Tag Archives: Plant

Lime Lava

By | |
Leave a comment
Lime Lava

Don’t step on living carpets of lime lava.

  • Lime lava plants are evergreen plants native to New Zealand and the eastern states of Australia; and they prefer higher than normal elevations in subtropical habitats.
  • A ‘lime lava’ plant is also known as a ‘two-flowered knawel’, ‘knawel’, ‘cushion-bush’, ‘cushion plant’ and ‘Canberra grass’.
  • The scientific name of the lime lava plant is Scleranthus biflorus, and it is from the family Caryophyllaceae, the family of carnations.
  • Lime lava plants typically grow horizontally as a perennial plant, and they have very small leaves that are between 0.5 to 1 centimetre (0.2 to 0.4 inches) in length.
  • From a distance, a lime lava plant has the appearance of moss, and the plant boasts a colour of vibrant green.

Lime Lava, Green, Ten Random Facts, Carpet, Australia, Vegetation, Plant, Flat

  • Lime lava plants are used most often for decorative purposes, commonly to line garden edges, featured in rockeries, or as a ground cover.
  • Full sunlight is the best condition for growing lime lava plants and they also prefer moist conditions.
  • Lime lava plants have trouble growing in areas where water collects; and they are generally frost resistant.
  • Lime lava can grow to be 15 centimetres (6 inches) in height and 50 to 80 (20 to 32 inches) centimetres in diameter.
  • Lime lava flowers are very small, and green to yellow in colour, and they flower during spring to autumn.
Bibliography:
Canberra Grass, 2014, Burke’s Backyard, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-sheets/in-the-garden/grasses-ground-covers-lawns/canberra-grass/#.VK9d-IuUd8E
Hibbs B, A patch of lime green – Scleranthus biflorus, 2012, Garden World, http://gardenworld.com.au/2012/06/13/a-patch-of-lime-green-scleranthus-biflorus/
Scleranthus biflorus, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scleranthus_biflorus
Scleranthus biflorus, 2015, Bushland Flora, http://www.bushlandflora.com.au/individual_plant.php?p=Scleranthus%20biflorus&uid=1677
Hadlow B, Scleranthus biflorus, 1981, Australian National Botanic Gardens http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp11/scleranthus-biflorus.html

Amazon:     

Marguerite Daisy

By | |
1 Comment
Marguerite Daisy

A marguerite daisy make your garden smile.

  • Marguerite daisies are a group of 24 species of flowering plants, native to the islands of Macaronesia, in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Marguerite daisy plants are also known as ‘marguerites’ and ‘dill daisies’.
  • The scientific name of a marguerite daisy is Argyranthemum, and it is from the family Asteraceae, the family of daisies.
  • Marguerite daisy plants are perennials, that usually have a long flowering period, generally from spring to autumn.
  • Marguerite daisies are typically used as a decorative garden plant, often in flower beds or as a pot plant, and the flowers can also feature in floral arrangements.

Marguerite Daisy, Ten Random Facts, Flower, Vegetation, White, Flickr

  • The flowers of marguerite daisies can be white, pink, purple and yellow in colour, while the petals can be arranged as singles or doubles, sometimes with numerous layers of petals.
  • Many marguerite daisy species have received the Award of Garden Merit, given by the British Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Marguerite daisies are typically small shrubs and grow to a height of 30 to 100 centimetres (1 to 3.3 feet) height.
  • Marguerite daisies grow best in areas that receive full sun, or a large quantity of light, and well drained soil.
  • The native habitat of some species of wild marguerite daisies is being threatened by grazing, humans and erosion, with at least two species endangered, plus one that is critically endangered.

 

Bibliography:
Argyranthemum, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyranthemum
Argyranthemum, 2015, Renaissance Herbs, http://www.renaissanceherbs.com.au/romantic-cottage/argyranthemum
Argyranthemum, n.d, Syngenta Flowers, http://www.syngentaflowers.com/country/us/en/seeds/GrowingGuidelinesLib/Argyranthemum_Final.pdf
Kimberley M, Argyranthemum, 2010, Horticulture Week, http://www.hortweek.com/argyranthemum/article/1008910

Verbena

By | |
Leave a comment
Verbena, Pink, White, Flowers, Plant, Vegetation, Ten Random Facts, Cluster

Make your garden a bloom of delight with verbena.

  • Verbenas are a group of 250 species of plants that flower, and are either grown as annuals or perennials depending on the location and species.
  • Verbenas are from the family Verbenaceae, the family of vervains, that are mostly flowering plants found in tropical areas.
  • A ‘verbena’ plant is also known by the common name ‘vervain’.
  • Verbenas originate mostly from North and South America, as well as from Europe, and they tend to be mainly found in tropical and subtropical habitats.
  • Verbenas have flowers coloured pink, red, blue, purple or white that consist of five petals, that generally grow in clusters on spikes.

Verbena, Pink, White, Flowers, Plant, Vegetation, Ten Random Facts, Cluster

  • Verbenas are mainly grown for decorative purposes, and they grow best in complete sunlight.
  • Verbenas have been used historically as an ingredient for medicinal purposes, such as herbal tea; while oil can also be extracted from the plant.
  • Verbenas generally have long flowering periods, and they can be found flowering in all months, with the exception of winter.
  • Verbenas grow to be roughly 0.3 to 0.9 metres (1 to 3 feet) in height, and they usually have a spreading habit, making them suitable for hanging baskets.
  • The leaves of verbenas often have a light to heavy covering of hair, while the fruit splits into four parts, each containing one seed.
Bibliography:
Genus Verbena, PlantNET, n.d, http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=gn&name=Verbena
Plant Profile: Verbena, 2014, Gardening Australia, http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866736.htm
Verbena, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbena
Verbena, 2015, Better Homes & Gardens, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/annual/verbena/

Amazon:    

Blue Billygoat Weed

By | |
1 Comment
Blue Billygoat Weed

Blue billygoat weed is a strange name for a strange plant.

  • Blue billygoat weeds are an annual plant, native to areas of Central America and Mexico.
  • Blue billygoat weeds have the scientific name Ageratum houstonianum and are from the family Asteraceae, the family of asters and daisies.
  • ‘Blue billygoat weeds’ are also known as ‘blueweeds’, ‘floss flowers’, ‘blueminks’, ‘pussy foots’, ‘Mexican paintbrushes’ and ‘goatweeds’, among others.
  • Blue billygoat weed typically grows to be 30 to 100 centimetres (1 to 3.3 feet) in height and the leaves grow to be 2 to 7 centimetres (0.8 to 2.8 inches) in length.
  • Blue billygoat weed has small seeds that are coloured brown to black, and are covered in small scales that look like hairs.

Blue billygoat weed, Purple, Flower, Ten Random Facts, Plant, Vegetation, Weed

  • Blue billygoat weed is often used for ornamental purposes, such as in gardens, and some of the cultivars have been awarded the British Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
  • The flowers of blue billygoat weed can be blue, pink, white or purple in colour, and the flower heads are covered with numerous, clustered, tiny tubular flowers, that are thread-like in appearance.
  • Blue billygoat weed contains a chemical that causes premature moulting in insects, and they can be poisonous to animals such as sheep and cows, causing liver problems.
  • Blue billygoat weed has been classified as an invasive weed in many areas, such as parts of the United States, Asia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa and Australia.
  • Blue billygoat weeds are readily grown from seeds, that are easily spread in water and wind, and this is the main cause of its widespread weed status.
Bibliography:
Ageratum houstonianum, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageratum_houstonianum
Blue billygoat weed, 2011, Weeds of Australia, http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/03030800-0b07-490a-8d04-0605030c0f01/media/Html/Ageratum_houstonianum.htm

Amazon:     

Dill

By | |
Leave a comment
Dill

Isn’t dill play-on-words fun!?

  • Dill is a leafy herb that reaches heights of 40 to 60 centimetres (16 to 24 inches) and the plant is grown as an annual in full sun.
  • Dill is native to Europe’s east, Russia’s south, Africa and the Mediterranean, and it is the only species in the Anethum genus; its scientific name is Anethum graveolens.
  • Dill is from the family Apiaceae, that is also known as the Umbelliferae family, and it is the family of celery, parsley and carrots, and other hollow stem plants.
  • ‘Dill’ is derived from the Norse word ‘dilla’, meaning ‘to lull’ or the Old English word ‘dile’, and the names are a reference to the plant’s medicinal purposes.
  • Dill leaves are often used in seafood or soup dishes, as well as pickled items like cucumbers, and the seeds are used as a spice for flavouring.
Dill, Food, Seeds, Culinary, Spice, Brown, Bowl, Many, Flavour, Ten Random Facts, AustraliaSeeds
  • Oil can be obtained from the dill plant, which can be used to produce soap.
  • Dill has been used for thousands of years, and in England in the 5th to 11th centuries it was used to treat headaches, stomach illness, boils and nausea, and other sickness.
  • Fresh dill leaves are delicate and feathery and are typically coloured a bright green, while seeds are mustard to brown in colour.
  • Dill has a taste described typically as mild and warm, with a slight anise flavour, and the leaves have a milder flavour than the seeds.
  • Dill leaves are a very good source of vitamin C and vitamin A, and they contain many other vitamins and minerals, while the seeds are high in calcium.
Bibliography:
Dill (Anethum graveolens), 2014, Gourmet Garden, http://www.gourmetgarden.com/en/herb/252/dill
Dill, 2014, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=71
Dill, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dill

Amazon:     

Hallerbos

By | |
Leave a comment
Hallerbos

Is Hallerbos full of magic?

  • Hallerbos is a forest area located in Europe’s Belgium, mainly in the Halle district.
  • Hallerbos is known for its abundance of wild hyacinths or bluebells that bloom during spring, from April to May.
  • The forest of Hallerbos has an area of approximately 5.35 square kilometres (2 square miles), which includes 1 square kilometre (0.4 square miles) that is classed as a reserve and is home to a number of rare plants.
  • ‘Hallerbos’ is also known as ‘Halle Forest’ and ‘The Blue Forest’.
  • The trees of Hallerbos include species of oak, ash, pine, beech, giant sequoia and larch.
Hallerbros, Trees, Forest, Plants, Bluebells, Carpet, Belgium, Europe, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Part of Hallerbos
Image courtesy of Ines Saraiva/Flickr
  • Nearly all of the Hallerbos trees were cut down by Germans during World War I.
  • Hallerbos is home to hares, foxes, deer, rabbits and polecats.
  • In Ancient Roman times, Hallerbos was part of the Coal Forest, which reached into Germany.
  • Since the 1930s, Hallerbos trees have been replenished and planted, and the area expanded by the purchase of nearby farms.
  • Hallerbos has tracks for cyclers, hikers and horse riders, and also a museum.

 

Bibliography:
Hallerbos, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallerbos
Halle 2011, Natuur en Bos, http://www.natuurenbos.be/hallerbos#.U-VbUvmSzVx
Welcome to Hallerbos, 2014, Hallerbos, http://www.hallerbos.be/en/

 

Amazon:  

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...