The Star Creeper Lobelia nummularia is a herbaceous
perennial ground-cover, native to Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Demure, white to pale purple flowers with pointed lips bloom in June and July
on this small trailing herb. Large, purple-red berries follow that stand up
curiously and ornamental on delicate vines. Small, toothed, and rounded light
green leaves line the trailing branches and cascade if given a chance. Growing
3-4" tall in light shade and moist conditions.
The relatively large purple fruits are very
ornamental and fruits and young shoots were wild collected, eaten cooked by
local people. Has medicinal properties. Hardy to 15F. Rare, unusual,
different.
Seed and Plant Sources:
Waratah is the Aboriginal word for the NSW Waratah
Telopea speciosissima.
Telopea is from the Greek telepos meaning "seen
from afar". It is a spectacular slender, erect shrub, to 6' tall and
about 3' across. It has stiff, wedge-shaped and usually coarsely
toothed, dark green, leathery leaves to 6" long.
The large, bright crimson flower heads consist of many small flowers
densely packed into conical or peaked dome-shaped heads to 6" across,
and surrounded by a collar of large red, smooth bracts. The ‘flower’ is
in fact a conflorescence that comprises, depending on the species, as
many as 240 individual flowers.
It flowers during spring, October to
November. Makes an excellent long lasting cut flower. Hardy to 25 F. Needs well drained soil.
Plant and Seed Sources:
Fagraea ceilanica, the perfume flower bush, is
classified under the Loganiaceae family. This evergreen plant can be
pruned back to maintain it as a manageable small shrub but if it is left
alone, it can grow into a small tree with a height of about 10ft. When
not in flower, the perfume flower tree still makes a very attractive
shrub because it has very attractive foliage.
The perfume flower tree is said to be a plant that can be grown in large
containers. It has average water needs and hence its roots should be
kept moist and not allowed to dry out. Like most other flowering shrubs,
to ensure that a perfume flower plant grows healthily and blooms, each
specimen should be grown in an area with at least filtered sunshine
(semi-shade), although it can tolerate full, direct sunshine outdoors. Sought after by collectors.
