White Plectranthus ecklonii Tommy (at right) with variegated-leaf Hemizygia obermeyerae in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

I recently revisited the extraordinary garden of Pamela Wallace in Dural, which I wrote about five years ago. The garden is now ten years old, and a number of alterations have since been made to the layout of the garden. Some changes had occurred because a devastating storm toppled big trees, flattening parts of the garden, thus requiring rethinking and replanting. In other areas, Pamela has expanded existing beds and created new ones. Many new stunning plants have been added, each chosen with a view to their suitability for the vagaries of Sydney's climate as well as with an artist's eye for colour, form and texture. Repetition of certain key plants in different places provides a sense of coherence. The garden is even more magnificent now! It would require an entire book to do justice to this garden, so I decided to focus on one of the early-autumn stars on the day of my visit - the many sorts of Plectranthus grown throughout the garden, in full bloom, which are so suited to Sydney gardens.

Purple and white forms of Plectranthus ecklonii grown with Iresine herbstii Brilliantissima and variegated Brugmansia in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

Purple and white forms of Plectranthus ecklonii grown with Iresine herbstii Brilliantissima and variegated Brugmansia in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

Many very tall trees still surround the garden, creating a sheltered microclimate so that these shade-loving, frost-tender plants are able to survive the cool winters of the region. With purple being a favourite colour of Pamela's, it is no surprise to see that the classic purple-hued, shrubby Plectranthus ecklonii (ht 1.5-2 m) is found in many borders in the garden. Having the space to mass this plant allows it to be seen at its absolute best: its soft, feathery blooms providing billowing clouds from February until early April. One of the plantings I particularly enjoyed was the pairing of this Plectranthus with the crimson leaves of the foliage plant Iresine herbstii 'Brilliantissima' (ht 60 cm - 1 m).

Pink Plectranthus ecklonii Erma with Cordyline cultivar behind, in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

Pink Plectranthus ecklonii Erma with Cordyline cultivar behind, in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

There are other hues of Plectranthus ecklonii - the pale pink 'Erma' and the crisp white 'Tommy' - which have become available over the years, circulated amongst gardeners mainly by cuttings handed on from one to another, as these are not plants that look particularly good in a nursery pot but have to be seen growing in a garden to be fully appreciated. One specimen of 'Erma' in Pamela's garden is set against a background of a striped pink Cordyline along a shaded path, providing a dramatic juxtaposition of form for its ethereal blooms. 'Tommy' is a wonderful plant to light up shaded areas, which is how Pamela uses it extensively in the garden. I noted one plant of 'Tommy' nearby a white-variegated foliage cultivar of Hemizygia obermeyerae (ht 60 cm), with a background of lush green leaves (pictured at the start of the blog) creating a 'colour echo' that satisfies the eye. In another part of the garden, 'Tommy' grows nearby a stunning Salvia 'Meighan's Magic' (ht 1.4 m), repeating the white of those blooms held in inky calyces; the plum foliage of a nearby shrubby Berberis gives an attractive contrast of colour.

White Plectranthus ecklonii Tommy underplanted with Plectranthus ciliatus in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

White Plectranthus ecklonii Tommy underplanted with Plectranthus ciliatus in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

Under a shady maple tree, another specimen of 'Tommy' looms above a broad sweep of groundcover Plectranthus ciliatus (ht 30-40 cm), in full flower now with spires of dainty white blooms. I marvelled once more at how plants can show their full potential when they have room to spread. In my garden, this plant is consigned to a corner where it has to fight for survival with neighbouring plants! This tough and attractive groundcover is invaluable in dry shaded spots, with its purple-veined and purple-backed leaves. It grows in part, dappled and full shade and is a most effective underplanting to suppress weeds beneath trees and shrubs.

Plectranthus ciliatus Guacamole with purple Plectranthus Cape Angel-type hybrid in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

Plectranthus ciliatus Guacamole with purple Plectranthus Cape Angel-type hybrid in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

In a nearby bed, I was thrilled to see a gold variegated-foliage form of this groundcover, called 'Guacamole', similar to one I know as 'Troy's Gold'. This cultivar has great potential to illuminate shaded areas with its gorgeous leaves, a strategy Pamela uses with many shade-tolerant, gold-leaved plants. Here she had it growing with one of the lower-growing shrubby Plectranthus of the Cape Angel/'Mona Lavender' tribe, with brilliant purple blooms. This type resulted from a cross between Plectranthus saccatus and Plectranthus hilliardiae to form compact shrubs about 60-80 cm tall. There are numerous versions with white, pink, bluish, purple and magenta flowers, which are not always sold with precise names in nurseries. They can be mass-planted or put in here and there for a pop of colour in shaded positions, and they are also excellent for pots.

White Plectranthus ecklonii Tommy with Plectranthus argentatus Silver Shield (in foreground) in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

White Plectranthus ecklonii Tommy with Plectranthus argentatus Silver Shield (in foreground) in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

The silver-leaved Plectranthus argentatus (ht 1 m) is used extensively throughout Pamela's garden. As one of the few silver-foliage plants to like shade (though it will also grow well in sun), it is very useful to brighten up dark spots - and as a contrast to other foliage as well as being a lovely foil to many hues of flowers. At the moment, it is showing its veil of slim spires of lilac flowers, which are rather pretty in themselves, though the leaves are the main attraction. Pamela also grows the excellent cultivar 'Silver Shield' (ht 60 cm), which forms a superb, compact, domed shape, and rarely seems to bloom.

Plectranthus forsteri Marginatus in an urn in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

Plectranthus forsteri Marginatus in an urn in the garden of Pamela Wallace in Sydney

Another excellent foliage plant is the variegated form of Plectranthus forsteri, which has the cultivar name of 'Marginatus'. It is a semi-trailing plant, growing to 25cm tall and can spread to over a metre wide. Its scalloped leaves are nicely variegated with creamy-white margins. It has spires of pale mauve or white flowers in autumn. It will grow in the most uncongenial shady places and can form a dense carpet under trees or shrubs, and it brings light into gloomy areas. In one spot, Pamela has it in an urn on a plinth, forming an effective focal point.

These plants were just a fraction of what we saw during our visit, and I haven't even covered all the Plectranthus! Pamela has provided an excellent description on our Garden Ramble feature here, which is well worth reading to know more about this truly amazing Sydney garden. You can also read about the garden on Facebook here. My previous blog on the garden can be found here.