Dichorisandra thyrsiflora
Often called blue ginger, but is not really a ginger. Given to me by Jeff S. Moved into the new front west garden. Full shade. Discovered by the blue-banded bee on the first day.
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Exotic (A-Z)
Cenchrus purpurascens
There is some dispute about its status as a native and the weed potential so I will keep this one trimmed back, and remove flowers. Links: https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2003/cenchrus-purpurascens.html
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Sunflowers and Native Bees
This is reason enough to grow sunflowers. This sunflower is beside the pond and gets the morning sun. It has lots of tiny native bees and a single larger one. I’m not sure what type of bee it is. And here are some more against the fence facing west. Note to self: get some more
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Pentas
Pentas have hairy green leaves and clusters of flowers in shades of red, white, pink, and purple. I planted some in the front bed from a punnet of seedlings and forgot about them until a year on I found this one thriving despite considerable neglect.
Bamboo to Block the Western Sun
There are two ways to get shade – to build it or to grow it – and I need shade on the western side of the house. When we moved here there was a mock orange hedge – horrible thing. It was two metres high but didn’t block the sun, it billowed out and filled
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Clivia
This pale yellow clivia is by the path to the front door. It has moved around a little but seems to have found its niche. Poor clay soil, deep shade in winter, not so deep in summer. I cut off the seed pods after the first show of flowers and sometimes get a second. Plants
Golden Carpet Stonecrop (Sedum acre)
This stuff grows anywhere, tolerates poor and dry soil, strikes from small pieces. Small yellow flowers. The blue tongue lizards like it. I was a bit concerned about weed potential but it seems to spread, not jump and is easy to pull out. To kill completely, just sheet-cover or out-compete. Alyssum can beat it. August
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