Choosing the Best Flower Colours for the Cold Months
Winter doesn't mean your garden has to be a stark landscape. In fact, it's a great opportunity to brighten up your outdoor spaces with a splash of vibrant colours. Our June edition will help guide you through selecting the perfect winter flowers, focusing on annuals like pansy, viola, calendula, primula, and polyanthus, and highlighting the superior new-season camellias bred right here in Australia.
Annual Colour in the Winter Garden
During the cooler months, when most perennials are taking a rest, annuals can provide an ongoing spectacle of colours. Here are some top choices for your winter garden:
- Pansies: Known for their charming faces, pansies come in almost every colour of the rainbow. These resilient flowers perform well even in the cold, making them ideal for winter colour.
- Violas: Smaller than pansies but just as vibrant. Violas can withstand frosty conditions and will continue to bloom. Their multitude of colours allows for creative garden patches that sparkle through the fog.
- Calendula: Offering sunny shades of yellow and orange, calendula flowers are not only beautiful but also medicinal. They thrive in cooler climates and can brighten up any winter garden.
- Primula: With their lush foliage and bright clusters of flowers, primulas are a delightful addition to any winter setting. They prefer moist, well-drained soil and partial shade, making them perfect for those less sunny spots in your garden.
- Polyanthus: Known for their strong and bright colours, polyanthus stand out with their bold displays. They do well in the cold and can be used to create stunning floral arrangements both in the garden and indoors.
These annuals are not only aesthetically pleasing but also hardy and capable of thriving in the winter chill, ensuring your garden remains a lively and inviting space.
Introducing Floribunda TM 'Its Gorgeous': A New Chapter in Camellia Breeding
The world of Camellias is witnessing a revolution, thanks to the ground breaking efforts of Paradise Plants in Australia. Their latest introduction, Floribunda TM 'Its Gorgeous', is a testament to the advancements in camellia breeding, blending the bold beauty of Camellia japonica with the hardiness of Camellia sasanqua. This variety promises to redefine garden aesthetics with its robustness and stunning visual appeal, making it the perfect choice for adding vibrant colour to winter gardens.
Features and Benefits of Floribunda TM 'Its Gorgeous'
Early and prolific blooming: Unlike many other camellias, 'Its Gorgeous' begins to flower early in June, ensuring that your garden remains lively and colourful throughout the winter. This plant produces a profusion of large, full flowers with striking pink petals that can capture anyone’s attention.
Ideal for Various Garden Settings: Whether you are looking to create a colourful hedge or seeking a standout feature plant, 'Its Gorgeous' is versatile enough to meet different landscaping needs. It grows vigorously and upright, making it suitable for both in-ground planting and larger pots. The dark, glossy foliage not only complements the bright blooms but also enhances the overall lushness of your garden. The vigorous growth and elegant leaf texture also add a year-round aesthetic appeal.
Growing Tips for Floribunda TM 'Its Gorgeous'
Climate and Sunlight Requirements: 'Its Gorgeous' can thrive in full sun to light shade, showing versatility in different lighting conditions. It's resilient and capable of handling heat and light frost, though protection may be necessary in extreme conditions.
Soil Preferences: This camellia variety prefers neutral to moderately acidic soil. Ensuring good drainage is vital as the plant is intolerant of water-logged or heavy clay soils. For areas with poor or heavy soils, it's beneficial to amend the soil with plenty of decomposed organic matter and consider using raised beds to enhance drainage.
Floribunda TM 'Its Gorgeous' represents not just a new option for gardeners but a new standard in camellia cultivation. With these planting and care tips, you can ensure that this splendid variety becomes a standout feature in your garden, bringing beauty and colour throughout the cooler months.