Hydrangea aspera Villosa Group flowerhead

Though 'the Orient' is a bit of an old-fashioned phrase these days, in my mind I have always thought of certain resilient shrubs and perennials from east Asia (mainly China and Japan) as 'oriental' and have been intrigued about how well they do both in cold zones and in Sydney's increasingly warm, humid climate. Most of them flower in late winter or spring, but there are a handful that are in bloom at the moment, mixing in well with the plants from more semi-tropical areas, which I have been talking about over the past few weeks, to add to our summer scene.

Most Hydrangea blooms have finished now, and many gardeners would even have started thinking about pruning them (especially if the flower heads were burnt from our various heatwaves) - but in February, Hydrangea aspera Villosa Group (pictured at the start of the blog) comes into the spotlight. It is a very different Hydrangea from the Hydrangea macrophylla sorts that are commonly seen in gardens. It comes from China and is one of several similar Hydrangea, which are totally deciduous and almost tree-like in form (ht 2.5-3 m), and which flower from late summer into autumn. It has slim, matt leaves and flattened lacecap blooms, which consist of tiny purplish-blue fertile flowers surrounded by large white or lilac-tinged sterile flowers.

Dichroa febrifuga

Dichroa febrifuga

A related plant, known as the 'evergreen Hydrangea', and traditionally categorised as Dichroa febrifuga (ht 2-3 m) - but recently reclassified as Hydrangea febrifuga - is a native of the foothills of the Himalayas from Nepal to China and Vietnam. It has been blooming in flushes since October and will continue on until April. Deadheading of spent blooms encourages the flushes. The flowers are star-shaped with prominent blue stamens and are massed in large, rounded clusters. It is said that the flower colour will reflect the pH of the soil, so more acid soil will produce richer blue blooms and more alkaline soil will lead to pink-tinged ones.

Buddleja Pink Delight

Buddleja Pink Delight

Buddleja davidii (ht 2-3.5 m), of Chinese and Japanese origin, blooms throughout summer, its arching branches bear long, tapering panicles are made up of dense clusters of tiny, fragrant flowers, in colours of white, mauve, deep purple, magenta and pink. Again, deadheading of spent blooms ensures the best reflowering (and also prevents self-seeding). There are also smaller-growing cultivars, such as 'White Ball' and the Buzz series, for smaller spaces. The 'Buzz' cultivars, which come in hues of white, deep purple, pink and burgundy, are said to be sterile and thus won't self-seed. They grow taller than was originally expected, however, reaching 1.5 m or more! Buddleja davidii flowers best in a sunny, well-drained spot.

Abelia x grandiflora Compacta

Abelia x grandiflora Compacta

Abelia x grandiflora is one of those ubiquitous shrubs that we do tend to take for granted, but it is an excellent choice for Sydney gardens. It is a hybrid between Abelia chinensis (from China) and Abelia uniflora (from the Himalayas) and grows around 1.8-2.4 m tall, with arching burgundy canes with small, shiny, deep green leaves. In summer and autumn, it is smothered in petite, mauve and white blooms, which are held in dusky pink calyces. The calyces persist even after the flowers have fallen, providing continued decorative interest. The foliage turns bronze in autumn and autumn and winter: another bonus. I currently grow a dwarf form, known as 'Compacta' (ht 1m). Some cultivars have interesting variegated leaves, in shades of white or gold.

Spiraea japonica Anthony Waterer

Spiraea japonica Anthony Waterer

The spring-flowering white may bush (Spiraea cantoniensis) is the most well known of the genus Spiraea, but Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer' (ht 1 m), a compact deciduous shrub (ht around 1 m) bears clustered heads of tiny rosy-pink flowers literally all through summer if the spent flowers are clipped off. The species comes from China and Japan and this cultivar is a charming shrub that really pays its own way with its long period of blooming.

Ceratostigma species

Ceratostigma species

Sometimes known as Chinese plumbago, Ceratostigma species are small shrubs with wiry stems that form a wide, thick clump. They flower in late summer and autumn, with very intensely blue flowers that are reminiscent of perennial Phlox. Their semi-deciduous to deciduous small leaves take on pretty tints of red and orange in autumn, which enhance the blue flowers. There are several species, with Ceratostigma willmottianum (from West China) being the tallest (up to 1 m) and the most commonly seen. It can be grown as a hedge. It is best grown in sun.

Hosta flowers

Hosta flowers

There are also a couple of perennials that come into bloom just now, adding interest to the garden. Shade-loving Hosta, herbaceous plants native to Japan and China, offer fantastic foliage to the garden in the warmer months, and the bonus of pretty, nodding, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of white, pink, mauve or pale blue, in late summer and early autumn. The range of leaf patterns and sizes is phenomenal, with many variegated forms. The base colour of the foliage can be bright green, muted green, lime, gold, yellow or blue-green. Hosta are excellent subjects for pots.

Liriope muscari Gold-banded

Liriope muscari Gold-banded

Liriope muscari (ht 30-60 cm), a tough little perennial which hails from China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan, grows as an arching clump of shiny, slim, evergreen leaves and is happy to grow in dry, partly shady spots, although will also cope with sun. It flowers in February and March, sending up little spikes of tightly clustered bell-like blooms. The most basic form has plain green leaves with purple flower spikes; 'Royal Purple' has very deep purple flowers, and 'Monroe White' has white blooms. There are forms with white-variegated leaves, such as 'Variegata'; others (such as 'Gold-banded') have leaves striped with limey-gold, paired with purple flowers.

Ophiopogon jaburan

Ophiopogon jaburan

A related plant is the Jaburan lily or white lilyturf, Ophiopogon jaburan (ht 60 cm), from Japan. In summer, it has drooping racemes of small, white, bell-shaped flowers, followed by violet-blue fruit in winter. There are several cultivars: 'Vittatus', with pale green leaves striped in cream, yellow or white; and 'White Dragon', with broad stripes of white on the foliage, useful for lightening up shady areas.

Adding some of these undemanding plants to your garden can bring extra colour at this time of year!