Tag: Evergreen

Beaucarnea recurvata

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Some of these plants were used in the building of the garden in Wallacedene.

Once again they came from The Cape Garden Centre.

They were however planted as a smaller species [you’ll see them in the images below in sand in a liner similar to a 1 litre pot]. Once again and yet again to say I was blown away when I saw them over the 6′ tall mark is an understatement. They are magnificient.

The beaucarnea, nolinaceae, are a genus of about 30 species of evergreen trees and shrubs. This variety, the B. recurvata, is commonly known as the ponytail palm. The leaves can grown to 6′ tall, the plant itself can grow up to 8metres in height and 4 metres wide. It does produce flowers through the summer time, but alas I think I’ll have to hope that one day I may see that in person…. For the moment, it is still an absoolute stunner… 😉

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Tags beaucarnea, beaucarnea recurvata, biology, cape garden centre, cape town, Evergreen, garden, genus, palm, plant, ponytail palm, shrub, south africa, species, tree, unusual

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Leucospermum cordifolium x glabrum

Post author By Peter Donegan
Post date November 23, 2009
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I was blown away when I saw this plant displayed at The Cape Garden Centre.

I have seen these guys before… but they are very much a rarity, in Ireland anyway and moreso in such abundance.

The Leucospernum, commonly known as the pincushion, Protaeaceae, is a genus of about 47 species of evergreen shrubs. What is amazing about this plant is that it grows to about 1.5 meters tall and wide and in South Africa.

It’s recommended use…. as a hedge… 😯 can you imagine that in Ireland !! The best thing after that… it’s widely used for cut flowers.

In case you may get confused… the L. cordifolium do grow, generally to about 2 metres tall, its leaves are about 8cm and the spherical flowerheads to about about 12cm. The little pins are known as styles. It also prefers an acid soil.

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Tags cape garden centre, cape town, Evergreen, flower, Garden centre, leucospenum, Leucospermum cordifolium x glabrum, People, Business, pincushion, plant, plants, proteaceae, shrub, south africa, unusual

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Carex Oshimensis ‘Evergold’

Post author By Peter Donegan
Post date November 3, 2009
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The Carex or sedge plant [cyperaceae] is a genus of over 1,500 species. They are mostly evergreen, at least those that I am most familiar with, although there are some that are deciduous and they are grown mainly for their foliage.

The member of the Carex family that I am chosing to profile is the Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’. It’s an amazing plant. The first time I grew these I had them in hanging baskets as I had bought them very young. When they grew a bit more I planted them straight into the garden and the following year I divided them andgave them them away.

To that point it is that ease of propagation that I love about them the most. They can of course be grown by seed. To divide…. wait until you have a decent sized clump; dig up; and split it apart either by teasing [like unravelling knotted hair….] or with two garden forks back to back. Drive them in and push in opposite directions.

Carex oshimensis can often be confused with its relation, that of C. morrowii. A green/ gold and white[ish] striped leaves it an grow up to 12″ tall. The reason I like this plant so much…. it’s great in containers, as underplanting with other grasses, in borders or on its own….

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Tags biology, Carex, carex o evergold, carex oshimensis evergold, Cyperaceae, Deciduous, evergold, Evergreen, family, myplant, oshimensis, Pat Fitzgerald, People, Business, plant, Poaceae

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November In The Garden

It is that time of year… some say it’s bloody depressing. But I like it. I don’t know why particularly… maybe it’s that I get home [a little] earlier… maybe it’s that I get to burn the timber that I have mamaged to amalgamate over the last eight months or so… I don’t know. 😉

To the garden… mine and yours, this is probably the most important month/ season, for me, in the entire calender. It is what I do here that will pay most dividends come next season. So once again, this is what will I be doing in my garden this month and what I recommend you do in yours…

Top of my list is my trees. I’m now in a position where they can be cut back without all of that foliage in the way and so some crown raising will take place [removing of the lower branches…]. I’ve also got a batch that served a purpose until the others surrounding them matured and so I’ve got to move some and relocate others… if I don’t do it this year I am literally up the creek and next year it will become an impossible task. Stakes and straps at the ready….

With the trees in mind and leave fall in place… it is time once again for the bird feeders to go back out. That and I need to get some other types of berrying plants into the garden to help those birds who don’t go to sunnier spots for their winter hols. Looks like a trip to farm supplies shop is looming….. or do I still have some in the shed…

In other news…. 😯 The apples on my trees had started to drop. It is at this point that the apples are about as ready as you will get…. I’ve picked them all now – except for the smaller fruits [about the size of a plum as they won’t taste so good – best leave them to nature]. Once again when the leaves fall off some select pruning will be required, removing dead and diseased wood and then the branches that over cross each other. If you planted yours in the last two years make sure the straps and buckles aren’t too tight.

If you are looking for some instant colour you’ll find there’s tonnes of it to be found – don’t those pots just cheer you right up 🙂 Some instant colour – from the plant department can however be bought in the form of ornamental cabbages and cyclamens. Add them to existing beds that need a little sprucing or redo those hanging baskets you took down last month…. g’wan you deserve to treat yourself!!

Outside of that you [and I] still have to get those hedges cut… the plants still need to be trimmed back… and with that done… the mulch has to go down. This will leave the garden pretty much with its groove back on so it doesn’t look like a brand spanking new hair cut… more a well maintained garden, come Nanny & Poppa calling around for turkey and mulled wine for the celebrations December 25th 😉

Finally, trees and bulbs!! and finally [finally 😆 ]… herbs. Crop them and what you can’t dry store… pop them in ice cube trays… pour water on top and freeze. You’ll need them for cooking that big bird in a months time and believe me there once you move from dry herbs to fresh…. you’ll never go back.

Have I forgotten anything…. leave me a note and I’ll add it to the list.

Enjoy!

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taxus bacata

the yew, taxaceae is of a genus of 5-10 species and one of those that reminds me firmly and almost immediately of the ‘ye olde’ type style gardens. In fact I’ve yet to meet one without. Most commonly famed for its use in hedging or topiary, they are evergreen, berry producing plants that are listed as listed [all parts] as ‘toxic’ [if ingested]. For that reason, they can often take a back seat when it comes to garden design.

The reality is they are amazing. They make great back drop,are really hardy, require very little maintenance and look super all year round. They can [says the reference books] grow to 70′ tall…. but I wouldn’t let that put you off… it won’t be in my life time 😉

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Tags dangerous, Evergreen, hedges, People, Business, plants, poisonous, slow growing, taxaceae, taxus bacata, topiary, toxic, yew