Tag Archives: attracts birds

Flowering Crabapples / Malus

Posted on May 6, 2012 by

Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’ – This cross of Malus baccata and Malus prunifolia has been around since the 1950′s and features fragrant white single blooms emerging from rose-pink buds. It is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner with … Continue reading →

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Holly II / Ilex

Posted on March 25, 2012 by

Ilex aquifolium ‘Golden van Tol’ – This sport of ‘J.C. van Tol’ features slightly puckered green foliage (on purplish stems) with bright gold margins and very few spines. It is considered self-fertile but produces a larger crop of red berries … Continue reading →

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Holly / Ilex

Posted on March 20, 2012 by

Ilex aquifolium ‘Amber’ – An unusual female form of English holly with unique amber to deep apricot berries, a nice change from the traditional red. This RHS Award of Garden Merit winner also features glossy bright green leaves that are … Continue reading →

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Tall Stonecrops / Sedum (Hylotelephium)

Posted on March 8, 2012 by

Sedum ‘Class Act’ – A newer introduction with eye-catching intense rose-pink blooms from August to September. This RHS Award of Garden Merit winner has sturdy stems that support green foliage with some rose highlights on the flower stems. As with … Continue reading →

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Flowering Trees of Australia

Posted on January 20, 2012 by

Jacaranda mimosifolia (syn. Jacaranda acutifolia) – The Blue Jacaranda is actually native to South America but is widely planted in tropical regions. This tree produces fragrant pale purple trumpet flowers in 1 foot-long panicles and blooms for about 2 months. … Continue reading →

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Native Australian Desert Plants

Posted on January 19, 2012 by

Eucalyptus camaldulensis (syn. ‘Itara’) The River Red Gum is named for its striking reddish-orange wood which is used to make furniture. This widespread species is commonly found around inland water sources. It is a large tree (grows to 90′+) with … Continue reading →

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Christmas Wreaths and Swags

Posted on December 3, 2011 by

Winterberry Wreath – While making a wreath from Ilex verticillata is both expensive (if you have to buy the stems) and time consuming, the end result is absolutely spectacular. You’ll need waxed cord (to tie the stems in), a metal … Continue reading →

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Alba Garden Perennials

Posted on November 27, 2011 by

Cerastium tomentosum – Snow-in-Summer is a rather aggressive perennial that is best used scrambling over rock walls in hot, full sun exposures. That said, it is drought tolerant and the evergreen silver foliage is a great foil for the May … Continue reading →

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Unusual Shade Trees

Posted on November 27, 2011 by

Manglietia insignis (syn. Magnolia insignis) – The Red Lotus Tree is native to southeast Asia and is closely related to Magnolia. It blooms in early summer with erect reddish-pink buds (composed of 9 petals) that open to pale pink and … Continue reading →

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Native Coastal BC Shrubs

Posted on October 28, 2011 by

Sambucus racemosa (subsp. pubens var. arborescens) Red Elderberry is a large deciduous shrub often found in moist soils near ditches and streams. It has an arching habit with compound leaves (5-7 leaflets), creamy-white April to May flowers and bright red … Continue reading →

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