Seeds included in 'Flowers | Arid Climate | Summer 2023' Seed Subscription:
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Sunflower- Double Delight F1 (Helianthus annuus)An annual growing to 75cm with multiple stems and flowers per plant. The bright yellow pollen-free flowers are semi-double, giving them a fluffy appearance. Fast and easy to grow. This medium-height variety is suited to growing in large pots, garden beds. |
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Zinnia- Mazurkia (Zinnia elegans)Annual grows to 30cm, with large, cream-tipped scarlet flowers up to 8cm wide. Mostly double/semi-double flowers. Ideal for beds, borders, mass plantings. Easy to grow in large containers. Fleuroselect award winner. |
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Billy Buttons (Pycnosorus globosus)Australian native flower, perennial to 60cm. Produces tall golden globe flowers on sturdy stems. Ideal for native gardens, beds, borders. Excellent cut/dried flower. Attracts native bees, drought tolerant, suitable for coastal sites. |
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Feverfew- Golden Ball (Tanacetum parthenium )A perennial herb growing to 30cm with fragrant green leaves and bright yellow flowers from mid-summer to autumn. Ideal for borders, pots, and hanging baskets. Attracts bees and butterflies. Great as a cut flower. Also known as 'Matricaria'. |
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Forget Me Not, Chinese- Firmament Indigo Blue (Cynoglossum amabile)Annual growing to 40cm. Compact bushy plant with hairy grey/green leaves and small deep blue flowers. Good for borders and as a cut flower. Also known as 'Hounds Tongue'. |
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Verbena- Florist Mixed (Verbena bonariensis)Trailing perennial often grown as an annual, growing to 30cm. Attractive fragrant flowers in a mix of colours. Good in rockeries and as a ground cover. Long flowering. |
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Wallflower- Fire King (Erysimum cheiri)Evergreen perennial normally grown as a biennial. Grows to 45cm. Dark green foliage with bright orange/red flowers. Sweet fragrance. Good for rock gardens, beds, borders and along walls and fences. Makes an eye-catching cut flower. |
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Impatiens- Camellia Flowered Mix (Balsam) (Impatiens balsamina)Annual growing to 45cm. Fleshy green foliage. Large double flowers in a range of colours including violet, scarlet, rose, salmon and white. Grows well in shady positions. Can be grown in containers. Impatiens balsamina is also known as Balsam. |
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Marigold, African- Yummy Mummy (Tagetes erecta)Compact annual growing to 30cm with dark green leaves and ornate flowers. Blooms from summer to autumn in yellow, orange, and gold. Suited for mass planting, borders, or containers. Attracts pollinators. Edible flowers. Fast and easy to grow. |
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Black Eyed Susan- Gloriosa Daisies Mix (Rudbeckia hirta)Perennial plant, often grown as an annual in cold climates. Produces large daisy-like flowers in various colours with black cone centre's. Ideal for cut flowers, garden beds, borders. Low maintenance, tolerant of dry, poor soil. Attracts bees, butterflies |
Summer Gardening
Tips for gardening in summer:
- Watering: Learn when to water by using your index finger to check soil moisture. Scratch back a little of the surface soil and use your finger to see if soil is moist about 5cm below the surface; if it’s on the dry side, it’s time to water. Learn more here.
- Pinch for More Flowers: Pinch the main stems of flowering plants to encourage strong growth, a bushier habit and more flowers. Once plants are 20-40cm tall and have several sets of leaves, use sharp, clean snips or secateurs to cut off the top 10cm or so of the main stem of the plant, making the cut just above a set of leaves. Flowers including aster, zinnia, chrysanthemum, calendula, marigold and dahlia will all benefit from pinching. Learn more here.
Pests and diseases to look out for in summer:
- Aphids: Small, sap-sucking insects that congregate on the new shoots or the underside of leaves. They can cause leaves to wilt or become discoloured, and also excrete honeydew which can attract ants and other insect pests. To manage aphids, remove them by spraying with a garden hose, apply a soap or alcohol spray, or encourage predatory insects to your garden. Learn more.
- Whitefly: A sap-sucking insect related to aphids, whitefly are found in large numbers on the underside of leaves, and will swarm in clouds when disturbed. Plants may have yellowing leaves or may wilt, and growth will be slowed. Whitefly can be removed with a Graden hose or strayed with soap spray. Badly affected plants should be destroyed. Learn more.
- Fungal diseases: The combination of warm temperatures and summer humidity can form the perfect conditions for fungal diseases to spread. Water plants in the morning at ground level, avoiding wetting foliage wherever possible. Prune off affected foliage, space plants to allow more airflow, and treat fungal outbreaks with homemade or purchased sprays.