October sees the blooming of some dramatic South African bulbs and rhizomes, as the dainty early spring varieties fade.
Some of these belong to the broad Iridaceae family - whose better-known members, the bearded iris and the Louisiana iris, also come into flower in October in Sydney.
Watsonia are tough bulbs which thrive with ease in our climate. Watsonia borbonica
(ht 1.5m) is one of the most commonly seen, with spires massed with pink, mauve or white funnel-shaped
flowers. Watsonia 'Wedding Bells' is a very pretty pink form, with narrow, tubular flowers,
possibly a cultivar of Watsonia aletroides. Rare Watsonia vanderspuyiae has attractive
broad leaves 2m in length and brilliant red flowers. All these species, which grow in winter, enjoy a
sunny, well-drained position that is dry in summer when they are dormant. They form good clumps and
can be picked for vases. Watsonia meriana 'Bulbillifera' is a weedy form, best avoided.
Another member of the iris family is Aristea capitata (syn. Aristea major), which also
grows in clumps of long evergreen leaves to 1.5m. Its brilliantly blue, saucer-shaped flowers are
massed on a tall stem. It needs better soil than the Watsonia and Gladiolus, with a
reasonable supply of moisture in winter and spring. Sun suits it best. For compact spaces, there
is a much smaller version, Aristea ecklonii (ht 45cm), with sparser spikes of blue flowers.
Also evergreen, though from a different plant family (Haemodoraceae, to which our native kangaroo
paws also belong), Wachendorfia thyrsiflora is similar in form and stature to the tall
Aristea, and has beautiful golden yellow flowers clustered on tall stems (ht 1.5 - 1.8m),
held amongst attractive fans of pleated leaves to 1m. It likes moist, reasonably rich soil and
will languish in poorer positions.
Tall summer volunteers
24 Jan 21
These will provide colour and form in your garden every summer.
A neon rainbow revisited
17 Jan 21
Hot-coloured flowers still feature in my summer garden
The zucchini files
10 Jan 21
Zucchini can be a rewarding summer crop.
Random musings on a walk
03 Jan 21
Lots of plants caught my eye on a walk.
Christmas bouquets
13 Dec 20
Cut flowers for Christmas vases