cm across but the markings are exquisite.

This is an exquisite plant, almost extinct in the wild but so beautiful that is is surely safe in gardens around the world.

Click here to view the Moraea aristata page in Karin’s Garden.

This is a medium sized Daffodil, growing to around 40cm. Several, strongly scented, white flowers on each stem in late autumn / early winter.

N. papyraceus is the earliest Daffodil to flower in Karin’s Garden, telling us that spring is not far away even before autumn has given way to winter. As well as lighting up the darkening days this is a wonderful cut flower, where its powerful fragrance fills the room.

Click here to view the Narcissus papyraceus page in Karin’s Garden.

This plant grows from corms and flower spike rise to about 1½M. Spikes of intensely yellow and orange coloured flowers rise above sword shaped leaves.

Along with Kniphofia (Red Hot Pokers) G. dalenii provides improbably day-glow yellow/orange colour in Karin’s garden in the middle of winter.

Click here to view the Gladiolus dalenii “Hookeri” page in Karin’s Garden.

This Aloe can grow up to 3M tall, but more typically to 2M in Karin’s Garden. Sprawling succulent with red flower spikes rising above rosettes of toothed leaves.

This is one of the winter flowering Aloes. It is reasonably popular around Motueka, and rightly so, where it provides a welcome dash of colour in mid-winter, along with Kniphofia (Red Hot Pokers) which are also in the Asphodelaceae family.

Click here to view the Aloe arborescens page in Karin’s Garden.