Episode: #2 09/09/2006
Presenter: Phil Dudman

One of the great benefits of visiting an outstanding public garden like the Roma Street Parkland is that you yet get to see and learn about the best plants to grow in your area. You are always guaranteed to find some great examples of native wildflowers as well.

When you take a stroll through the Spectacle Garden, you will discover a delightful little corner called the Garden of Native Cultivars. This is an area that has been dedicated to show you the'latest and greatest' in Australian plants.

Once upon a time, it seemed the only place you could find good kangaroo paw was in their natural home of Western Australia. Early varieties were always troubled by fungal disease in Queensland because the summers are wet and humid. Years of selective breeding has now produced some exceptional kangaroo paws that thrive in our climate.

One that is set to be the hottest new variety this season is the miniature form called'Joey Paws'. The colours are just brilliant.

Joey Paws are great for pots, or you can mass plant them to create a very showy bedding display. The best thing is that they flower nearly all year round and they don't need a lot of water.

Another new range of native cultivars you will find are these Bracteantheas. Once again, clever breeding has taken an old favourite and produced a superb miniature form with a super flush of white or golden flowers on short stems.

The native daisy'Brachycomes' adds such a cheerful look to the place, and they are just as good in a native scene as they are in a cottage style garden.

Whenever you are planting any of these Australian cultivars, do what the experts do at Roma Street Parklands. Create a mound with the soil so that the water can drain away freely during the heavy Queensland downpours.

Also, give them a regular light trim to remove any spent blooms. Fertilising is important too, the best way to go is with a quality slow release product for natives like Garden Gold, which will feed your plants for up to three months and keeping them growing and flowering vigorously.

The gardeners at Roma Street Parkland are always updating the displays to trial the latest new native varieties so you know that whenever you make a visit, you are bound to discover something new to try in your garden.

Roma StreetParkland

1 Parkland Boulevard
Brisbane Qld 4000
Tel: (07) 3006 4545
Fax: (07) 3006 4546

www.romastreetparkland.com/

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