Category Archives: Vegetation

Florist’s Cineraria

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Florist’s Cineraria

Intensely coloured flowers…

  • The Florist’s Cineraria is commonly known as ‘Cineraria’.
  • Florist’s Cinerarias are a flowering plant from the family Asteraceae, and their official name is Pericallis x hybrida.
  • Florist’s Cinerarias are a small, bushy plant that grow to 30 -60 cm (1 -2 ft) in height.
  • Florist’s Cinerarias are a hybrid of two types of Pericallis, ‘Pericallis cruenta’ and ‘Pericallis lanata’, which are native to the Canary Islands, off the coast of northwest Africa.
  • The British Royal Gardens developed the hybrid Florist’s Cineraria in 1777.

purple cineraria, lots, bunch, flower, pretty, bundle, AUSTRALIA, Val Laird, Ten Random Facts

Image courtsey of Val Laird
  • Florist’s Cinerarias were originally part of the genus ‘Cineraria’, and were known as ‘Cineraria x hybrida’, however the genus ‘Cineraria’ now only contains South African species.
  • Florist’s Cineraria flowers can be blue, purple, rose, white, or pink coloured, and often the base of the petals are white.
  • The Florist’s Cineraria is a perennial plant, although it is commonly grown as an annual, especially in cold climates.
  • Florist’s Cinerarias are a popular garden plant and are easily grown from seed.
  • Aphids are one of the pests that can attack Florist’s Cineraria, and can damage the plant so that the foliage loses some of its brilliant green colour.
Bibliography:
Cineraria, 2010, Botany.com, <http://www.botany.com/cineraria.html>

Tibouchina

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Tibouchina

They like to put on a show!

  • The tibouchina is also known as ‘glory bush’, ‘princess flower’, ‘lasiandra’ and ‘glory tree’.
  • Tibouchinas are flowering, evergreen shrubs or trees.
  • Tibouchinas have stunning large purple flowers, although there are a few varieties with pink or white flowers.
  • Tibouchinas flower in Autumn and are an attractive and popular garden plant.
  • Tibouchinas are from the family Melastomataceae and there are over 350 species.

Glory Bush, Purple, Plowers, Green, Tree, Australia, Tibouchina, Ten Random Facts

  • Tibouchinas are native to tropical areas of South America, especially Brazil; the Caribbean; and Mexico.
  • Tibouchinas grow to 0.5 to 6 meters (1.6 to 20 feet) depending on the species.
  • Tibouchinas are susceptible to cold weather and frost.
  • Tibouchinas are classified as an invasive weed in Hawaii.
  • Tibouchinas generally like an acid soil type, and sometimes the edges of  the leaves have a burnt appearance due to the soil not being acidic enough, which can be rectified by the addition of sulphur.
Bibliography:
Tibouchina organensis (Glory Bush), n.d., Backyard Gardener, <http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_23c4.html>

Spider Plant

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Spider Plant

No, it is not a spider, it’s a spider plant.

  • Spider plants are an evergreen, perennial herb and are generally grown for their long arching foliage.
  • Spider plants are native to the African tropics and southern Africa.
  • Spider plants grow from 30 to 60 cm (12 – 24 inches) tall and are often grown in hanging baskets.
  • The scientific name for spider plant is chlorophytum comosum and they belong to the Asparagaceae family.
  • The most common spider plant species are variegated and have green leaves with a white stripe in the centre, or dark green leaves with white stripes on the outside.

Spider, Plant, Green, White Central Stripe, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Spider plants can be damaged by fluoride or boron.
  • Spider plants grow ‘babies’, called ‘plantlets’ along runners that grow from the main bush, giving the plant a spidery look.
  • Spider plants grow best in temperatures that are 18°C – 32°C (65°F – 90°F) but can grow at temperatures as low as 2°C (35°).
  • Spider plants are great indoor air cleaners, and 15 spider plants would purify the air of an average size house.
  • Spider plants grow quickly and produce small white flowers.
 Bibliography:
Chlorophytum Comosum, 2013 Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophytum_comosum>
VanZile, J n.d. Spider Plants (Chlorophytum) , About.com Houseplants, <http://houseplants.about.com/od/foliageplants/p/SpiderPlant.htm>

Lilly Pilly

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Lilly Pilly

It is not a lily…

  • Lilly pilly is also known as lillpilli, brush cherries and satinash.
  • Lilly pilly is a flowering plant from the family Myrtaceae, the family of myrtles.
  • Lilly pillies are split into three genera, Syzygium, Waterhousea, Acmena.
  • Lilly pillies are evergreen trees and shrubs.
  • Lilly pilly plants generally have white, fluffy flowers and produce small red, pink or purple fruit that are edible.
Lilly Pilly, Red, Berries, Bunch, Green, Australia, Plant, Berry, Ten Random Facts Lilly Pilly
Image courtesy of Val Laird
  • Lilly pilly is native to Africa, South East Asia and the Pacific.
  • Lilly pilly fruit is sometimes used in jams and jellies.
  • Lilly pilly is sometimes confused with the eugenia species.
  • There are 62 species of lilly pilly native to Australia.
  • The lilly pilly psyllid is a pest that feeds on lilly pilly and causes pimples on the leaves.
Bibliography:
Syzygium, 2013 Wikipedia,<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syzygium>

Abelia

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Abelia

Sweet Abelia…

  • Abelia is a plant group from the family Caprifoliaceae, the family of honeysuckles.
  • Abelias are evergreen or deciduous shrubs that can grow 1 to 6 meters (3.3 to 20 feet) in height.
  • Abelias are native to eastern Asia and Mexico.
  • Abelia leaves are dark green and glossy, and the tubular flowers are small, white or pink that grow in clusters.
  • Abelia shrubs flower between spring and autumn.

Abelia, White, Flower, Multiple, Bush, Shrub, Plant, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Abelias were named after the naturalist Clarke Abel, from Britain, who discovered the plant.
  • Abelias were introduced to England by Robert Fortune, a Scottish botanist in 1844.
  • Abelias are popular garden shrubs, as they are generally hardy and have a long flowering period, and are generally pest free.
  • Abelias attract some nectar feeding insects, and the plant is eaten by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera, a family of moths and butterflies.
  • Most Abelia species do not like extreme cold.
Bibliography:
Abelia, 2013 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abelia>

Protea

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Protea

There are so many interesting flowers.

  • Proteas are also known as sugarbushes.
  • Protea flowers are native to South Africa.
  • Proteas are named after the Greek mythology god ‘Proteus’ who can change it’s form, as there are many different looking proteas.
  • Proteas were introduced to Europe in the 1700s by keen botanists.
  • Proteas are from the family Proteaceae.

Protea, Vase, Three, Bunch, Red, Pink, Sugarbush, Flower, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • The South African cricket team is named after the protea; calling themselves ‘The Proteas’.
  • The protea genus has approximately 100 species, all evergreen, ranging from small shrubs to large trees.
  • Proteas flower in autumn, winter and spring and are very popular as cut flowers and are widely used by florists.
  • Protea leaves often feel like leather.
  • Protea flowers are pink, cream or red in colour.
Bibliography:
Plant Profile: Protea 2011, Gardening Australia, <http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866643.htm>
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