"Amazing green flowers"

A bunch of flowers with some green carnations reminded me of the fascination of green blooms.
Sunday, 12 December 2010     

Carnation Green Trick (right) in my bunch of flowers

A recent bunch of flowers given to me by friends contained amazing carnations (which belong to the genus Dianthus) that were shaped for all the world like fluffy, bright green tennis balls! They were the cultivar 'Green Trick' and lasted for ages in a vase and reminded me of my long-held fascination with green flowers. Though some people dismiss them as mere novelties, I have always found a place for them in my garden. They are lovely with white flowers, creating a cool, restful atmosphere, and I also like them with bright blue or purple flowers: an exciting, zingy combination.

There are numerous attractive green flowers and many have unusually shaped blooms. Often this is because the green colouring is in the pronounced calyx or spathe of the plant, rather than the actual flower itself, which can be insignificant. These interesting and long-lasting shapes can be used to introduce variation of form and texture in foliage planting schemes, as well as to provide a conversation piece for garden visitors!

Amongst green flowers there are soft, subtle colours of many shades, including yellowish-greens, jade green, lime green, emerald, pale green, greenish-white and pinkish-green, each lending itself to different colour combinations with other flowering plants. Perhaps the best known to many people is the 'green rose' (Rosa chinensis 'Viridiflora'), which grows to about 1 m and has clusters of small green buds which open to 'blooms' comprised of layers of green sepals that turn bronze with age.

There are several green-flowered annuals. My favourite is Nicotiana langsdorffii, a self-seeder with a cloud of dainty lime green trumpet flowers almost all year round. Zinnia elegans has a green hybrid called 'Envy', growing to about 75 cm with flowers ranging from lime to emerald green.

Amongst perennials, perhaps the best known green flowers belong to the hellebores, which produce their exquisite and long-lasting nodding blooms from winter to early spring. The purest green flowers belong to Helleborus viridis, which grows to 30 cm with cup-shaped blooms. Helleborus argutifolius and Helleborus foetidus have similar but paler green flowers, and grow to about 60 cm. Some Helleborus x hybridus have greenish-white or greenish-pink flowers, which are saucer shaped and often spotted inside. They reach 50 cm in height.

Daylilies have a number of greenish cultivars - my favourites being 'Green Dragon' and 'Lime-painted Lady'. These are both 'spider' daylilies, with an elegant form; their colour is on the yellowish-green part of the spectrum. I grow mine nearby Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii, which I have found one of the easiest Euphorbia to grow in Sydney. Its chartreuse domes persist for months, from winter into early summer, when the daylilies come into flower. There are also lime green 'red hot pokers' (Kniphofia cultivars), and I add these into my green scheme. 'Lime Butter' and 'Lime Glow' are two that I grow. The dramatic vertical flowers don't last terribly long but there are usually several flushes of them in spring and summer.

White mophead Hydrangea often have buds that open green then change to white. The lovely Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' (syn. 'Sterile', ht 5 m), which is sometimes called the guelder rose, has magnificent pale green balls of flowers in spring, which mature to white. It grows quite well in our climate.

Among Australian natives, the kangaroo paws have some green-flowered species, including Anigosanthus viridis with emerald green paws, and Anigosanthus manglesii with striking red and green flowers. Banksia robur has bronze-green cones in winter and spring.

Green flowers can certainly offer scope to gardeners looking for a challenge to create an unusual planting combination.


 Reader Comments

1/11  Dorothy - 4060 (Zone:11A - Sub-tropical) Monday, 13 December 2010

Hello Deirdre, Thank you for your wonderful website. COMPLIMENTS of the season to you and yours. Dorothy

Thank you very much, and seasons greetings to you. Deirdre


2/11  Jill - 3941 (Zone:10 - Mediteranean) Monday, 13 December 2010

Thank you Deirdre for all the garden blogs I have enjoyed since joining. The green carnations were amazing! I also thought of green ixias, which I used to have in my garden. Our garden is very lush after all the rain, unusual for this time of year. Season,s greetings. Jill

I have never had any luck with those lovely ixias. All the best for Christmas. Deirdre


3/11  Frances - 3941 (Zone:10 - Mediteranean) Monday, 13 December 2010

i have loved your posts over the year! hope you have a good xmas and you get back to us next year!

Thanks, Frances - the break will give me some new ideas! Deirdre


4/11  Sue - 2073 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 13 December 2010

Hi Deidre, I love Monday morning and your blog. Have a very happy christmas and I look forward to your return in the new year. Sue

Thanks, Sue and all the very best for Christmas and 2011. Deirdre


5/11  Susan - 3918 (Zone:10 - Mediteranean) Monday, 13 December 2010

A surprise has appeared in my 'new' garden, and its green! A type of small Gladioli, I think it is. The foliage is Gladi-like,the blooms are small and trumpet shaped, about 9 on the stem at this point, - and I like it! Enjoy your well deserved break Diedrie, and Christmas Greetings to all. Susie.

Thanks, Susan. I know of a pale green species gladiolus called G. tristis - it grows well in our farm garden. Deirdre


6/11  Glennis - 2122 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 13 December 2010

My Mother used to grow, in NZ, a green flower called Bells of Ireland. I planted a packet of seeds once but did not get a good result - do you know anything about them as I would love to give them another go. A very happy Christmas to you and your family. Cheers, Glennis

Thanks, Glennis. I have seen the Bells of Ireland growing in Sydney and I tried to grow them once but they did not do well either. I am not sure what conditions they need - I think the position I grew them was too shady and dry. I think Erica Vale seeds may stock them. Deirdre


7/11  Vicki - 4055 (Zone:11A - Sub-tropical) Monday, 13 December 2010

Merry Christmas everybody and Happy Gardening

Thanks, Vicki and have a great Christmas. Deirdre


8/11  Georgina - 2076 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Tuesday, 14 December 2010

Hi Deirdre, Thank you for all the wonderful information you have shared. I love green flowers. I once grew Zinnas called Green Envy but it was a long time ago. I should of saved the seeds as Ive not seen it again. Have a wonderful Christmas and a great 2011. Georgina

Thanks, Georgina. Kings Seeds does stock that Zinnia. I might try to grow it one day. Deirdre


9/11  Margaret - 2122 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Tuesday, 14 December 2010

Happy Christmas and New Year to you, Deirdre, and your family. Many thanks for your garden musings, they are something to look forward to! Like green flowers, too; have a green carnation which flowers nearly all the year, plus zinnia green envy, nicotiana, etc. - they all have a fascination.

Thanks, Margaret and thanks for your feedback during the year. Your carnation sounds very interesting. Deirdre


10/11  Therese - 2119 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Tuesday, 14 December 2010

Thanks Deidre for your wonderful blogs each week....I look forward to this peaceful reading time! Have a wonderful Christmas & a restful New Year. See you soon! Therese

Thanks, Therese, and 'Buon Natale!'


11/11  Bren - 2540 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 25 December 2017

Merry Christmas to you Deidre, and I appreciate your sharing your gardening knowledge through this wonderful blog! Brenn


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