Lycianthes rantonnetii, the blue potato bush or Paraguay nightshade, is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to South America. Growing to about 1.8 m tall and broad, it is a rounded evergreen shrub with a somewhat lax habit. A profusion of trumpet-shaped, bright blue-purple flowers with a prominent yellow eye appear in summer, followed by red berries. It is widely cultivated and may be hardy in mild or coastal areas. Alternatively it can be grown in a container and brought under cover in winter. It requires a sheltered location in full sun. Though related t ..read more

Rosa "Baronne de Rothschild" is an excellent bi-coloured Hybrid Tea Rose displaying a crimson red opening to deep pink on the front of the petal with a silvery colour on the back of the petal. This is very eye-catching given its large flowers comprising around 40 petals. This rose has an amazingly strong, lifted rose perfume which surprises and delights anyone who smells the rose. A very hardy plant of medium height, that will enhance any garden. Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so! ****If you take part in the m ..read more

Stephanotis floribunda syn. S. jasminoides (Madagascar jasmine, waxflower, Hawaiian wedding flower, bridal wreath) is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to Madagascar. Growing to 6 m or more, it is an evergreen woody climber with glossy, leathery oval leaves and clusters of pure white, waxy, intensely fragrant tubular flowers. Grown commercially, the trumpet-shaped blooms are in season year-round, provided they are given enough light and water, and are a popular component of bridal bouquets. It is a vigorous climber, tough-stemmed, bearing dark green leathery leave ..read more

Cosmos sulphureus is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower family Asteraceae, also known as sulfur cosmos and yellow cosmos. It is native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, and naturalised in other parts of North and South America as well as in Europe, Asia, and Australia. This plant was declared invasive by the United States Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council in 1996. The flowers of all Cosmos attract birds and butterflies, including the monarch butterfly. Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you h ..read more

Prostanthera, commonly known as mintbush or mint bush, is a genus of flowering plants of the family Lamiaceae. There are about 90 species within the genus, all of which are endemic to Australia. The word is derived from the Greek for an appendage. Within the flowers are small spur-like appendages on the anthers. They are bushy, evergreen shrubs, usually with strongly aromatic leaves, and 2-lipped, 5-lobed flowers. They are cultivated as ornamentals and for essential oils and spices. All require varying degrees of winter protection in temperate regions, and are usually grown under glass. Prost ..read more

Double Lilium hybrids are bright and cheerful and boast an extra whorl of petals which sets them apart. This group of lilies are beautifully coloured and often pollen free as well. Fun to grow and perfect both in the garden and as a long-lasting cut flower. The variety illustrated here is 'Salvo', developed by Vletter en den Haan in the Netherlands. Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so! You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter ..read more

Amaranthus blitum, commonly called purple amaranth or Guernsey pigweed, is an annual plant species in the economically important plant family Amaranthaceae. It is an erect or semi-prostrate annual plant. The single or branched stem can grow to one metre tall. The green or purplish leaves are up to 10 cm long on stalks of a similar length and are arranged spirally. They are simple, roughly triangular in shape and have entire margins. The inflorescence is a spike with the tiny male and female flowers clustered together. The fruits are small globular capsules containing disc-shaped seeds. A ..read more

The Cistaceae are a small family of plants (rock-rose or rock rose family) known for their beautiful shrubs, which are profusely covered by flowers at the time of blossom. This family consists of about 170-200 species in eight genera, distributed primarily in the temperate areas of Europe and the Mediterranean basin, but also found in North America; a limited number of species are found in South America. Most Cistaceae are subshrubs and low shrubs, and some are herbaceous. They prefer dry and sunny habitats. Cistaceae grow well on poor soils, and many of them are cultivated in gardens.They of ..read more

Verbena hybrids are a trailing perennial, usually grown as an annual, which bears compact heads of fragrant, colourful flowers throughout Spring, Summer and Autumn. It has slightly hairy leaves and a spreading habit which makes it ideal for massed colour displays and as a fast grower, very good at quickly filling holes in your landscape. They like a warm climate and are a well known attractor of butterflies to gardens, going well alongside other such plants such as marigolds, lilacs, and lavender. Verbena are very easy to grow and maintain and go especially well in borders as well as rockerie ..read more

Gladiolus 'Purple Flora' is a hybrid variety featuring deep purple/violet florets that crowd the tall, strong stems. They make sensational cut flowers and are perfect for a big floral show. The elegant spires of ruffled blooms provide an indulgent explosion of fantastic summer colour. Gladiolus are economical, easy to grow bulbs that love the Australian sun. They are hardy and reliable flowers and can be easily timed for a succession of vibrant, towering summer colour. A trick of the trade is to plant your Gladioli bulbs in batches over a few weeks. This will extend the flowering sh ..read more