Proteas
Not just any old blossom, protea flowers are blooms with attitude. If you can give them full sun and reasonable drainage, proteas will love you.
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Are you after a strappy leaved grass plant that provides the same look as a liriope but has a white flower similar to that of the ‘One Day’ iris? Look no further than the Libertia (Libertia spp.)! This grass plant, with species native to New Zealand and Australia, provide great leaf form and shape around borders and burst into flower come Spring.
How to grow Libertia in a garden
- Choose a position with well drained soil. Depending on the variety, Libertia can grow in either full sun or semi shade, check the label for further details.
- Enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well.
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container and gently tease the roots.
- Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Form a raised doughnut shaped ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it’s needed most. Water in well.
- Mulch with an organic mulch like woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the base of the plant.
- Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions, allowing to dry out slightly in between waterings.
- During the growing and flowering season feed with Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost apply Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Plant Food Concentrate.
How to grow Libertia in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 300mm wide.
- Depending on the variety, Libertia can grow in either full sun or semi shade, check the label for further details.
- Fill the pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Nature's Way Organic Flower Mix.
- Remove the plant from the container and gently tease the roots.
- Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Water in well.
- Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions, allowing to dry out slightly in between waterings.
- Feed with Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Plant Food Concentrate.
Growing tips
- To keep the plant looking its best, give it a hard prune back in late autumn.
- This plant can be easily propagated through division in autumn by carefully removing it from the ground or pot and dividing the rhizomes with a sharp spade.
- Goldfinger (L. Ixioides) is a New Zealand native species great for those that want a plant that can handle full sun to part shade. Varieties such as 'Taupo Blaze' provide great purple foliage colour in winter followed by white flowers in spring.
Azalea
Azaleas vary from small, delicate shrubs that are happy in pots, up to hardy 1.5m shrubs ideal for border planting. Here's how to grow azaleas in your garden.
Lavender
Lavender are hardy perennial plants with silvery-grey, aromatic foliage & dense spike of flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink and white.
Echinacea
Echinacea is a hardy herbaceous perennial with large fragrant pink daisy-like flowers. Used for therapeutic purposes and as a delicious tea.
Recommended products
Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Plant Food Concentrate
Developed for boosting prolific beautiful flowers of roses and other flowering plants. Feeds through both leaves and roots for fast results.
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
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