Choosing the Best Flower Colours for Winter
Winter doesn't mean your garden has to become a dull or lifeless space. In fact, some of the most rewarding colour in the garden comes during the cooler months. With thoughtful plant selection, you can create vibrant displays that brighten even the greyest winter day while also providing valuable food for pollinators and birdlife.
During winter, flowering annuals really come into their own. Pansies and violas continue to perform brilliantly through the cold weather, producing masses of colourful blooms in almost every shade imaginable. Calendulas bring cheerful yellows and oranges to the garden and are as useful as they are beautiful, while primulas and polyanthus thrive in cooler conditions, lighting up garden beds, pots and hanging baskets with their bold colours. These reliable winter performers help ensure the garden remains inviting when many other plants are resting.
For those looking beyond seasonal colour, winter is also one of the very best times to establish Australian natives. The cooler temperatures and natural rainfall allow plants to focus on developing strong root systems before the warmer weather arrives. Our new-season range of Banksias, Proteas and Leucadendrons is arriving now and offers a stunning range of colours, textures and forms for the winter garden. Many of these plants will provide months of colour while also attracting birds, bees and other beneficial wildlife to your garden.
If you're planning a larger native planting, winter is also the perfect time to consider native tubestock. Not only are they one of the most economical ways to establish a garden, but they quickly settle in through winter and reward you with years of growth. At just $6.25 each or 10 for $60, they represent outstanding value for gardeners looking to create habitat, screening or larger landscape plantings.
To celebrate the King's Birthday weekend, we're also offering our magnificent White King Proteas to Club Members for just $26.95 each (Normally $32.95) . These spectacular plants produce enormous creamy-white flowers that make a statement in any garden and at this price they're exceptional value. To ensure as many gardeners as possible can take advantage of the offer, purchases are limited to three plants per customer while stocks last.
Introducing Floribunda™ 'It's Gorgeous' – A New Chapter in Camellia Breeding
The world of camellias is witnessing a revolution thanks to the groundbreaking breeding work of Paradise Plants here in Australia. Floribunda™ 'It's Gorgeous' combines the bold beauty of Camellia japonica with the toughness and reliability of Camellia sasanqua, creating a plant that delivers outstanding performance and breathtaking flowers.
One of the standout features of 'It's Gorgeous' is its ability to flower early and prolifically through winter. Large, fully double pink blooms are carried in abundance, creating a display that can transform a garden during the colder months. The dark glossy foliage provides a beautiful backdrop to the flowers and remains attractive throughout the year.
This versatile variety is equally at home as a feature plant, specimen shrub, informal hedge or statement container plant. Its vigorous upright growth and exceptional flower power make it a wonderful addition to both traditional and contemporary gardens.
Like most camellias, 'It's Gorgeous' prefers a well-drained soil that is neutral to moderately acidic. It performs well in full sun through to light shade and is capable of handling both light frost and periods of summer warmth once established. In heavier soils, incorporating compost and organic matter before planting will help improve drainage and encourage strong growth.
Whether you're planting colourful winter annuals, establishing Australian natives, or adding a stunning new camellia to your collection, winter offers some of the best planting conditions of the year. Take advantage of the season and you'll be rewarded with colour, structure and enjoyment for many months to come.
Happy gardening,