Tag Archives: Plant

Delphinium

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Delphinium

The tall, tall delphiniums.

  • There are over 400 species of Delphiniums, which is a group of tall, perennial flowering plants.
  • Delphiniums are native to the North Hemisphere, and the mountainous African tropics.
  • Delphiniums are from the Rananculaceae family, which is the family of buttercups, and are a popular garden plant due to their height in the garden and their showy flowers.
  • ‘Delphiniums’ are also known as ‘larkspurs’, however, the name ‘larkspur, usually refers to plants in the Consolida genus which is closely related and are annuals, rather than perennials.
  • The name ‘delphinium’ is from the word meaning ‘dolphin’ in Latin, which originally came from the Greek , named due to the plant’s bud and spur that resembles the shape of a dolphin.

Delphinium, Flowers, white, Blue, Garden, mutliple, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • The flowers of delphiniums, grow on tall spikes and range from purple, pink, red, yellow, and white in colour.
  • Delphiniums have small, black coloured seeds.
  • Most delphinium plants and seeds are poisonous to humans as well as to cattle, and ingestion can be fatal, and the plant can also cause irritation to the skin, although the plant has been used in medicine.
  • Delphiniums typically grow up to 2.1 metres (7 feet) in height, athough this depends on the species.
  • Historically, parts of delphinium plants have been used to create blue dyes and inks.
Bibliography:
Delphinium, 2013, National Garden Association, <http://www.garden.org/plantguide/?q=show&id=2046>
Delphinium, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphinium>

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May Bush

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May Bush

May bushes that flower in September in the Southern Hemisphere!

  • May bushes are ornamental, shrubby plants that belong to the genus Spiraea , that has 80 to 100 species and has its origins in the word ‘wreath’ in Greek.
  • The scientific name of the common May bush is Spiraea cantoniensis, which is native to south east China, although other species of Spiraea are native to the Northern Hemisphere, particularly eastern parts of Asia.
  • In the Northern Hemisphere, May bushes bloom in May, and thus they are named ‘May bushes’.
  • May bushes are from the family rosaceae, which is the family of roses.
  • May bushes are deciduous and typically have green leaves 2.5 to 10 centimetres (1 to 4 inches) in length, and the shrub grows up to 2.5 metres (8 feet) in height.

May bush, White, Green, Foliage, Australia, Plant, Ten Random Facts

  • May bushes contain salicylic acid, which has aided the development of the pain killer Asprin.
  • May bush flowers are very small and have five petals that are generally white, but other species have red, yellow, pink or purple flowers.
  • ‘May bushes’ are also known as ‘bridal wreaths’, due to the historical use of the bushes’ branches as wreaths.
  • May bushes like being in full sunlight and growing in moist soil.
  • May bushes usually have long arching branches which are covered in Spring in white flowers, although they are often grown in hedges, and can be trimmed and shaped effectively.
Bibliography:
Dudman P, May Bush for Spring, 2006, The Garden Guru, <http://www.thegardenguru.com.au/content/File/79_may_bush.htm>
Spiraea, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiraea>

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Petunia

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Petunia

Pretty petunias.

  • Petunias are ornamental plants that have showy flowers, that attract insects and hummingbirds.
  • There are 35 species in the Petunia genus and they are from the family Solanceae, which is the family of nightshades, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco and eggplants.
  • Petunias are commonly hybrid annuals, with many different sizes and forms and some will flower all year.
  • Petunias are native to South America and are best grown in tropical areas.
  • Petunias are available in two main types, ‘grandiflora’ and ‘multiflora’, with grandifloras having larger but fewer flowers, and mulitfloras having plentiful but smaller flowers, and millifloras are also available which are mini plants with mini flowers.

Petunia, Pink< Purple, Red, Violet, White, Group, Lots, Flower, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • The word ‘Petunia’ is from a native South American word ‘petun’, the name for ‘tobacco, of which it is a close relative.
  • Petunia plants range from 15 cm (6 inches) up to 120 centimetres (4 ft) in height and are generally grown from seed.
  • Petunias flowers can be white, yellow, pink, purple, red and blue in colour, as well as bicolour, and can be used as cut flowers.
  • Petunia flowers can have flowers as large as 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter, and they have five lobed petals, with varieties including double flowers and ruffled petals.
  • Petunias can be grown in the garden or in pots, and prefer sunny conditions, and to keep them flowering, dead flowers should be removed regularly.

 

Bibliography:
Petunia, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petunia>
Plant Profile: Petunia, 2011, Gardening Australia, <http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866725.htm>

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Tulip

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Tulip

“Tip-toe through the tulips!”

  • Tulips are eye-catching plants, 1o to 71 centimetres (4 to 28 inches) in height, and are grown from bulbs.
  • Tulips are often thought to be endemic to the Netherlands, however they were introduced there and are actually native to parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, most notably Turkey.
  • The scientific name for tulips is tulipa, and they come from the family liliaceae, which is the family of lilies.
  • There are 150 species of tulip and 3000 varieties, and they generally have two to six green leaves but can have up to 12 leaves.
  • The Netherlands produces 3 billion bulbs every year, more than any other country, and is the main exporter of commercial tulips.

Tulip, Pink, Red, Vase, Green, Tall, six, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Variegated patterns on tulips were originally caused by a mosaic virus known as ‘tulip breaking virus’ spread by the flower pest, aphids, however the patterns on modern varieties are usually a result of special breeding.
  • The largest collection of growing tulips can be found in the Netherlands garden, Keukenhof.
  • Tulip flowers bloom in spring, and can be red, yellow, orange, blue, purple, pink and white in colour.
  • Tulips are one of the most popular flowers in the world, but they do not like warm climates and grow well in cold temperatures.
  • Allergen chemicals can be found in tulips, as well as the chemical ‘tulipanin’ that is poisonous to dogs and cats.
Bibliography:
Facts about Tulips, n.d, Lifestyle Lounge, <http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/facts-about-tulips-5119.html>
Tulip, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip>

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Azalea

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Azalea

Pretty, showy azaleas.

  • ‘Azaleas’ are also known as the ‘Royalty of the Garden’, and are shrubs that bloom in from autumn to spring, depending on the variety.
  • Azaleas are either deciduous or evergreen, depending on the species, and generally like to grow under the shade of trees.
  • Azaleas are from the family ‘Ericaceae’, which is the family of heaths or heathers, and belong to the genus ‘Rhododendron’, which are a group of woody plants.
  • Azaleas grow up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) tall, although some only grow to half that height.
  • Azalea nectar and leaves are highly poisonous, and in the past, have been seen as a death threat if the flowers have been given in a black vase.White, Azalea, Group, Flower, Pretty, Ten Random Facts, Australia
  • Places in Japan, Korea and the United States have festivals to celebrate azaleas.
  • Azaleas are mostly native to North America, and eastern parts of Asia, and the American species are generally deciduous, while the Asian species are generally evergreen.
  • Azalea flowers come in white, pink, mauve, purple, red, orange and yellow in colour, and the single varieties generally have 5 petals, but doubles can have up to 30.
  • Azaleas are popular garden plants, although many people do not know how to grow them properly, as they require specific growing conditions, which include the need for acidic soil.
  • Over 10,000 different cultivars of azaleas have been recorded and the plant and flowers are very similar to rhododendrons in appearance, so it is often difficult to tell them apart.
Bibliography:
Azalea, 2007, Azalea Society of America, <http://azaleas.org/azaleas.html>
Azalea, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azalea>

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Keukenhof

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Keukenhof

Keukenhof is breathtaking.

  • Keukenhof is also known as the ‘Garden of Europe’, and the word ‘Keukenhof’ can be translated to ‘kitchen garden’ in Dutch, in reference to the herbs that used to be gathered in the area for the castle kitchen.
  • Keukenhof is the largest flower garden on Earth, with approximately seven million bulbs covering an area of 32 hectares (79 acres).
  • Keukenhof is located in Lisse, in the Netherlands in an area known as ‘Duin- en Bollenstreek’ which translates to ‘Dune and Bulb Region’, known for its floral industry.
  • Keukenhof is only ever open to the public for  8 weeks in a year from mid-March to mid-May, with the flower-viewing peak in mid-April.
  • Keukenhof was originally a place for hunting in the 1400s, and the Mayor of Lisse organised the first Keukenhof exhibit in 1949.
Keukenhof, garden, flower, tulip, Holland, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Keukenhof
Image courtesy of Bertknot/Flickr
  •  The Keukenhof gardens are directly opposite a building known as ‘Keukenhof Castle’, which was built in 1642.
  • Keukenhof was designed in the 1800s, by the landscaper Jan David Zocher and his son, for the Baron and Baroness van Pallandt the owners of the property and the castle at the time, all of which is now owned by a charitable foundation.
  • Keukenhof has competitions for the best flowers grown by exhibitors, with awards like tulip awards and rose awards.
  • Many visitors to Keukenhof search for large rows of a certain flower, which can be see in some of the surrounding areas, which they do not find in the garden, but instead find patterns and pictures created with flower bulbs.
  • The flowers and bulbs featured in Keukenhof can be bought, with much of the garden dug up and replanted yearly.
Bibliography:
Garrison L, Keukenhof Gardens – Dutch Spring Gardens near Amsterdam, 2013, About.com, <http://cruises.about.com/cs/europe/a/keukenhof.htm>
Keukenhof, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keukenhof>
History of Keukenhof, 2013, Keukenhof Holland, <http://www.keukenhof.nl/en/5/history-of-keukenhof.html>

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