No Irrigation Gardens
Episode: #5 21/04/07
Presenter: Neville Passmore
Australia’s plants are amongst the oldest and most diverse on the planet and part of this comes about because of our extreme isolation. The plants that remain almost untouched by modern plant breeding make an interesting contrast to the petunias of South America or the gerberas of South Africa which have been enhanced immeasurably by plant breeding.
One of Australia’s most successful plant breeders is Todd Layt. He has a whole range of ornamental Australian plants to his credit as well as some turf grass varieties.
Todd got started in plant breeding in the early 90’s as he really developed a passion for native plants. For the public to feel the same way as he does about them he realised that he needed to do a lot of breeding to make them more beautiful like exotics.
Lomandra Tanika (Lomandra longifolia ‘Tanika’) is Todd’s favourite because it is so soft and beautiful and also really tough. It survives on very little water.
Cassa Blue Dianella (Dianella caerulea ‘Cassa Blue’) is a real show piece with beautiful blue foliage that sets off any garden with the most magnificent blue flowers.
Tasred Dianella (Dianella tasmanica ‘Tasred’) is one of those plants that works in the colder environment, very well in Queensland and even the shade. It is a really great foliage plant that looks at home in any garden.
Little Rev Dianella (Dianella revoluta ‘Little Rev’) is one of Neville’s personal favourites. It really looks nice amongst the garden or as a border plant.
Todd also shares some of the upcoming plants for the future. The Dianella King Alfred (Dianella caerulea ‘King Alfred’) seems to grow anywhere and is one of those plants that will grow in moist or dry conditions and is very adaptable.
Most of the breeding at Ozbreed is done through natural seedling selection. Often, thousands and thousands of a variety of plant are grown just to get one new type.
Neville asks Todd for some advice when it comes to selecting out characteristics of different turfs. Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo (Stenotaphrum secundatum ‘B12’) was selected from a large number of seedlings of Sir Walter and Todd believes that it is a much finer textured form of the older buffalo grasses.
Ozbreed
www.ozbreed.com.au
Presenter: Neville Passmore
Australia’s plants are amongst the oldest and most diverse on the planet and part of this comes about because of our extreme isolation. The plants that remain almost untouched by modern plant breeding make an interesting contrast to the petunias of South America or the gerberas of South Africa which have been enhanced immeasurably by plant breeding.
One of Australia’s most successful plant breeders is Todd Layt. He has a whole range of ornamental Australian plants to his credit as well as some turf grass varieties.
Todd got started in plant breeding in the early 90’s as he really developed a passion for native plants. For the public to feel the same way as he does about them he realised that he needed to do a lot of breeding to make them more beautiful like exotics.
Lomandra Tanika (Lomandra longifolia ‘Tanika’) is Todd’s favourite because it is so soft and beautiful and also really tough. It survives on very little water.
Cassa Blue Dianella (Dianella caerulea ‘Cassa Blue’) is a real show piece with beautiful blue foliage that sets off any garden with the most magnificent blue flowers.
Tasred Dianella (Dianella tasmanica ‘Tasred’) is one of those plants that works in the colder environment, very well in Queensland and even the shade. It is a really great foliage plant that looks at home in any garden.
Little Rev Dianella (Dianella revoluta ‘Little Rev’) is one of Neville’s personal favourites. It really looks nice amongst the garden or as a border plant.
Todd also shares some of the upcoming plants for the future. The Dianella King Alfred (Dianella caerulea ‘King Alfred’) seems to grow anywhere and is one of those plants that will grow in moist or dry conditions and is very adaptable.
Most of the breeding at Ozbreed is done through natural seedling selection. Often, thousands and thousands of a variety of plant are grown just to get one new type.
Neville asks Todd for some advice when it comes to selecting out characteristics of different turfs. Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo (Stenotaphrum secundatum ‘B12’) was selected from a large number of seedlings of Sir Walter and Todd believes that it is a much finer textured form of the older buffalo grasses.
Ozbreed
www.ozbreed.com.au
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