Page 160 - Australian House & Garden (January 2020)
P. 160

H G  GARDENING







                                      Floral and hardy





                         As droughts become harsher and water more precious, using waterwise

                                       plants in the garden is a no-brainer, writes Helen Young.



                    herearehundredsofwaterwisetrees,          bunshape,withtightlypacked,oval,fleshy           WHITE CORREA
                    shrubs,groundcoversandclimbersto          leaves.Itcanreach1mtall,butthereare             (CORREA ALBA)
              Tchoosefromandplentyofresources                 dwarfvarietiestoo.Clustersofwhite,starry        Thismedium-sizednativeshrubearns
              tohelpyoufindwhat’sbestforyourclimate            flowersthroughwinteraddtoitsappeal.Use           aplaceinanygardenwithitswhite,
              andsoils.Eachstatewaterauthority,andmany        itasalowhedge,clippedballorasafeature           bird-attractingflowersandgrey-green
              councils,havelistsoflocallysuitablevarieties.   pottedplant.Therearevarietieswithred            leaves,whicharesilveronthereverse.It
              Herearefivegreatplantstogetyoustarted.           edgesandgoldorrubytones,while‘Gollum’           growsabout1.5mtalland1mwide;dense
                                                              hasinterestingtubularleaves.Theytake            growthmakesitidealasalowhedgeorfor
              LAVENDER                                        coastalconditionsbutnotfrosts,and               clippingintoballs.Thestarryflowersbloom

              Astoughasitispretty,lavenderhailsfrom           respondwelltoclipping.                          mostlyinwinterandspring,butcanappear
              theMediterranean,soitloveshot,dry                                                               throughouttheyear.Acoastalplant,it
              summers.Frenchlavender(Lavandula                KARKALLA                                        alsotakesfrostandgrowsinmostsoils.
              dentata)ismypickbecauseitflowersfor              (CARPOBROTUS ROSSII)
              mostoftheyear,includingwinterwhen               Alsocalledpigfaceandbeachbanana,this            ROCK ROSE (CISTUS SP)                             Photography by Claire Takacs (this page) & Caitlin Mills for The Design Files
              bloomsareespeciallyvaluableforusandfor          ediblesucculentisanativegroundcoverthat         Formassesofprettybloomsintough
              bees.Mostotherlavendervarietieshavea            withstandstheravagesofsalt,windand              conditions,tryarockrose.Theopen,                     (Sunnymeade, opposite). Clippings text by Elizabeth Wilson.
              singlefloweringperiodinspringorsummer.           sand.Boththecurvingfleshyleavesandthe            saucer-shapedflowerscanbewhite,pinkor
              Frenchlavenderalsocopeswithsubtropical          grape-sizedredfruitsaretraditionalbush-         crimsonbutallhavedarksplotchesinthe

              humidity.Lavenderslovefullsunwithperfect        tuckerfoods.Plantsspreadabout1mand              centreandamassofyellowstamens.Most
              drainageandanalkalinesoil.                      grow30cmhigh.Theflowers,borneinspring            profusefloweringisspringandsummerbut
                                                              andsummer,arescarletpurple(awhiteform           bloomsappearsporadicallytherestofthe
              MONEY PLANT                                     isalsoavailable).Useonembankments,              year.Formsashrubabout1.5mtallandwide,
              (CRASSULA OVATA)                                naturestrips,poolside,orasafire-retarding        withlong,narrowleaves.Needsfullsunbut

              Thisversatilesucculentgrowsinarounded           plant,infullsunorpartshade.                     toleratescoastalconditionsandfrost. #


























                      HOW PLANTS COPE
                  Waterwise plants minimise water loss via
                 their leaves. Special adaptations include:
                     ✚Fleshy leaves that store water
                     ✚Silver leaves that reflect intense
                    light and heat
                     ✚Hairy leaves that reduce evaporation
                     ✚Tough, leathery or waxy leaves
                    that resist evaporation
                     ✚Small, narrow or reduced leaves
                    that minimise surface area
                     ✚Shiny leaves that reflect hot sun
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