Winter blooms

For readers outside Australia, some Australian plants bloom in winter and June is midwinter in Australia. This winter bloomer is a hairpin Banksia, possibly the one called Giant Candles. This Banksia is popular in local gardens and does well in sufficient sun.

False Sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea) is a lovely local native climber, twiner and scrambler. Here you can see its lovely sprays of tiny purple flowers and long narrow leaves. In the wild, it grows on the ground and up tree trunks and over rocky ground too.

In the garden, it will grow over a fence or frame and it makes a good scrambler. It’s supposed to flower in spring but this photo was taken in July, in the depths of a Gosford winter, and I’ve seen the same plants flowering two or three times a year, depending on available light.

Silver Wattle (Acacia podalyriifolia) blooming in the afternoon shade of someone’s garden in Woy Woy in July. This variety of wattle is very popular in local gardens and I’ve also seen them along roadways and in parks. I don’t know if they’ve been planted there or have grown from seeds blown from private gardens.

Gardening Australia has native species Fact Sheets at abc.net.au and some native trees and bushes are suitable to bonsai. Ask your local bonsai society.

Let me know, in the comments section below, of any Australian native flowers blooming in winter in your garden or your neighbourhood.

To see the other 2 articles I’ve published today, scroll down past the bottom of this article, or click on “July” in the sidebar to the right.

Want this new pages from website delivered to your inbox? Enter your email address where it says "Follow By Email" in the sidebar at the right.