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A variegated rubber plant in a blue pot sits indoors on a carpeted floor, exuding a touch of Hamptons garden elegance. In the background, another potted plant stands gracefully near a doorway.

Rediscovering the Beauty of Plants That Went Out of Fashion

Written by coldev on . Posted in Garden Advice, Garden Ideas, Plants.

It’s strange to think of gardens having trends in the way clothes and interior design does. Plants are so much more forever than a pair of flared jeans.

But it is true that certain plants can come in and out of fashion. It’s funny, plants like Hydrangeas and Rubber plants were SO well loved, that people, well, stopped loving them.

Here’s the plants we’ll be talking about today:

Hydrangeas
Rubber Plant
Flowering Currant
Viburnum Snowball Bush
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
Silver Birch

Tall green snake plant with yellow-edged leaves in a round wooden pot, reminiscent of a Hamptons garden, against a dark gray background.

Rubber plant in a white pot on a pristine table, evoking the serene elegance of a Hamptons garden, with a clear glass pitcher and two glasses adding to the tranquil setting.

A branch from a Hamptons garden bursts with vibrant pink and red flowers, complemented by lush green leaves against a softly blurred background.

A modern backyard with a thoughtful garden design features a swimming pool, glass fencing, a paved stone pathway surrounded by greenery, and a dining table under a canopy of trees.

A cluster of vibrant blue hydrangea flowers in the foreground stands out, with pink blossoms and lush greenery creating a soft blur in the background, reminiscent of a picturesque garden during a rose clearance sale.

We get it, when every second house has a bush of Hydrangeas flowers or every apartment has a Rubber Plant in the corner, they start to lose their sparkle a bit.

But what’s interesting is that we’ve seen a resurgence of these once-popular plants, so we thought we’d take the time to go over the basics again. How to take care of them, what varieties to choose and what made them so loved in the first place.

Chris in the NurseryBeing a Nursery means we get firsthand knowledge on what’s selling, and what’s collecting dust on the shelf. We see the way certain plants are flying out the doors, where we can just never seem to keep them stocked up.

But we also see the exact moment this changes, when the sales start to die down and people turn to something else to fill their garden with. Hello Hello Plants has been around for a while, and Chris, the owner, even more so.

Think of it like a trip down memory lane, where we explore the nature of gardening trends.

There are quite a few plants that this is happening with, as listed out earlier. We’re even going to chat about some of the plants that are starting to go out of fashion. Let’s dive right into it.

The Charm of Hydrangeas


A close up of blue and purple flowers. Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are one of those plants that everybody knows about, even if you’ve never done gardening a day in your life.

Back in the 60s Hydrangeas were all the rage, almost everybody had them in their garden. But then people seemed to forget about them, and nobody brought Hydrangeas for many years.

Vibrant pink and purple hydrangeas thrive in a sunlit garden, reminiscent of a beautifully curated plant nursery, surrounded by lush green leaves.Which takes us to today, where we are seeing a resurgence of this amazing plant. It’s no surprise, Hydrangeas are very beautiful and offer up so many different colour options.

Now we already have an incredible article that covers EVERYTHING you need to know about Hydrangeas. You can read that here.

It’s quite a lengthy article, so we thought we’d just recap some of the most important parts so that you can get to planting and growing them much quicker.

Hydrangeas ADORE water, they need plenty of water, especially if you’re growing them in the sun. But a lot of people choose to grow them in the shade where the water requirements are lower.

A lush display of oakleaf hydrangeas, one of the top indoor plants, with white blossoms and variegated green and bronze leaves. Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Oakleaf’Most Hydrangeas are deciduous and lose their leaves in winter, with the flowering season being from December through to April.

They can be grown in pots or garden beds, so you have a lot of versatility with where you choose to put them, whether it’s on the balcony or patio, or in spot somewhere in the garden.


CLICK HERE to see our full range of Hydrangeas at Hello Hello

The Indestructible Nature of Rubber Plants

A potted rubber plant with dark green leaves sits elegantly on a white surface beside a glass pitcher, evoking the serene charm of a Hamptons garden.We recently did a video about the indoors plant for Mr or Mrs Kill ‘em Quick and in Chris’ words “they were so common that they went out of fashion.” Check out that video here.

But Rubber Plants are just too damn tough to stay unpopular for very long. If you’re the type of person that kills every indoor plant you come across, this is the plant for you.

Grow them in the sun or shade, have it indoors or out on the gazebo.

They grow so easily and are so low maintenance, you’ll plant one and practically forget about it.


CLICK HERE to see our full range of Rubber Plants at Hello Hello

The Soft Beauty of Flowering Currants


A branch from a Hamptons garden bursts with vibrant pink and red flowers, complemented by lush green leaves against a softly blurred background.

It wasn’t until we accidentally stumbled upon one of these on our content shoot days that we remembered how wonderful this tree is.  You can check out that video here.

We found it in a country town in front of a cottage house, and it really suits that aesthetic perfectly.

In spring it is densely packed with small pink flowers that give off that sweet currant flavour. The Flowering Currant is an ornamental plant that doesn’t produce any actual currants, but it is a cousin of the black currant. It’s a very hardy plant that works well in a number of different situations.

The Delicate Wonder of Viburnum Snowball Bush


Clusters of white, spherical flowers with green leaves adorn the bush, reminiscent of a charming Hamptons garden.

This is such a gorgeous plant it’s hard to imagine it becoming unpopular, but there was a time where stock of it was just not moving that well. Not anymore.

When in flower, this large shrub puts on quite a spectacle, with big clusters of flowers that start out an apple-green shade and brighten to white, eventually fading into a rosy pink. They are perfect for cut flowers.

The Viburnum Snowball Bush grows in an upright mounding manner, meaning it’s not a lot of effort to keep it looking great. It also doesn’t produce any berries so there’s no messiness produced by the bush.

Not only do you get blossoms but come autumn the maple shaped leaves turn red and orange. So this is a bush that is going to give you interest in the garden year round.

The Indoor Classic Mother-in-Law’s Tongue


Tall green snake plant with yellow-edged leaves in a round wooden pot, reminiscent of a Hamptons garden, against a dark gray background.

Now this was THE present plant for ages, either you were buying it as a gift for a loved one, or you were the loved one receiving it.

It’s likely because they are so great at tolerating heat, coupled with the very interesting foliage. Those upright sword shaped leaves with a mixture of deep green, cream and yellow markings make for quite a striking sight.

Now they’re not completely immune to neglect, as they don’t do well in the cold. So make sure to plant it in full or part sun, and if you are in a cool climate, grow it indoors.

Mother In-Law’s Tongue are perfect for a low water or low maintenance garden, and look fantastic in pots.

The Classic Silver Birch


A grove of birch trees with white bark and green-yellow leaves creates a picturesque Hamptons garden in a sunlit forest setting.

Okay so Silver Birch never declined in popularity as much as some of the other plants on this list, but there definitely was a dip where people weren’t planting Silver Birch as much.

But this is such a classic option that it’s no surprise that it’s returned to being the go-to feature tree for so many people.

What makes Silver Birch so incredible is its versatility. It suits almost any garden design, from minimalist to classic to cottage and so on. They are cheap to buy, quick to grow and don’t require a lot of effort.

We love Silver Birches so much we wrote a whole article about it, which you can check out here.


CLICK HERE to see our full range of Silver Birch at Hello Hello

Plants That Are Now Going Out of Fashion

We couldn’t talk about the plants that are coming back, without mentioning the ones that are actually now going out fashion. But who knows, maybe in a couple of years we’ll be writing about how they’re once again rising in popularity.

Ornamental Pears: The Perfect Avenue Tree

A pathway lined with blooming white-flowered trees on both sides, reminiscent of a serene Hamptons garden, leads into the distance under a clear sky.Perhaps too perfect of an avenue tree, Ornamental Pears are starting to decline in popularity.

It seems that every person and their dog has a row of Ornamental Pears planted outside their house or business.

Both commercial and private owners have ADORED this tree for a number of different reasons.

The main reason is because the consistency in appearance. There’s nothing worse than a row of plants that look nothing alike, even though they’re the same species.

With the Ornamental Pear, in particular Cleveland Pears, their ability to leaf, autumn colour and blossom all at the same time is what makes for such a spectacle as an avenue.

Pyrus Everscreen Ornamental Pear Winter Glow banner

Three tall, green trees with dense foliage stand in a grassy area reminiscent of a Hamptons garden under a clear blue sky.Also just the fact that tree puts on such a gorgeous display year round is very attractive to commercial property owners wanting their property to look good all year. Of course this same principle applies to the homeowner.

But interestingly we’re starting to see a decline in their popularity, there are just so many of them planted everywhere, and it seems people are starting to get bored of it.

Now this is not us telling you you’re not allowed to plant Ornamental Pears anymore – they are clearly incredible trees. But we just wanted to point out how we are seeing a significant decrease in the sale of Ornamental Pears.


CLICK HERE to see our full range of Ornamental Pear Trees at Hello Hello

Are There Any Plants That Are Immune To Trends?

A Japanese maple tree with reddish leaves is growing near a building, surrounded by green shrubbery and a stone path.Or more accurately – are there any plants that will stand the test of time and always be popular.

Now we aren’t psychics (although sometimes we’re pretty sure Chris is with the way he knows everything about plants), but we reckon that trees like Flowering Cherries and Japanese Maples will never go out of fashion.

They are simply too beautiful, and particularly in the case of the Japanese Maple, the different varieties look so different you could never get sick of it.

Get Inspired

A plant nursery with various colorful plants and shrubs on display. A red building with "Hello Hello Plants & Garden Supplies" signage in the background promotes a Plant Clearance Sale.There you have it, the resurgence of some beautiful plants. It’s funny how trends can be quite cyclical in nature – just think about the return of flared jeans.

Now you never have to buy something just because it’s popular, but there’s definitely merit in checking out plants that a lot of people are buying. They’re obviously selling out for a reason.

If you’re not already following us on our socials, which is insane because we post educational and inspirational content literally every day, then be sure to check us out on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook and YouTube.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

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Front view of a house with a manicured Hamptons garden featuring shrubs, grasses, and decorative pots. The house boasts a white exterior, large windows, and a covered porch with elegant columns.

How to Design a Hamptons Style Garden Unique to Your Tastes

Written by coldev on . Posted in Garden Advice, Garden Ideas, Plants.

Is there anything better than having a garden that makes you feel like you’re always on holiday? Now we can’t bring the ocean and time off work of the Hamptons to you, but we can help you create a garden that is luxurious, classy and beautiful.

Small white wildflowers surrounded by green foliage and large rocks.

Two people standing in a lush garden, holding hydrangeas, in front of a shingled house with a white door. The garden path is lined with various flowering plants.

Field of purple wildflowers with tall, thin stems and clustered blooms, set against a blurred green and brown background.

A charming house with a porch and two chairs, surrounded by a blooming tree and manicured garden.

Pink flowers with yellow centers surrounded by green leaves and other purple and white blooms.

A dense bush with light green leaves and pink tips, set against a background of grass and trees.

A cluster of vibrant purple flowers with green leaves overflowing from a white planter.

The Hamptons style has been popular for a long time, and we find that almost every second garden design is asking how to do a Hamptons style garden, but with a little twist. Maybe it’s a Japanese element, or a Cottage leaning angle.

First, we’re going to define what the Hamptons style is. Then we’re going to chat about how you can make the style uniquely yours so that you stand out from the other Hamptons Style Gardens.

Here’s what we will be covering in this article:

THE ESSENTIALS
THE BEST PLANTS TO USE:
– Flowering Plants
– Trees
– Hedges
HOW TO ADD A TWIST:
– Hamptons with a Cottage Twist
– Hamptons with Australian Native Plants
– Hamptons with a Japanese Style
TIME TO MAKE YOUR HAMPTONS GARDEN

The Essentials of the Hamptons Style

The pathway, reminiscent of a Hamptons garden, is lined with white hydrangeas and manicured bushes, leading to a charming white picket gate. A stately brick building and lush trees provide an elegant backdrop.Let’s start with breaking down the essential elements. It’s important that you have a set parameter to work within, or you’ll risk having a hodge podge of random things thrown together.

Chris actually likes to define Hamptons as a “Cottage Garden but with a specific colour palette.” Whereas a Cottage Garden gives you the freedom to mix and match as many different colour plants as you choose, you want to stick to certain shades when it comes to a Hamptons style.

A Hamptons garden scene features blooming flowers in white and purple, bordered by wooden structures, with trees and lush greenery in the background.The colours at your disposal are white, pink, mauve, blue or purple. And of course green for the foliage of the plants, or even green-silver.

What you don’t want is any plant that has shades of yellow, red, or orange, whether that be in the foliage or from the flowers.

You’ll probably have already noticed but we’ll just point it out that essentially the colour palette is quite cool tones.

Two people standing in a lush garden, holding hydrangeas, in front of a shingled house with a white door. The garden path is lined with various flowering plants.

That doesn’t mean a warm-ish colour like magenta can’t ever find it’s way into a Hamptons garden, but you just want to make sure to use it sparingly and always strive for more cooler shades.

Now the secret to a Hamptons Style is finding the perfect balance between formality and looseness.
Lean too much towards formality and you lose the relaxed laid back quintessential vibe of the Hamptons. Err too much towards looseness and you abandon the sophistication and classiness.

To strike this perfect balance you want to bring the structure and symmetry by using hedges, topiaries and standard plants.

Then you add the soft romantic touches with your other plants like flowers, border plants, trees, shrubs, ground covers and climbers. You want to make it flowy and wild (but not too wild).
In every Hamptons Style Garden there is an interplay between structure and softness.

The Best Plants for the Hamptons Style

So you’ve got the basic elements down, what are the plants that are best suited? We’ll start with flowering plants.

Flowering Plants:
Nepeta ‘Catmint’


Purple flowering plants flourish in a garden bed with mulch, creating a vibrant lawn alternative. They're surrounded by lush green foliage and small rocks, offering both beauty and sustainability. Catmint

With the most gorgeous delicate purple flowers, Catmint is a no brainer when it comes to picking flowers. The foliage is also a perfect grey-green. Catmint is actually a herb, with a nice fresh scent.
Those gorgeous flowers will come about in summer and autumn, with the nice foliage filling your garden the rest of the time.

You could use Catmint for edging or large spaces you want to fill with a mass planting. They are so easy to grow so you don’t have to worry about spending a lot of time taking care of it.

If you are in a hot and dry area, you definitely want to be going with Catmint as they are excellent for those conditions.

Agastache ‘Sweet Lili’


Purple blooming flowers on green stems create a vibrant lawn alternative in the garden setting. agastache sweet lili

With larger bottlebrush flowers and a more pink-purple colour, Sweet Lili is another great option. They flower from end of December through to autumn, giving you colour for a long time.
They are fantastic for the hot summer conditions and are a resilient perennial that are drought tolerant once established.

Make sure to plant in full sun with well drained soil. If you want to prolong the flowering, deadhead regularly.

You can even eat the foliage! It is anise-scented and can be used in salads and teas, or you can just use it in the kitchen as a pretty flower arrangement.

Convolvulus ‘Blue’


Purple morning glory flowers bloom in a white planter with lush green leaves, offering a vibrant lawn alternative. Convolvulus Blue

Convolvulus ‘Blue’ is an excellent ground cover that is not only low maintenance, but also very long flowering. You can put this in a large space that needs covering or plant it by an embankment and let it spill over and down.

The flowers are a vivid purple-blue that absolutely cover the entire plant. But even when the flowers are gone, the foliage by itself looks wonderful.

You can also use it to fill spaces between shrubs and larger perennials or even by the poolside.

Salvia ‘Mexican Bush Sage’


Close-up of tall purple flowering plants with slender green leaves, offering an elegant lawn alternative in a garden setting.

Now here’s a plant that’s really going to add that looseness your Hamptons Garden needs. This is an evergreen shrub that flowers for a long period, from winter until end of spring.

You can choose between purple or white flowers (both fit the Hamptons colour brief!)

Mexican Bush Sage is great as a flowering hedge or a medium sized border plant. They are very easy to grow and can handle moderately dry conditions.

Make sure to plant it in a sunny spot, as it will only handle small periods of shade throughout the day.

Lavandula ‘Hidcote’ Dwarf Lavender


A close-up of blooming lavender plants showcases their vibrant purple flowers and lush green stems, offering a picturesque lawn alternative.

This is a dwarf bush with striking silver-green foliage and purple-blue flowers throughout spring and summer. Of course, it also smells incredible.

Hidcote is a hardy plant that does well in hot dry conditions, and to get the best flowering make sure to plant in full sun with free-draining soil. It doesn’t grow as tall as some of the other varieties.

This is great to plant as a hedge or in a pot and its perfect for creating a romantic vibe in the garden.

Leucanthemum ‘Shasta Daisy’ Shaggy


A cluster of white daisies with yellow centers flourishes as a vibrant lawn alternative in a garden setting, surrounded by lush green foliage. Leucanthemum Shasta Daisy Shaggy.

Those shaggy flowers really bring the wild looseness to your Hamptons Style Garden, but if you want flowers that are just a bit more formal looking you can always go for the regular Shasta Daisy.

It’s quite an unusual daisy with its ruffled petals, but we love how it’s something a bit different from normal daisies.

They have white flowers with yellow centres (don’t worry this yellow is fine in such a small dose) and green compact foliage.

Shasta Daisy can handle almost any soil and should be planted in a full sun position. Once established they are frost hardy.

This would be a perfect border plant amongst some of your other purple and blue flowers.

Japanese Anemone


Two pink flowers with yellow centers bloom among lush greenery, surrounded by an array of purple and white blossoms, offering a vibrant lawn alternative. Japanese anemones

The Japanese Anemone is a flowering perennial with elegant pink flowers that rise up quite tall from the foliage. They are resistant to most insects and diseases.

Now you don’t have to plant these in full sun, and they actually prefer partial shade.
They are great for a border or planted anywhere you want a pop of colour.

Arenaria ‘Mountain Sandwort’


White flowers with small petals flourish among rocks and lush green foliage, offering a charming lawn alternative. arenaria mountain sandwort

Here is a low growing evergreen perennial that flowers from late spring through to early winter, so you can enjoy flowers even in the colder times.

They are great for rockers and filling gaps in the garden and form compact small mounds.


Hydrangeas


Experience a Hamptons garden, where stone steps lead you through manicured shrubs and blooming hydrangeas, all nestled alongside elegant white columns. Hydrangeas

We couldn’t write an article about the Hamptons style without talking about Hydrangeas – they are practically THE Hamptons flower.

If you have a sunny spot you want to plant a Hydrangea paniculata, if it’s a shady spot you want to use a Hydrangea macrophylla. We aren’t going to go too much into Hydrangeas here because we already have a very in depth article all about Hydrangeas which you can read here.

So there’s a huge selection of flowering plants, let’s move onto trees now.

Trees:
Betula ‘Moss White’ Silver Birch


A Hamptons garden features a backyard with a small pool, stone pathway, and lush greenery. A modern house stands in the background, complete with large windows that invite natural light to dance across the serene landscape.

Silver Birch will always be a classic and we particularly love Moss White for its striking white bark and foliage that turns a vivid yellow in autumn.

This is a deciduous tree that looks incredible even in winter, because you get a full view of that distinctive bark.

Moss White Birches are best in a position of full sunlight to partial shade and look fantastic when planted in groups.

Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’ Crepe Myrtle


A small tree with white blossoms graces a Hamptons garden in front of a gray house, complete with a porch and two inviting chairs.

Crepe Myrtles are the trees you buy when you want something that will look incredible all year and give you something special in each season.

Summer brings a riot of white flowers, then comes dark green leaves. In autumn you see the foliage turn a bronzy red shade. Then winter the tree will be bare, with distinctive bark on full display. Spring then circles back to flowers.

Truly a beautiful tree, you can’t go wrong in picking this as your feature and for your Hamptons garden we recommend the ‘Natchez’ Crepe Myrtle as a good option.

Salix ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ Variegated Willow


A variegated willow shrub with green and pink-tipped leaves thrives in a Hamptons garden, nestled in mulch and set against a backdrop of lush trees and grass.

You will mostly see this tree as a standard, but it looks incredible in its natural form as well. The green-white variegated leaves, pink buds in spring and catkin in autumn make for a very striking tree.

It originates from the Asian flower garden culture and elevates any garden it is added to. Hakuro Nishiki is quite low maintenance, so you don’t have to fuss over it much.

However if you want the best results plant in a sheltered full sun to part shade position. The exotic foliage is quite a wonder to look at, with even hints of pink in the leaves.

Magnolia ‘Little Gem’


In a serene Hamptons garden, a white magnolia flower blooms amidst the lush green leaves.

This is a classic beauty with two-toned leaves, one side is a glossy green, and the other one a velvety brown. On top of this in summer and autumn you get gorgeous creamy white flowers.

Little Gem is great for screening or as a feature tree, and once established is very hardy.

To add structure you’ll want to add some balls and topiaries which are best done with English Box.

Buxus ‘English Box’

This is Melbourne’s most popular topiary plant, and for good reason.

First of all, it is gorgeous and lush, remaining nice and green through situations that would turn other plants brown or scraggly.

Next it is low maintenance, only requiring pruning once or twice a year.

Lastly, you have practically no limits when it comes to what you can do with English Box, from the classic ball and cone, to more fancy options like spirals and standards.

To continue with creating that formality these are the plants you can use for hedges.

Hedges:
Buxus ‘English Box’


A hedge of Buxus 'Blauer Heinz' Box Hedge 6" Pot plants in a yard.

As we said before, English Box is such a popular and incredible plant. You can grow it up to 3 metres or trim it and keep it down to 1 metre

Viburnum odoratissimum ‘Sweet’


In a serene Hamptons garden, a white magnolia flower blooms amidst the lush green leaves.

This is a gorgeous flowering hedge that is great as a screening plant. The fragrant small white flowers in spring nestle nicely alongside large oval shaped leaves.

Then in autumn you get beautiful red berries, adding even more interest to the hedge.

Sweet Viburnum is fast growing, reaching a maximum height of approximately four metres.

Prunus ‘Portuguese Laurel’


Tall, dense hedge with bright green leaves atop a red brick wall, reminiscent of a classic Hamptons garden, stretching horizontally across the image.

When you really want to add the classiness to your Hamptons Garden, this is the plant you go for. With deep green foliage and elegant white flowers in the warmer months, Portuguese Laurel is a great choice.

It’s perfect for pleached hedging and large standard topiaries. Portuguese Laurel will tolerate most soil conditions and loves full sun to part shade.

How to Add a Twist to Your Hamptons Style Garden

A Hamptons garden scene features blooming flowers in white and purple, bordered by wooden structures, with trees and lush greenery in the background.So let’s say you’re one of our Garden Design clients that wants to add a unique spin to the Hamptons Style Garden. Here are some of the things we’ve heard our customers say they want:

  • I want Hamptons but with a Cottage twist.
  • I want Hamptons with all Native plants.
  • I want Hamptons but in a Japanese style.

Let’s tackle each option and go through how we would approach each one.

Hamptons with a Cottage Twist

Two people stand on a garden path in front of a charming Hamptons house, holding hydrangeas. The home features classic shingles and a white door, surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant flowers, capturing the essence of a serene Hamptons garden.Now because Hamptons is essentially a “Cottage Garden but with a specific colour palette” you have so much freedom of choice here. We’ll mention a few of our favourite Cottage Plants but you definitely aren’t restricted to just them.

Some of the Cottage plants that fit the Hamptons colour palette are:

Explore our entire Cottage range here.

Hamptons with Australian Native Plants

A modern house with a porch overlooks its Hamptons-inspired garden, where neatly landscaped shrubs, ornamental grasses, and potted plants create a serene front yard.

Topiarised Natives are a great starting point for a Hamptons style using Australian Native plants. Westringia and Correa alba are to great options for topiaries, or you can also make hedges out of them.

There is also quite a few Natives that will give you that wild loose look. This is plants like Prostanthera ‘Round Leaf’ Mint Bush which has an incredible show of purple flowers with a strong mint smell. You can keep it natural or shape it into a low hedge or neat round shrub (just make sure you still have those ‘loose’ looking plants).

Native Grasses are another great plant, particularly Lomandra ‘White Sands’ with its fascinating variegated foliage. White Sands is fast-growing and great for mass planting and rockeries.

Explore our entire Native range here.

Hamptons Combined with a Japanese Style

Two neatly trimmed trees with round canopies stand next to a high, well-maintained hedge, reminiscent of a classic Hamptons garden. Concrete pavement stretches in the foreground, completing this serene landscape.

Take the quintessential plant of the Japanese style – a Japanese Maple, and cloud prune it to make it Hamptons style. It looks absolutely incredible and gives you a feature tree unlike anyone else’s.

Then it’s just a matter of choosing plants that fit the Japanese style and criteria of the Hamptons style such as Ophiopogon ‘Dwarf’ Mondo Grass, Gardenia ‘Florida’, Jacaranda Tree, Prunus ‘Falling Snow’ Weeping Cherry and Wisteria sinensis ‘Purple Chinese Wisteria’.

Explore our entire Japanese range here.

Now it’s Time to Make Your Hamptons Garden

A backyard Hamptons garden with lush green plants and white flowers borders a swimming pool, surrounded by trees that create a serene atmosphere.Whether you go for the classic Hamptons Style, or incorporate some new twist to it, we hope this guide has helped you get started.

Remember, a few solid shapes combined with loose and wild plants that stick to that specific colour palette and you got a Hamptons style.

If you’re still feeling a bit suck and want some personalised advice, book one of our Free Garden Designs here.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

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Close-up of a small, green beetle with antennae on a verdant leaf, nestled under the gentle shade of a weeping cherry tree.

This is the Solution to Your Beetle Damaged Lilly Pillys

Written by coldev on . Posted in Garden Advice, Garden Ideas, Plants.

The Problem

There are so many people in Victoria that are facing this problem in their gardens – their beautiful Lilly Pillys that are being ravaged by beetles.

Close-up of green leaves on a bush, with some leaves showing signs of browning and curling.This beetle problem is quite recent, a decade or so ago this wasn’t an issue at all. Which is why so many people in Victoria were buying and filling their gardens with Lilly Pillys.

But in a way this popularity is what has now led to the downfall of most Lilly Pillys. This is because a beetle that used to always live up in Queensland has now migrated down, and finding such a bountiful feast, has decided to stay.

So if your Lilly Pillys look like this, it’s this slippery migrating beetle that is to blame.

A small green beetle on a plant stem with large leaves, reminiscent of the lush foliage of a bargain Weeping Cherry Tree, some of which have bite marks.

The Solution

Now we’re going to be straight up with you, there is nothing you can do to get rid of the beetles forever and keep your current Lilly Pilly plants.

A cluster of elongated green leaves with red stems in a dense arrangement.We know how frustrating this is, you probably spent a lot of money and time growing these bushes to the size they are now. But the unfortunate reality is that the best solution is to remove your current Lilly Pilly hedge and replace it with new plants.

Now you don’t have to abandon Lilly Pillys entirely, there are two varieties of Lilly Pilly that the beetles absolutely don’t touch. The Smithii and Waterhousia are the two families of Lilly Pilly that the beetles don’t eat at all.

Both of these are wonderful, stunning plants that can be planted and trimmed up as a standard or used as a hedge/screen.

Acmena smithii minor Dwarf Lilly Pilly foliage green leaves with orange red tipsLet’s say you’re not in a position to be ripping out your old hedge or plants to replace it with something new. What we would then recommend is to fertilise your Lilly Pilly very well, then in summer spray it with something like confidant once a month for the next three months.

This is not a good long term solution because confidant is a really nasty chemical, and you’ll be forced to fight these beetles every summer. But it’s the best thing to do in the short term to avoid you’re Lilly Pillys looking terrible.

More of a visual learner? Check out our video where we show a living illustration of this problem, and the solution!


A person stands in a garden with trimmed bushes, under the text "Sick Lilly Pilly?" A red car and houses are in the background.

If there’s any other plant problems you’ve been struggling with, be sure to come down to our weekly Live Q&As every Monday on Tik Tok, X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Chris has decades of gardening knowledge and can answer pretty much any plant question!

Tomatoes of various ripeness stages, from green to red, are growing on vine plants in a well-planned garden, demonstrating an excellent solution to common garden design problems.

The Only Guide You’ll Need to Pick and Grow Your Own Tomatoes

Written by coldev on . Posted in Garden Ideas, Plants.

Growing your own food is an incredibly fulfilling process, but so many people shy away from it because they get too bogged down in choosing what to grow and figuring out how to grow it.

Well, we’re here to give you that nudge. Tomatoes are a perfect beginner plant and we’re going to be breaking down everything you need to know about choosing the right variety and how to take care of them.

This is everything we’ll cover today:

Why You Should Grow Tomatoes?

Person holding a variety of tomatoes in both hands, including one large red tomato and several smaller dark red tomatoes, a testament to solving garden design problems.Tomatoes are one of Australia’s most popular fruit/vegetables – they’re incredibly versatile in the kitchen and can be used in a huge range of dishes. You can eat them straight off the vine and enjoy their natural flavour.

They’re also quite easy to grow, so it’s no surprise they’re also one of the most popular homegrown fruit/vegetable.

Some other reasons for this popularity are that they are more cost effective than buying tomatoes at the store and home grown tomatoes taste MUCH better than store bought ones. Now this is with the right sort of fertiliser, good soil, right conditions and right care. Which of course we’ll be getting into later.

Another reason why the flavour is better is that when you grow it at home, you’ll often let it ripen on the bush and pick it just as it ripens. Whereas in a store situation, they might be growing it in Queensland or New South Wales, where they pick it before it’s ripe and then ripen it artificially so it’s not rotting on the way to the store.


Pots of tomato plants with ripe red tomatoes and green leaves are arranged in a plastic tray on a table, providing a glimpse into solving common garden design problems.

It’s also about picking the right variety for your needs and location, which is why we’re going to go through the different varieties of tomatoes to help you pick the right one.

There are so many benefits of home grown tomatoes, you’re saving money, you’re getting more delicious and healthier tomatoes, and you get the satisfaction of eating food you grew yourself. Tomatoes are a great beginner plant because they’re easy to grow and have many uses in the kitchen, such as relishes, salads, sauces, sandwiches, soups, wraps and so many more.

Rows of tomato plants with fruits in varying stages of ripeness, from green to red, highlight the beauty and potential garden design problems in this dirt plot.Chris has a little story about his experience with tomatoes:

I remember when I was a kid, my dad used to do everything big and he would plant a row of tomatoes, and some years he’d plant two rows of tomatoes, 50 meters long. So we’d have a 50 meter row of tomatoes, and there was only like a family of five, and he’d have this 50 meter row of tomatoes, and my mom would be up half the night cooking various sauces and all these different things, preserving tomatoes. We’d be having tomatoes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it’d still be piles of tomatoes piling up as they fell off the bushes in the field.

How Do You Grow Tomatoes?


Person carefully planting small green tomato plants in a garden, meticulously addressing garden design problems by ensuring soil is gently packed around the base of each plant.

First you need to make a choice on where you want to grow tomatoes: in a pot or in a garden bed. For some of you the choice will already be made because you live in an apartment or place that doesn’t have a garden. But for those who could do either, here are some things to consider.

Regardless of whether they’re in the sun or a pot, they want a hot, sunny open spot. Something to consider when growing them is they need to be staked, especially your cherry tomatoes and smaller tomatoes. Without staking they tend to sprawl all over the place, and you’ll get fruit running on the ground. Also by staking them you are getting them up and into the airflow they need, meaning less disease and healthier fruit.

Growing Tomatoes in a Pot

A potted tomato plant with ripening tomatoes, supported by wooden stakes, sits on a marble surface, creating a charming focal point that effortlessly addresses common garden design problems.If you chose pot, make sure it’s a big pot. We’re talking at the very least a 13 inch pot for cherry tomatoes, but preferably a 16 inch pot and larger. Also with a pot make sure you are using a good quality potting mix; we have one called Nature Soil which is the best commercial potting mix on the market.

It’s not a bad idea to mix a bit of extra lime in there with something like Dolomite Lime and some homegrown compost from kitchen scraps. If you don’t have a compost heap, it’s not a bad idea to get started on one as they are really beneficial for any vegetable that you are growing.

The upside to growing tomatoes in a pot is the ease of portability – you can just pick it up and move it around whenever you want. For example, a time where you might need to do this is in the real heat of summer (over 30 degrees), it’s a good idea to move them to a place where they are going to get some afternoon shade.


A red pot filled with growing tomato plants, their green leaves adorned with clusters of ripe red tomatoes. The background showcases other potted plants and greenery, a picturesque solution for common garden design problems.

When it is hot day after hot day after hot day, you’ll find your tomatoes will go a bit backwards. For example in places like Golden Valley you can have this stretch of long hot days for ages. In Melbourne you should be fine because heat waves don’t tend to last more than three or four days.

But if they’re in a pot, you can just pick it up and move it to a more suitable location until the weather has cooled down again.
The downside to growing tomatoes in a pot is that you’ll have to water them more often than if they’re in the garden. It’s a good idea do put a saucer under your pot as it will hold water well and reduce your amount of watering.

Growing Tomatoes in the Garden


A person in a yellow sweater and jeans waters plants with a yellow watering can in a greenhouse, addressing potential garden design problems.

A cluster of cherry tomatoes in various ripening stages, hanging on a vine amidst green leaves, illustrates one of the common garden design problems: balancing aesthetic appeal with functional growth.As mentioned before, having them in the garden means less watering. Also you can always make a plan if those crazy heat waves come, such as setting a small tarp up or something to give your tomatoes shade.

If you are growing them in the garden you want to make sure there is airflow and choose a spot that gets as much sun as you can all day, particularly now in springtime. Then you want to dig it over and mix in some compost. A pH level test wouldn’t go astray, but we don’t blame if you can’t be bothered, you can also just mix in a bit of Dolomite Lime.

Tomatoes like to have a neutral pH, good loose soil, good draining and plenty of fertiliser. You can use either an organic fertiliser or an artificial fertiliser (but we reckon organic will make it taste better), and Osmocote is great for tomatoes.

The Best Time to Plant Tomatoes

A person planting a young tomato plant into a neatly prepared garden bed of soil.Okay so you’ve made your choice on where to plant them, now the question is when to plant them. For most of Australia, that time is right now in September.

However we want to preface that you have to wait until the last frost occurs. For some of those up in Mount Macedon or the higher regions of Victoria, this may not be the case right now. It’s possible the last frost could be a couple of weeks away still.

Something to note is that tomatoes love warmth, so if you’re in a cooler area it’s a good idea to warm the soil before planting. You would do this by getting some black plastic, cutting a hole in it and then covering the bed in that plastic.

Black plastic is good because it blocks out the weeds, whereas clear plastic will tend to encourage weeds underneath. Another thing you can do is having a raised bed as it warmer than a flat garden. Even if you don’t live in a cooler area, you can do these two tricks if you’re just keen to plant your tomatoes earlier.

If you are wanting to grow tomatoes from seeds, then unfortunately you probably should’ve planted them weeks ago in the bed, around early August. But most nurseries are selling several months old tomatoes that are well on their way to producing. So now is a great time to go buy your tomatoes and plant them up.

Hands holding ripe and unripe tomatoes still on the vine in a garden.Let’s say you might be in an area like Mount Macedon and you’re really keen to start planting now. This is where a pot could come in handy because on nights that they’re predicting a frost, you can just move them into a shed or bring them inside.

There are some areas in Victoria where you can get a frost right up until mid-November, so it’s fair enough if you don’t want to wait that long to plant your delicious tomatoes.

Maximizing the Flavour of Your Tomatoes


A close-up of fresh red tomatoes with water droplets on a plate, with green leaves blurred in the background, highlights how garden design problems can be overcome to yield such beautiful produce.

To maximise the flavour of your tomatoes you want to use good quality soils and potty mix, organic fertilisers and making sure you have the right pH levels. Also it’s important to be picking it at the right time.

The best time to pick them is when they turn red, just before the point they start to soften, and you’ll get the best taste.

Variety of Tomatoes: Choosing the Right One for You


A variety of tomatoes in different shapes and colors, some in bowls and others on a table, with a sprig of rosemary nearby, showcasing the solution to many garden design problems.

There is a HUGE range of choices available, which wasn’t always the case. About 60 years ago there was only about two types of tomatoes, and now there are so many it’s a bit overwhelming.

Which is why we’ve sorted it into three different categories:

Exotic and Gourmet Tomatoes


A variety of heirloom tomatoes in different shapes, sizes, and colors, including red, yellow, green, and striped, are displayed close together. Amid this vibrant display that could solve any garden design problems, some tomatoes are sliced to show their interior.

A close-up of a green tomato with a dark purple top, hanging from a leafy plant with water droplets on its surface.Our first tomato in this category is the Green and Black Tomato, which is an heirloom tomato and quite an old variety.

We just want to quickly take some time to extend our appreciation and gratitude to Diggers Seeds, a company that has worked tirelessly to preserve the seeds of fruits and vegetables like tomatoes.

Because there was a period of time where big chemical companies were trying to wipe out all the varieties people have cultivated for hundreds of years. However Diggers Seeds gathered tomatoes, like Green and Black, and grew them on his seed farm so we still have all these fabulous varieties.

Ripe red and yellow striped heirloom tomatoes growing on a vine with green leaves in the background.Then we have Tigarella which is appropriately named for it’s faint tiger like stripes.

Tigarella has abundant yields, beautifully flavoured fruit, and crops nice and early.

So if you are in a hurry to gettomatoes, Tigarella will crop a bit earlier than other tomatoes. It is also an English heirloom tomato.

A cluster of ripe yellow cherry tomatoes on the vine with green leaves in the background. Dew droplets are visible on some of the tomatoes.Next is Yellow Cherry Tomato, which are the first to ripen and are sweet little tomatoes. So you could have one producing fruit in six or eight weeks from now. They are also high in vitamin C, and that gorgeous yellow colour makes them look wonderful in a salad.

In general, Cherry Tomatoes are self-sufficient much sooner than any other tomato.

Two yellow heirloom tomatoes from the Tomato 'Truss' 4" Pot (Copy), with green stems, set against a white background.Next is Mellow Yellow which is quite a sweet tomato that isn’t acidic like other tomatoes can be. So if you don’t like acidic tomatoes, it’s a good idea to go for a Mellow Yellow Tomato. They are high yielding and quite a large size.

Buy these Exotic & Gourmet Tomatoes here:

Sauces and Cooking Tomatoes


A ladle scoops tomato sauce from a cast iron skillet, with fresh tomatoes and basil on the side. It's a comforting moment that makes you momentarily forget about garden design problems.

If you’re somebody who wants to use their tomatoes in relishes and sauces and other types of cooking, these are the varieties to check out. Essentially, you want high production and great flavour tomatoes.

Tomato Principe Borghese Solanum lycopersicum red tomato fruits edible plant climbingFirst one is Principe Borghese, a type of Italian heirloom tomato that is one of those old varieties that has been saved by Diggers Seed.

The fruit is small and elongated and is best for sundried and semi-sundried tomatoes because of its low seed and moisture content. It has an exceptional flavour and high yield, making it a perfect choice for cooking and making sauces with.

A hand holds a vine with nine small, oval-shaped, red tomatoes, one of which has a slight greenish tint, offering a glimpse into the rewards of thoughtful garden design.Then there is Cherry Roma, which has more recently become popular with cooking. Cherry Roma is used a lot by Italians and Greeks that buy vast amounts to make their sauces in autumn.

The Cherry Roma will start producing sooner than your normal Roma, and still has a high yield and great flavour. The fruit is smooth and oblong, growing up to 4cm long. It has good disease resistance and few seeds. Cherry Roma is a good variety for cooking, bottling and drying.

Of course, we also need to talk about the classic big Roma Tomato, which is the one that a lot of Italians love to get for their sauces. They buy truckloads in autumn or late summer and make the most delicious sauces for pizza and pasta. So if you want to make some pizza and pasta, go for the Roma Tomato.

Similar to its Cherry Tomato type, Roma has good disease resistance and is great for cooking, bottling and drying. The fruit grows to about 10cm long.

A close-up of numerous oblong red tomatoes, with one tomato prominently displaying a green stem in the center, highlights the beauty that fresh produce can bring, even to those tackling garden design problems.Next is San Marzano, which is a climbing Italian heirloom variety. It is a heavy producer and has great flavour. San Marzano is best persevered for pasta sauces and tomato pastes. The fruit is long, cylindrical and thin.

Close-up of a ripe, red tomato with prominent ridges on a green vine surrounded by leaves, highlighting the beauty that often contrasts garden design problems.For the classic big tomatoes, Beefsteak is a great choice, it almost looks like a red pumpkin. It’s a great all-rounder, you can chop it up and put it in a salad or cook with them and make some sauces.

It’s especially important to be staking big tomatoes like Beefsteak. Beefsteak is of the heritage variety and the fruit is ribbed with juicy flesh.

Close-up of a ripe, red heirloom tomato hanging from a green vine in a garden, surrounded by green foliage and other unripe tomatoes in the background. Even amidst common garden design problems, this vibrant scene showcases nature's brilliance.Oxheart Tomato is a heavy producer, great flavour and a big, beautiful tomato. Also a great all-rounder.

Three vibrant red tomatoes with green stems are arranged in a triangular formation against a white background, reminiscent of a well-planned garden design.Grosse Lisse is an Australian favourite, with lovely medium sized tomatoes, great flavour. It is also quite a heavy producer.

Close-up of three ripe red tomatoes and one halved tomato with seeds and juice visible, all surrounded by green leaves, capturing the vibrant essence that well-planned garden design can solve many problems.Mortgage Lifter is a large beefsteak variety tomato with barely any seeds. The fruit is rich and sweet in flavour, with low acidity. It is also a heavy producer.

Buy these Sauces & Cooking Tomatoes here:

Cool Climate Tomatoes


Clusters of red, orange, and green tomatoes growing on a vine can be a delightful addition to your garden, though addressing garden design problems may enhance their aesthetic appeal.

If you live in an area with a cool climate, then you should go with any tomatoes below as they will grow successfully in such places.

Close-up of ripe, red tomatoes growing on a vine in a garden, showcasing the perfect solution to common garden design problems.Rouge de Marmande has been developed in France over many years and is a popular French heirloom variety. It’s good for sauces, cooking and preserving. It has ribbed foliage, juicy flesh and is also good for slicing. Rouge de Marmande is delicious eaten raw or cooked. It’s a heavy producer.

Three ripe red tomatoes attached to a green vine rest on a white background, showcasing the effortless beauty that can solve garden design problems.Apollo is bred for early maturing, it’s high quality, firm and well flavoured.

Close-up of a ripe red heirloom tomato on a wooden table with another red and green tomato in the background, resting on burlap—a picturesque scene that belies common garden design problems.Red Russian is a popular heirloom tomato with medium-sized fruit. Russia tends to have a short season, where it will be quite cool in the early part of it. Which is why Red Russian is good for places with a cooler climate.

Buy these Cool Climate Tomatoes here:

In Conclusion

So there you have it, the guide on how to grow your tomatoes and which ones to pick for your situation. All the tomatoes we’ve discussed today are available at Hello Hello in big sizes so you can be producing tomatoes nice and early.

Tomatoes are so easy to grow, and you can even do it yourself from seed but keep in mind it’s best to plant them in early August. You have the choice between a pot or the garden bed, meaning anyone can grow it regardless of whether you have a backyard or not.

So whether you’re a veteran of growing your own food, or this is your first step, plant tomatoes and in a few weeks, literally enjoy the fruit of your labour.


A person's hand is picking ripe red tomatoes from a plant with green tomatoes and leaves, showcasing a harmonious balance often sought in garden design.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

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Alternative Lawn Solutions For Small Patches of Ground

Written by coldev on . Posted in Garden Advice, Garden Ideas, Plants.

Lawns just aren’t what they used to be. With more and more units popping up and land getting smaller, lots of people are ending up with a tiny little piece of green.

That patch of green is so small that it’s really not worth having grass there that you have to mow and muck around with. It can actually be quite tricky figuring out to make this space pretty.

 

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Four stone blocks partially buried in lush green ground cover, surrounded by some of the best magnolias blooming with grace.

 

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Dense green moss with small white flowers growing on it in a landscaped garden, surrounded by wood chips, other plants, and a stone walkway leading to the best magnolias nearby.

 

Now there are people who think the solution to this is putting down plastic grass, which we… strongly disagree with. Honestly, we hate the stuff. It’s ugly, it’s expensive, it’s hard to lay down, and it makes any garden look ten times worse.

So we’re going to steer you away from plastic grass to much better, prettier, and cheaper options. Let’s get right into it.

Here is a list of the plants we will be talking about today.

Dichondra repens
Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’
Ophiopogon ‘Dwarf’ Mondo Grass
Pratia ‘White Star Creeper’ and ‘Blue Star Creeper’
Thymus ‘White Creeping Thyme’
Dymondia ‘Silver Carpet’
Myoporum ‘Yareena™’
Soleirolia ‘Baby’s Tears’
Sagina ‘Green Irish Moss’
Scleranthus biflorus ‘Lime Lava’
Mint ‘Corsican’
Zoysia ‘No Mow Grass’

Dichondra repens


A garden path with rectangular stepping stones surrounded by green ground cover and the season's best magnolias. The "Hello Hello Plants" logo is in the bottom-left corner.

This is a very popular groundcover and is perfect if you have a shady spot. You might have a big tree that casts shade over the whole area, or it’s on the south side of the house.

Close-up of vibrant green plant foliage in a garden center under a clear blue sky. The logo "Hello Hello Plants" is visible in the bottom left corner, showcasing some of the best magnolias around.

Lawn typically doesn’t grow great in these spots. But Dichondra repens is going to absolutely thrive.

Dichondra repens will also grow in full sun, so if you have a mixed spot with sun and shade in different patches, then this is a great option.

It’s great around pavers, most people like to choose Mondo, but Dichondra repens is faster, easier and cheaper. Also, it looks a lot better.

It has a kidney shaped leaf and looks very green and lush with minimal effort. It also will take low foot traffic.

It needs a reasonable amount of water and fertiliser, and reasonable soil. If you plant it now as we go into the warmer months, it will cover the ground really quickly

Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’


A garden bed features a dense cover of light-colored small flowers in the foreground and a cluster of tall, purple flowers with lush green foliage in the background, providing the perfect setting to showcase some of the best magnolias.

This is Dichondra repens’ silver-green coloured cousin. Now Silver Falls can grow in the hottest sun, or the deepest shade.

It will give you that pop of bright silver that contrasts beautifully with the rest of the greenery in your garden.

It’s great for covering any area, particularly an embankment where it can cascade over. It can cascade for more than a metre, so is really perfect for those situations where you want a lawn besides a retaining wall.

We’ve often used it in our garden designs at the base of a large pot and also love to use it around paving.

Ophiopogon ‘Dwarf’ Mondo Grass


Close-up of densely packed, long, green grass blades with a mix of dark and light shades, resembling the intricate beauty found in the best magnolias.

This is very, very popular. We do want to note that Dwarf Mondo Grass doesn’t seem to blanket out the weeds all that great though. We’ve seen many plantings of it where it has quite a lot of weeds coming through it, so just be mindful of that.

Dwarf Mondo is also only good in the shade, if you put it in a place with hot sun it will get sunburn. So the whole area you’re planting it in needs to be shady, and you have to stay on top of the weeds.

But don’t let that dissuade you from buying it, Dwarf Mondo is very beautiful. It’s lush, low and a gorgeous shade of dark green. It will take a bit of foot traffic, but nothing crazy.

Pratia ‘White Star Creeper’ and ‘Blue Star Creeper’


Close-up of a dense cluster of small, white, star-shaped flowers with green foliage. The bottom left corner features a colorful "Hello Hello Plants" logo, renowned for offering the best magnolias.

Close-up of a cluster of small, light purple flowers with green leaves in a garden, showcasing nature's best magnolias.

If you love flowers, then you’ll love the White Star Creeper and Blue Star Creeper – it has the most beautiful starlike flower which you can get in a striking white or a soft blue.

Best of all, you’ll get these stunning flowers for eight months of the years, which is a very long flowering period.

It’s a low groundcover that is great to put around paving or make a whole lawn of.

It loves the hot sun but can do well in partial shade. However, absolutely don’t plant it in deep shade. It needs fairly good soil, a regular feed, and a good amount of water, especially in the heat of summer.

But it is a very pretty and reliable groundcover that’s going to make that small patch of land shine.

Thymus ‘White Creeping Thyme’


Close-up of a low-growing herbaceous plant with numerous small white flowers, surrounded by small rocks and soil, offering a glimpse of nature's simplicity that complements even the best magnolias in your garden.

Creeping Thyme is a spectacular option, with our favourite being the white one. It is a beautiful moss like green mat and flowers from mid spring through to late summer. So another groundcover with a long flowering period.

The flowers also give off a gorgeous fragrance when you brush over the top of it. It will take some light foot traffic, but again, don’t go stomping all over it.

It will grow well in hot sun through to partial sun, but just make sure you aren’t planting it in a completely shady spot.
It’s easy to grow, and spreads quite quickly, particularly in the warm weather. It needs good soil and fertiliser.

You also have a couple variations, of course the white one we love the most, but also crimson, pink and purple. We’d say the Purple Creeping Thyme is the second best, and the Crimson Creeping Thymeis the third best.

Some of the other variations are a bit more shaggy and not quite as smooth and flat as the ones we just pointed out.

Dymondia ‘Silver Carpet’


Close-up view of a dense patch of variegated foliage with a few scattered small yellow flowers, reminiscent of the elegance found in the best magnolias.

Silver Carpet is closely related to the Marguerite Daisy, but it hardly ever flowers, you may get the odd yellow flower on it every now and again.

It’s a beautiful silver-grey that would pair very nicely with dark paving, like a dark blue stone.

It takes light foot traffic – maybe the occasional dog running over it or person walking on it. Silver Carpet is very tough and has a neat appearance.

It loves the hot sun but will take partial shade.

Myoporum ‘Yareena™’


A lush, green grass lawn in a garden area, bordered by stones and tall grass in the background, perfectly frames some of the best magnolias in full bloom.

This is a good Australian native that has a broad dark green leaf and grows fairly flat on the ground. All through the summer you get lovely starry white flowers that have an amazing honey fragrance.

It can take quite a bit of foot traffic, you can jump on it, lay on it, do whatever you like, it’s very tough stuff. It is a bit fatter than some of the other options on this list.

Once established it will end up about 20 or 30cm tall. Yareena is incredibly low maintenance, occasionally you’ll have to cut around the edges but that’s about it. It also blankets out the weeds really well.

One of the best patches we’ve seen of it was Shepparton on the side of the road where it never gets watered and it’s a really hot dry climate with hard clay soil. Yet, it remained lush and green all year.

So if you want something really tough and low maintenance that is going to cover a large area, Yareena is the one to go for.

Soleirolia ‘Baby’s Tears’


Close-up view of dense green foliage with textured leaves, reminiscent of the best magnolias. The bottom left corner features a logo with the text "Hello Hello Plants".

If you have a spot that is in really deep shade, Baby’s Tears will absolutely thrive there. You get in a green or yellow shade, and it is a beautiful delicate looking plant.

The best time to plant it is now at the end of August/start of September and it will spread like crazy in the warm weather. Keep it well watered and fertilised, and out of the hot sun.

You can put it around pavers, along garden walls and in between cracks. It would do great in a fernery or undercover courtyard.

Sagina ‘Green Irish Moss’


Dense green moss with small white flowers growing on it in a landscaped garden, surrounded by wood chips, other plants, and a stone walkway leading to the best magnolias nearby.

We know we’ve said this a few times, but we are providing a list of the best options, so here is another popular one.

Irish Moss has starry white flowers in springtime and looks just like moss, but it’s much hardier than moss.

It’ll grow in full sun through to partial shade, such as planting it under a tree where it gets speckled sun.

It’s low, lush and smooth with a luminous limey-gold colouring. It looks very attractive in the garden.

It needs good soil, and a fair amount of water and fertiliser.

Scleranthus biflorus ‘Lime Lava’


Close-up of green grass blades, showing sharp, pointed tips and a lush, dense texture, reminiscent of the best magnolias.

This has an incredible texture, that grows into a mound with a very smooth finish. It is this special quality and softness about it that makes a lot of people pat it when they walk past it in the nursery (we see this happen every day).

A gray, round planter is covered with thick, green moss, resembling a shrub. The planter is placed on a gravel surface with a dark background, creating the perfect setting to showcase the best magnolias in your garden.What’s interesting about Lime Lava is that it’s actually an Australian Native – even though it looks like something that would have originated in Scotland. In truth it grows naturally in the cracks of the rocks above the snow line on top of Australia’s mountains.
In winter it will be buried in the snow, then once the weather warms up and it thaws out, it needs the full sun. You really don’t want to be planting it in the shade because it will get all shaggy and weird.

Instead, it needs full sun, well drained soil and plenty of water and fertiliser. When we use it in our Garden Designs, we pick out the sunniest spot in the whole garden and then plant two or three of them together. They look really great as a clump, and we also like to blend them with a little bit of Black Mondo for some contrast.

They are not suitable for foot traffic, so don’t grow them in a spot where a lot of people, or animals, will be walking over it. In this situation you would be better off with a Creeping Thyme.

Mint ‘Corsican’


A garden pathway with large stone tiles surrounded by lush green ground cover plants, best magnolias, and anthuriums near a dark wall and red door.

This is a really interesting one that you don’t see round that much. It’s pretty much Baby’s Tears for the sun – so if you loved the look of Baby’s Tears but your spot isn’t in the shade, then Mint Corsican is the choice for you.

Now Mint Corsican does flower, unlike Baby’s Tears. It has a gorgeous mauve flower and a fine mossy look. It’s great for growing over rocks and right in the cracks of pavers.

It also has a delicious minty fragrance when you brush your fingertips over it or squish it.

Zoysia ‘No Mow Grass’


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Also known as Temple Grass, Zoysia is a fine and dense grass that grows in hilly tuft mounds. It will take light foot traffic and grows best in warm weather.

It will grow fine almost anywhere in Victoria and even though it’s a little tropical it can take quite a bit of frost. It needs plenty of fertiliser and water.

When you first plant this, it’s important to keep really on top of the weeds until it has had enough of a chance to form a thick mat. Once it’s established, you’ll find that it will blanket out the weeds.

Then you just need to make sure you keep it well watered and fertilised, and you will have this gorgeous soft green mat that you never have to mow.

It’s not your conventional flat lawn and the reason why you don’t have to mow it is because the blades of grass have no real length to them.

Choose The Right Option For You

An oval rock is surrounded by a dense carpet of small white flowers with green foliage, creating a picturesque setting reminiscent of the best magnolias in bloom.So there you have it, an excellent round up of lawn alternatives for that tricky small space in your garden. We hope this has shown you how easy and cheap it is to create a beautiful lawn – and to steer FAR away from artificial grass.

If you’re struggling to make your mind up, here are some questions you should ask yourself:

  • Do you want flowers?
  • Do you want shade loving or sun loving?
  • Do you want a mossy-like look or more of a grass-like look?

Now is the time to be thinking about it because all of these options grow and spread much better in the warm weather. Which means the time it takes to get coverage from your plant is much shorter. And we are very happy to say this, but the weather is getting better, and we are drawing closer to summer.

If you’re someone who wants more interactive content, come join our lives! We typically do two a week, a Live Q&A 12PM on Monday and an educational lecture 12PM on Tuesday (like this one on lawn alternatives!). Now these aren’t set in stone times, so please be sure to check our socials for updated information.

Spread the word and help us make gardening accessible for everyone.

A landscaped garden bed with grasses, shrubs, and large rocks bordered by a curved stone edge offers stunning lawn alternatives.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

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A cluster of blooming pink peonies with green leaves against a blurred green background presents a serene escape, even amidst common garden design problems.

The Brand New Peony on the Market – The Peony for the People

Written by coldev on . Posted in Garden Advice, Plants.

There is a brand new Peony on the market and it’s nothing like the Peonies you know – this one can actually be grown by anyone. Peonies are notorious for how difficult they are, which means not many people have been able to enjoy their beauty. But that changes today.

All About the New Peony:

Steve’s History with Peonies

Close-up of vibrant new peony rose on the market, in full bloom surrounded by lush green foliage.We met up with Steve from Nishiki Nursery, who is one of our growers and a plant expert in his own right. He may even know more about plants than Chris does!

He says that growing Peonies “is sort of in my blood. My dad’s been doing it. My grandfather was doing it. There’s something really captivating about a Peony flower – the size, the colour, the beauty. They are just so impressive – they can’t help but capture your attention.”

Steve’s experience with Peonies really does stretch back generations. His grandfather came over from Holland in the forties and started growing Peonies in Silvan.

It was mostly Tree Peonies, which was the original form of Peony. Then Steve’s dad started growing Peonies when he started his own nursery. And now Steve, having started his own nursery too, has taken that torch and continued the lineage of growing Peonies.

A field of blooming peonies with various shades of white, pink, and purple is illuminated by soft sunlight. Trees and homes are visible in the background.

That’s about 70 years that Steve’s family has been growing Peonies. Steve himself has been growing them for 20 years. Such an incredible history and expertise there.

Now, Steve’s dad made an amazing breakthrough on how to grow Peonies – and it was completely by accident.

One day, one of his workers put WAY too much Dolomite Lime on the Peony beds. He was instructed to do just a little bit, but actually put about four inches thick of Dolomite Lime.

This could’ve been a disaster but what ended up happening was that those Peonies grew and flowered the best he’s ever seen.

From then on, he grew Peonies prolifically, using lots and lots of lime.

The reason for this is that Peonies are native to China and Japan where they mostly grow on limestone, which is quite alkaline. Whereas our soil here is quite acidic.

A Peony for the People

Two vibrant pink peonies in full bloom with lush green foliage in the background, showcasing a solution to common garden design problems.

This is why Steve is the perfect person to talk about Peonies with – and specifically the brand new type of Peony he created.

Coral Charm Peony
Two pink peony blooms surrounded by green leaves with one smaller bud in the background, offering a serene solution to garden design problems.These are Herbaceous Peonies, and we have two types for you. There’s Coral Charm, with a double pink flower, and Rosedale, with a double red flower.

These are amazing exotic flowers that will create excitement and interest in any garden.

They are both easy to grow and don’t require any special soil or treatment. They don’t need frost to flower properly either.

Which means absolutely anybody could grow these in their garden.

Rosedale Peony
Close-up of a vibrant 'Morning Lilac' peony rose with prominent yellow stamens, surrounded by green leaves, capturing the essence of peony morning.So, let’s say you buy one of these types – this is what’s going to happen in the next few months and even year.

It’s early spring now and they’ve just started to shoot up. They’ll grow to about 40 to 50cm tall and have one or two flower buds on each stem.

This will turn into huge double flowers, which are simply exquisite to look at. These flowers will last for a week – a brief but beautiful show. You can cut them off and place them in a vase inside the house.

Three vibrant red peonies with yellow centers bloom among lush green foliage.After this flowering period, you’ll just have the beautiful green foliage through summer. Then in autumn the foliage will have some gorgeous autumn colour. Come winter the Peonies will slowly die down, only to be rebirthed in spring with more flowers – around three to four now.

The first year it’s only one or two, but with each passing year the number of flowers will double. So, in five years’ time, it’s going to be simply incredible.

You have the option between growing these in a pot or in the garden. Which is really handy for those who have a courtyard garden or a patio they want to fill.

It’s a good idea to put in a bamboo stake or some kind of market so that when they die down in winter, you don’t lose track of them in the garden.

How Were These Peonies Created?

A field with rows of blooming pink, red, and white flowers under a clear sky, bordered by a green grassy path and lined with trees and a rustic building in the background showcases impeccable garden design without any problems.Most types of Peonies require frost and special conditions to flower, which is a big part of the reason why only the very keen gardeners and experts would plant Peonies at all.

But Steve’s dad set out to change this – and made a huge breakthrough in the gardening field. He selected the varieties that don’t require frost to flower and are easier to grow and propagate.

It was all a process of testing different conditions and climates to work if they’re going to perform well for people. It was about ten years in the making to create these Peonies.

Because of his expertise and dedication, anyone can have flowering Peonies in their garden.

ITOH Peonies


A cluster of pink peonies in full bloom, surrounded by green foliage and varying degrees of blooming buds, showcases a solution to common garden design problems. ITOH Peonies

A bouquet of light pink flowers with yellow centers and green leaves is displayed indoors among other similar floral arrangements, offering a beautiful solution to common garden design problems.Steve has moved away from the traditional Tree Peonies to a more exciting type of Peony which is a hybridisation between the Tree Peony and the Herbaceous Peony. This is the ITOH Peony.

It is a vigorous grower with lots of flowers and doesn’t require a particular soil to grow properly. You’re getting the best of both worlds.

In the next few weeks, we’re going to have an incredible range of these Peonies coming in.

If you were to plant an ITOH Peony, in five years you’ll have a meter wide round clump that would be up to a metre tall. It would be covered with around 50 huge flowers.

A close-up of vibrant pink and red peonies with green foliage offers a solution to common garden design problems, creating a stunning focal point.On average they’re about six to eight inches across, and there are even some varieties as large as a dinner plate!

There’s a huge colour range including white, pink, yellow, orange, red, then some that have a few blended colours like orange, yellow and pink in one flower. There’s even a flower that is almost black, that’s how dark the shade of red is.

For this season there will be about six different colours, with a totally range of about 12 to 15 varieties.

You can expect to have one or two flowers this year, as they have been established in the pot for at least six months. If they don’t flower this year, they definitely will next season.

Caring for your Peony


A large metal planter is filled with blooming pink peonies. In the background, more flowers and garden equipment adorn the grassy lawn, showcasing a solution to common garden design problems.

If you wanted to get the best performance from your Peonies this is what you should do. From the pot you buy it in, either transplant it into a bigger pot or into the garden. Ideally, you want to be doing this in winter or autumn, rather than spring.

Now these two steps aren’t essential, but it is how you will get the most flowers and the healthiest plant. You want to add some mushroom compost because it has quite a high PH factor and helps with the lime levels. Also make sure to use good quality potting mix.

Herbaceous or ITOH?


An image split into two shows pink flowers blooming among green foliage: peonies on the left with more petals, and a new peony rose on the market, a different variety of pink flowers with red centers, on the right.

Both types of Peonies are excellent. If you are more interested in having cut flowers and something that is super easy to grow, then go for a Herbaceous Peony.

If you are more wanting a combination of cut flowers and a beautiful bush in the garden, then choose an ITOH Peony.

When they flower you can bring them inside (if they’re in a pot). We recommend cutting off the flowers and putting them in a vase.

Something that is quite lovely to do with the large flowers is cutting them off with a very short stem and then floating them in a bowl of water. It looks very elegant and beautiful.

Garden Styles that Compliment Peonies

A garden with various trees and shrubs around a pond. Pink flowers, including the new peony rose on the market, and fallen petals are visible on the ground near the water.An oriental style garden suits Peonies best. Pick plants like Cherry Blossoms, Japanese Maples, and Plum Blossoms to create a truly exquisite garden.

Other trees that blossom later would also be great choice like Crab Apples and later flowering Cherry Blossoms, as they will flower at the same time as your Peonies.

Japanese Maples with their beautiful red and purple leaves are reaching their best colours at the time Peonies are flowering. The Peony flowering season goes from early September right through to the end of November.

Where Can I Get These Peonies?

Well, by the time this article goes live we’ll have the range of Peonies available on our website. You can check it out here.

We are so excited to share these new varieties of Peonies and can’t wait for everyone to enjoy the beauty of Peonies.


A dense field of blooming pink and white flowers, including the new peony rose on the market, surrounded by lush green foliage and trees in the background.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

Articles you may also like

Close-up of a flowering tree branch covered in pink blossoms against a blurred green background, showcasing some of the best magnolias for early spring.

The Best Spring Blossom Trees for Australia

Written by coldev on . Posted in Plants.

Spring may not be quite here yet in Australia, but it is definitely time to start planning for it. Buying your spring blossom Trees now will save you a great deal of money and guarantee that you’ll get exactly what you want.

Close-up of a cluster of white cherry blossoms on a branch. The "Hello Hello Plants" logo is in the top left corner, showcasing our collection alongside the best magnolias for early spring.

A bee is perched on a cluster of pink cherry blossoms on a tree, among some of the best magnolias for early spring. The background shows a house and a sidewalk.

A close-up of a cherry blossom branch adorned with pink and white flowers against a bright blue sky, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.

A branch filled with vibrant pink blossoms against a softly blurred green background.

Now, there are MANY incredible spring blossom Trees, but to help you decide we’ve rounded up the absolute best ones, the crème da le crème. All of these are handpicked for how well suited they are for the Australian climate.

Here are your options:

1. Prunus x blireana ‘Pink Cherry Plum Blossom’
2. Prunus ‘Cheals’ Weeping Cherry
3. Prunus ‘Rosea’ Pink Weeping Cherry
4. Prunus ‘Falling Snow’ Weeping Cherry
5. Prunus ‘Subhirtella Alba’ Weeping Cherry
6. Prunus ‘Elvins’ Flowering Plum
7. Prunus ‘Kanzan’ Ornamental Cherry Standard
8. Prunus ‘Shimidsu Sakura’ Japanese Cherry
9. Prunus ‘Okame Flowering Cherry’
10. Malus ioensis ‘Flowering Crab Apple’
11. Malus floribunda ‘Japanese Flowering Crab Apple’
12. Malus ‘Gorgeous’ Crab Apple
13. Prunus persica ‘Crimson Cascade’ Weeping Peach

Let’s dive right in, so you can find out what Spring Blossom Tree is best for you.

Prunus x blireana ‘Pink Cherry Plum Blossom’


A bee is perched on a cluster of pink cherry blossoms on a tree, among some of the best magnolias for early spring. The background shows a house and a sidewalk.

A man stands smiling next to a small tree with pink blossoms—one of the best magnolias for early spring—on a suburban street, giving a thumbs-up gesture. A black car is parked nearby.

The Pink Cherry Plum Blossom is one of the earliest trees to flowers, starting around end of July and flowering right through to August. This is one of the longest flowering periods of all the spring blossom trees.

The blossoms are also very thick and dense, creating an incredible show of pale pink. Along with this is a gentle and sweet fragrance – the best out of all the trees on this list.

Another great feature is how incredibly hardy the Pink Cherry Plum Blossom is. This isn’t THE toughest out of your spring blossom trees, but it is definitely up there.

The tree itself is quite compact, which means it fits great in smaller backyards. They will grow to around three metres in height. Pink Cherry Plum Blossom is quite often used as a street tree.

Another great thing is its colourful foliage. In summer the leaves are a deep purple-bronze that contrast nicely with the greenery in the rest of your garden. You will have this beautiful foliage up until winter when the leaves are shed.

Prunus ‘Cheals’ Weeping Cherry


Close-up of a cluster of pink double-flowered cherry blossoms on a branch, with green foliage in the background, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.

Weeping blossoms are a crowd favourite, for good reason. Cheals Weeping Cherry is one of the most popular, because they are better at surviving rocky spring weather.

For some of the other cherry trees, a big storm could wipe out most of their flowers prematurely. Whereas Cheals has a more robust flower that clings on.

A small tree with cascading branches adorned with the best magnolias for early spring stands in a gravel area with greenery and a white structure in the background.

Cheals tends to start flowering in late September, but it can be dependent on where you’re based in Australia. So if you are wanting more of that mid to late spring flowers, Cheals is perfect.

Cheals Weeping Cherry have delightful double pink blossoms. But what’s great is that the branches don’t just hang down, but also grow out and up, creating a radiant star shape with flowers growing in all sections.

These are a very compact tree, growing to about two to three metres tall. Once again, great for the smaller gardens or if you’re a bit restricted on space.

 

Prunus ‘Rosea’ Pink Weeping Cherry


Close-up of pink cherry blossoms hanging from branches against a blurred greenery background, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.

Close-up of pink cherry blossom flowers hanging from tree branches. The flowers are in full bloom against a blurred background of more blossoms, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.Rosea is like a cloud of soft pink, with its fine spreading branches and single style blossoms, it looks dreamy and ethereal. Because of that wide spreading habit, Rosea is the best choice for a weeping shade feature tree.

Imagine yourself sitting underneath a canopy of pink flowers in the warm spring weather. Then, in autumn you will find they have deep orange golden foliage that truly stands out in the landscape.

They manage well in heat and moderate drought but are best kept out of the wind.

Prunus ‘Falling Snow’ Weeping Cherry


Rows of weeping cherry blossom trees in full bloom with a backdrop of leafless trees and a grassy field, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.

At the moment in Australia, these are the most popular Weeping Cherry. The reason why is that as blocks of land have gotten smaller and smaller, the need for trees that can fit in these spaces has risen.

In small gardens and little courtyards, Falling Snow does wonderfully. They can be grown in a pot or a tiny garden bed.

The branches fall straight down, making Falling Snow a narrow and compact tree. Because the branches are so close together, the blossoms are very densely packed, creating a big impact in a small space.

It’s actually quite a struggle to keep these in stock because people love them so much. They’re just so spectacular.

Prunus ‘Subhirtella Alba’ Weeping Cherry


A small tree with cascading branches covered in white blossoms, set in a garden with a bench and surrounding greenery, showcasing some of the best magnolias for early spring.

Subhirtella Alba is a very strong grower that is both disease and bug resistant. This is the tree you get when you want something that is no fuss and more low maintenance than the others.

Close-up of a cluster of white cherry blossoms on a branch. The "Hello Hello Plants" logo is in the top left corner, showcasing our collection alongside the best magnolias for early spring.Because they’re so hardy, their leaves look fabulous all summer with little effort on your part. You also don’t need to do much trimming, as Subhirtella Alba grows into quite a symmetrical shape. They look very grand indeed.

This is also the tree for those with bigger gardens as Subhirtella Alba will grow a huge head that spreads several metres across. The leaves and flowers are bigger too.

They make for a great showpiece in the middle of a large space. The blossoms are a pure white – making them perfect for an elegant garden style.

Subhirtella Alba are the best for autumn colour, with the leaves deepening into shades of bronze, red and orange.

Prunus ‘Elvins’ Flowering Plum


A small tree with numerous blooming pink flowers, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring, stands in a grassy area near residential houses.

A close-up of a cherry blossom branch adorned with pink and white flowers against a bright blue sky, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.This is a tree with truly incredible blossoms. The flowers are a mix of white and soft pink, creating a dynamic and delightful look. These blossoms are also very densely packed.

Flowering Plum is a small tree, growing to about two and a half to three metres tall. We like to plant them together in a clump.

The only drawback of Elvins is that for rest of the year, it’s pretty ordinary looking. In spring they look utterly incredible, but once their flowering is finished, they can be a bit more boring.

What we like to do is plant them more in the back of a garden, so that when they’re blossoming, they really stand out. But then once their flowering is finished, they disappear into the background.

Really, they’re the most spectacular tree for spring blossom, but then one of the least spectacular trees the rest of the year. So we wouldn’t recommend this as your main feature tree, but more of a support act.

Prunus ‘Kanzan’ Ornamental Cherry Standard


A large tree with abundant pink blossoms, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring, stands in front of a brick house with a red-tiled roof, surrounded by various green shrubs and plants.

Close-up of a branch with pink cherry blossoms and buds, surrounded by green leaves against a partly cloudy sky, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.This is an upright cherry that has really risen in popularity in recent years. But they’ve actually always been one of our favourites.

The volume of blossoms is simply incredible. Kanzan have a beautiful upward branching structure that gives you something different than the typical weeping look.

They’ll flower around late September or early October, so are great for those wanting a later spring blossom.

What we love is that as they get into flowering, these purple-red leaves emerge out of the blossoms. They complement the pink blossoms beautifully, and you’re getting double the impact with colourful foliage and flowers.

A path in a park is lined with blooming cherry blossom trees, their branches arching over to create a pink canopy, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.They are good strong grower and have very little problems with diseases or bugs. Not to mention, they also have great autumn colour.

You can get Kansan as a standard – there are short standards that have been grafted down low and will branch and fork right from the base. Or there are medium sized ones that branch up a little bit higher and can look really elegant in a garden or avenue.

Then you have the tall ones that branch from around 1.5 metres and have a nice clear trunk. These are great in a street, a long avenue or a big landscape.

So you can really choose the Kanzan that is going to fit your situation best.

Prunus ‘Shimidsu Sakura’ Japanese Cherry


Cluster of pink and white cherry blossom flowers on a branch against a clear blue sky, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.

Shimidsu Sakura is out of this world, it’s one of our all-time favourites. They are a compact spaceship shaped tree with tri-colour blossoms, ranging from creamy white to soft pink to a bright pink.

A blooming tree with white flowers, among the best magnolias for early spring, stands in a garden in front of a multistory building under a blue sky. Lush green plants and a bush with red leaves surround the tree.You can buy a Shimidsu Sakura in two ways. The first option is one that has been grafted down low and forms a lovely bushy tree. Then there is the one that has been grafted higher at around two metres.

We like to use the taller grafted version in tiny gardens as it allows people to also plant something underneath them, or even just put a bench there to sit and relax.

They are great if you are wanting a small tree that will still provide some shade.

What’s interesting is that a lot of landscape architects use standard Mount Fujis, but we actually think Shimidsu Sakura is so much more superior. For that reason you won’t find Mount Fuji on today’s list.

Prunus ‘Okame flowering Cherry’


Close-up of cherry blossom branches with abundant pink flowers in full bloom against a blurred green background, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.

A small tree with pink blossoms, considered one of the best magnolias for early spring, stands in front of a brick house with blue shutters.This is an upright compact tree that is perfect for those who want a spring blossom tree but are not interested in a weeper. They have a fabulous rich pink blossom.

They flower for around three weeks but give a very intense show during that time. They are of course great for a Japanese Garden.

What’s unusual about them is that Okame Flowering Cherry produces a crop of small dark cherries. Now you shouldn’t eat these, but they do attract birds.

Malus ioensis ‘Flowering Crab Apple’


A small tree with pink blossoms, one of the best magnolias for early spring, stands in the center of a neatly trimmed, square hedge, surrounded by a garden with various plants and flowers.

Close-up of light pink flowers with yellow centers and green leaves, in full bloom; these blossoms are among the best magnolias for early spring.Crab Apples are the last of your spring blossoms, Malus ioensis amongst them, and will come to a finish around late November. Crab Apples are also the toughest spring blossom Trees on this entire list.

A general rule of thumb is that Crab Apples don’t have a lot of fruit on them. But the few that are there look very pretty, particularly in autumn amongst the colourful foliage.

Now, Flowering Crab Apple is the worst of them all for fruit. This is the one you get if you’re not too bothered about getting actual apples from the tree. Less fruit is not a bad thing, as you also have less messiness in the garden from fallen apples.

But it’s the best for blossoms. You’re getting that tri-colour effect again with white, light pink and rich pink flowers.

Flowering Crab Apple is a compact small tree. The foliage is a nice silver-green that provides some nice contrast to other plants.
You have the choice between getting a Flowering Crab Apple that is grafted up high, giving you a little blossom tree on a stick. Or you can get it grafted low.

Malus floribunda ‘Japanese flowering Crab Apple’


A blooming tree branch with light pink and white flowers, surrounded by a vibrant garden with various plants and flowers in the background. Among them, the best magnolias for early spring add an extra touch of beauty to the scene.

A blooming tree with pink flowers stands surrounded by green foliage under a partly cloudy sky, showcasing one of the best magnolias for early spring.The Japanese Flowering Crab Apple is not for everyone because it’s one of the biggest blossom trees. They get to about seven metres tall and six metres wide.

If you have a country property and want a blossom tree that will knock your socks off, this is the tree for you. Or even if you do have a smaller property but you just want a big Tree to fill the front or backyard.

Japanese Flowering Crab Apple also has a tri-colour flower with dark pink, medium pink and white hues. They’re also not great for actual apples.

Malus ‘Gorgeous’ Crab Apple


Close-up of a cluster of white blossoms and green leaves on a tree branch against a backdrop of a clear blue sky, showcasing some of the best magnolias for early spring.

A cluster of small, round, red crabapples hangs from a branch with green leaves on a tree, complementing the nearby blossoms of the best magnolias for early spring.The Gorgeous Crab Apple is really popular for that pure white blossom. It is a very compact tree that blossoms just as the leaves are emerging.

They also have a very heavy crop of fruit. Chris’ mum actually used to make jelly from it, and if you were to eat the apple straight it’s quite tart. But in jelly it was absolutely delicious.

In autumn you get lovely yellow and orange foliage, and the apples turn a nice purple-red shade. It’s a great blossom tree that also helps you out in the kitchen.

Prunus persica ‘Crimson Cascade’ Weeping Peach


Close-up of a branch with vibrant pink flowers in bloom, set against a blurred, leafy background. These blossoms could be among the best magnolias for early spring.

Arched branches of a red flowering plant in a garden with a wooden fence, trees, and a house in the background, highlight one of the best magnolias for early spring.We love the soft pinks and whites of the blossoms on this list, but wanted to include something that was a bit richer and more dramatic. The Crimson Cascade is exactly that.

The flowers are a rich red-pink and will start appearing in the next week or two at the end of July.

They are great as a feature tree for small spaces, growing to about 2 metres tall and 2.5 metres wide.

These do require a bit more care and maintenance than the other spring blossom trees on this list. Crimson Cascade benefits from pruning each year and love full sun to part shade.

What About All the Other Spring Blossom Trees?

Close-up of pink cherry blossoms on branches in full bloom, creating a soft, blurred background with delicate petals cascading down.We want to address the fact that we haven’t spoken much about Flowering Peaches, Apricots or Almonds and there is a reason for that. These trees require a bit of spraying and more maintenance. They are incredible trees but are more for the keen gardener that is happy putting in more effort.

Instead we’ve picked out trees that are fairly resistant to bugs and diseases. So there you have it, the best spring blossom trees for Australia.

Our Current Relevant Sales

A small weeping cherry tree in full bloom is planted in a raised wooden bed. The text "WEEPING CHERRY Deal" is overlaid on the image, highlighting one of the best options for early spring blooms alongside magnolias.

Promotional graphic for a 2024 winter clearance sale. Text reads "Minimum 25% off. Hundreds of plants on sale, including the best magnolias for early spring." Shows a stylized plant in a shopping cart wearing sunglasses and a scarf.

Right now we have two really good sales that are going to help you get your dream spring blossom tree without breaking the bank.

Our first sale is the Weeping Cherry Sale where if you spend over $200, you can get a $90 Weeping Cherry Tree for $30.

Our next sale is the Winter Clearance which is a huge sale that encompasses a great range of plants beyond flowering trees. But some of the ones mentioned on this list are included in that sale which is a minimum of 25% off highly sought after plants.

Where in Australia are You?

Cherry blossom branches with clusters of pink and white flowers against a clear blue sky create a stunning backdrop, reminiscent of the best magnolias for early spring.

Let’s talk a bit more specifically about region and suitability of spring blossoms. Now we’re based in Victoria and to be truthful, Victoria is just the best for growing everything. Every Tree on this list absolutely thrives in the Melbourne climate.

Talking specifically about blossoming Cherries, there are some parts of Australia that should be careful. They don’t do as well in Sydney, but you can still grow them there. Truthfully, they’re quite common in Sydney, but the ones here in Melbourne just look better.

Then if you’re up around Brisbane area you shouldn’t bother at all. Unfortunately blossoming Cherries just don’t like the steamy tropical heat so there’s no point wasting your money or time.

Prepare For Spring Now

Now to make the final decision on what spring blossom tree to get, consider these following things. How big do you want the tree to be?
What sort of shape do you want? Do you want something that is grafted up high so you can plant things underneath, or do you want a lower growing tree?

A tree with numerous pink and white blossoms stands in a green field on a sunny day with a light blue sky.

A neat garden features a tree, round shrubs, and white pebble ground cover. A white fence and gate are in the background.Are there other things you want out of your tree like autumn colour or fruit?

Think through all these questions and you will find your way to the perfect spring blossom Tree for your Australian garden.

We understand it’s cold and wet and miserable. But honestly, buying your plants now is going to save you so much money and hassle. Actually, you don’t even have to brave the cold, you can shop online and if you spend a certain amount, can even get free delivery to your house.

So be cleverer than everyone else and start planning and buying for your garden now.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

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A blooming magnolia tree with pink and white flowers graces the clear blue sky, showcasing one of the best plants for incredible fragrance.

9 best magnolias for an early spring in 2024

Written by coldev on . Posted in Plants.

The first signs of spring blossoms are here in Melbourne – deciduous magnolias are coming into flower. By the seaside in Williamstown and even in the South Eastern suburbs, buds are erupting into glorious tulip-shaped flowers. When this starts happening, you know the worst of winter is over. We couldn’t be more excited.

 

Close-up of vibrant purple magnolia buds and green leaves on a branch against a blurred green background, showcasing plants for incredible fragrance. Magnolia Nigra

 

Close-up of white flowers in bloom on a plant stem, exuding incredible fragrance. The image features a "Hello Hello Plants" logo in the bottom left corner. Magnolia Yulan

 

Two purple magnolia buds on a branch, set against a blurred green background, showcase the allure of plants known for incredible fragrance.

 

Close-up of yellow magnolia flowers in full bloom, displaying their delicate petals and central stamen, against a blurred background.

 

Close-up of two pink magnolia flowers with a blurred background of more magnolia blossoms. The petals glisten with droplets of water, showcasing the extraordinary beauty of plants for incredible fragrance.

 

Close-up of a blooming magnolia tree with numerous pink and white flowers among budding branches, one of the top plants for incredible fragrance. Magnolia Soulangeana

 

We sell about 75 different varieties of deciduous magnolias, but we’ve chosen the 9 best magnolias for an early spring vibe in your Melbourne garden.

Our pick of the best magnolias for an early spring in 2024

1. Leonard Messel
2. Black Tulip
3. Magnolia ‘Soulangeana’
4. Burgundy Glow
5. Rustica Rubra
6. Star Wars
7. Nigra
8. Butterflies
9. Yulan

More about deciduous magnolia trees

Things might be feeling a bit bleak right now. You wake up – it’s dark. You go home from work – it’s dark. It can be a tough time, both in your garden and in life. Planting an early flowering magnolia could be the perfect remedy.

A tree with numerous pink and white magnolia flowers in bloom, surrounded by lush green foliage, stands tall like a Magnolia 'Sunspire' in the garden.

Magnolias are wonderful trees for more than just their early spring blossoms. It can be tricky knowing which one to pick when there’s such a variety of choice, so we hope this helps you decide. Below you’ll see our favourite deciduous magnolias and their individual strengths.

Also just to be clear, we will not be talking about evergreen magnolias like Teddy Bear and Port Wine here. Instead, we are focusing purely on magnolias that lose their leaves in autumn, are bare for winter, and then put out gorgeous  blossoms in late winter and early spring on otherwise bare branches, with leaves appearing later.

Leonard Messel Magnolia


A blossoming tree with pink flowers, renowned among plants for incredible fragrance, stands near a small pond in a park. The background features more trees and a few benches. Magnolia

It is a cold winters day in July right now and Leonard Messel is one of the first Magnolias to start flowering. Leonard Messel is in the Star Magnolia family, and they used to be quite popular but nowadays are rarer and more unusual.

Close-up of a pink magnolia flower in bloom. The flower is situated among potted plants in a greenhouse or nursery environment. Magnolia Leonard Messel

But Leonard Messel is actually one of the best of them. The flowers on them are star-shaped and white with a lovely blush of pink. It is also very fragrant.

The great thing about Leonard Messel is that it is much smaller than most of the other Magnolias. You can think of it more as a big bush than a small sized tree.

So these are a great option for people with limited space or a smaller garden, maybe you have a spot in the front yard, and you don’t want a tree that is going to tower over the house.

Black Tulip Magnolia


Two purple magnolia buds on a branch, set against a blurred green background, showcase the allure of plants known for incredible fragrance.

Chris says: “Black Tulip is actually my second favourite Magnolia to put in the garden (don’t worry we’ll get to number one). What I like about it is that it also isn’t too big of a tree, it’s a medium to small sized tree. The flowers are a good hearty size that stick around for ages, so you’re getting a good long show out if it. Not to mention the colour of those flowers is absolutely exquisite, such a deep dramatic burgundy, you can’t help but stop in your tracks to admire it. What’s fantastic too is the flowers are hardy against nasty weather and won’t damage easily, so you don’t need to fret during the spring storms.”

Close-up of pink magnolia flowers blooming on slender branches against a blurred green background, these plants for incredible fragrance add a touch of elegance and aroma to any garden.

The Black Tulip magnolia is usually more expensive and harder to get, but for good reason. It is one of the few magnolias that are produced by grafting.

It’s also one of the best magnolias for that deep purple, burgundy colour. Chris explains: “What happened was about 20 years ago, somebody developed a gene of magnolia that was a purple-red hue, which launched a whole series of red-purple magnolias like Vulcan. This sounds great, but it actually became quite hard to find a classic magnolia back then. But eventually the market crystalised and Black Tulip came out on top as the best deep coloured magnolia.”

If you are loving the sound of Black Tulip magnolias, but the price makes you think twice, then here’s some good news. Right now we are having a Winter Clearance, and Black Tulips are being sold for the cheapest you will ever get. We hate fake urgency and are being genuine when we say that Black Tulips are virtually unavailable by the middle of magnolia season, so now really is the time to be getting one.

Classic Magnolia ‘Soulangeana’


Close-up of a blooming magnolia tree with numerous pink and white flowers among budding branches, one of the top plants for incredible fragrance. Magnolia Soulangeana

Soulangeana itself is a species of magnolia which then has a lot of variations, so we just want to quickly define it. When you see Magnolia ‘Soulangeana’, this is the classic magnolia that everyone imagines when you talk about magnolias. Melbourne has been full of them for hundreds of years and you’ll find them in beautiful old (and new) gardens. They are also called “Saucer Magnolias”.

A blooming magnolia tree with pink flowers, one of the best plants for incredible fragrance, stands in a garden surrounded by a neatly trimmed hedge and green grass.The classic Soulangeana magnolia is fairly easy to grow. They love a warm sunny space with room to spread out, ad need nice loose soil with fairly rich conditions and plenty of water in the summer. It’s a good idea to give them some chicken or cow manure. You’ll find they grow very quickly. Arguably they put on the best show of all the Magnolias on the market.

There are then quite a few varieties of Soulangeana magnolia that have been bred as “spin-offs” from the original, with most of them blossoming early in the season. They range in size from small to quite a large tree. They are all incredibly spectacular, and when they flower your whole tree is covered in amazed pink tulip-shaped flowers with white centres. They’re generally not too expensive because they’re produced by cutting and most of them aren’t patented varieties. A general rule of thumb is that patented magnolias always cost more than normal magnolias.

Now on that list of saucer magnolia spin-offs is around 20 varieties of Soulangeana, but below we’re going to talk about the three most interesting ones.

Burgundy Glow Magnolia


A tree covered in vibrant pink and white magnolia blossoms, known for being amongst the plants for incredible fragrance, is set against a clear blue sky. Magnolia Burgundy Glow

True to name, it really does have a glowy look about it from the dark burgundy stripe and light pink over the rest of it. It’s one of the most compact of the Soulangeana, so if you are wanting the amazing show of a Soulangeana but don’t have a lot of space, then Burgundy Glow is the one to go for.

Magnolia Rustica Rubra


A tree with numerous pink and white magnolia blossoms stands against a backdrop of green grass and other trees on a sunny day, showcasing one of the finest plants for incredible fragrance.

This is Chris’ favourite Soulangeana aesthetically because each individual flower is a work of art. They are enormous with a soft pink on the outside and an ever softer pink-white on the inside. There is a lovely hint of fragrance to it. Rustica Rubra is a medium sized tree that blossoms around midseason. If you wanted something really magnificent with a slightly different colour, then choose Rustic Rubra.

Star Wars Magnolia


Close-up of two pink magnolia flowers with a blurred background of more magnolia blossoms. The petals glisten with droplets of water, showcasing the extraordinary beauty of plants for incredible fragrance.

Star Wars is a Soulangeana magnolia with a real difference. What makes it so unique is that it repeat flowers in the summer, something that really no other Magnolia does. So you get that wonderful show of spring blossoms on bare branches, and then in summer amongst the green leaves are another flush those distinctive flowers. It’s worth noting that the summer flowering is nowhere near as heavy as the spring flowering, but you still get the best of both worlds.

Star Wars is one of the last Soulangeanas to flower and blossoms quite late in spring. So if you want you garden to put on a spectacle later in spring and also get blossoms in summer, then the Star Wars magnolia is the perfect pick.

Magnolia Nigra


Close-up of vibrant purple magnolia buds and green leaves on a branch against a blurred green background, showcasing plants for incredible fragrance. Magnolia Nigra

Now there actually is one more magnolia that flowers in the summer. Nigra or liliiflora is just about the last magnolia to flower in the season, flowering in mid to late October. The blossoms are a deep purple with a hint of silver on the inside. It is one of the smallest flowering magnolias, growing to only about two metes tall. Magnolia nigra are great for those wanting a rich colour in the garden, as well as a compact tree.

Butterflies Magnolia


A magnolia tree with large yellow flowers, renowned as one of the plants for incredible fragrance, is in full bloom under a clear blue sky. Magnolia Butterflies

One of the rising stars of the magnolia world is the Butterflies variety. The flowers are a delectable shade of creamy yellow that is distinct from any other magnolia. They also give off a heavenly fragrance. Butterflies is a very compact magnolia variety, so it’s perfect for a small garden or limited space. It will grow to about 2-4 metres. You can plant it by itself, or if you have the space, plant a few together.

Our favourite: Yulan Magnolia


Branches of a tree with numerous blooming white magnolia flowers, renowned among plants for their incredible fragrance, against a blurred green and brown background.

We have a little story from Chris to explain the magic of a Yulan Magnolia. This is our favourite Magnolia.

Close-up of white flowers in bloom on a plant stem, exuding incredible fragrance. The image features a "Hello Hello Plants" logo in the bottom left corner. Magnolia Yulan

“When I was a boy, I lived in Mt Dandenong, and we had an enormous Magnolia in the front yard. It must’ve been 90 years old and was about nine metres tall and seven metres wide. In early September it would erupt into flower, and there must’ve been 20,000 white blooms all over it. And as those blooms opened the whole front garden was filled with an incredible fragrance. We had people coming all the time to take photos because it just so awe-inspiring. To this day it is the biggest magnolia tree I have ever seen.

“That magnolia was a Yulan or “denudate” magnolia. They have the purest white flower with the most incredible fragrance, and grow slowly and eventually into quite a large tree. But what is so exceptional about Yulan is that it hasn’t been bred to be this way, it’s a natural wild magnolia that originates in Japan. If you were to go to Japan and see it growing in the wild, it would look exactly as it does here in Melbourne gardens. It truly is one of the best Magnolias you could have.”

In Melbourne Yulan magnolias flower in late August through to early September. These are great for people who love magnolias and have a Green and White Garden, but would of course look fantastic in any garden style though. Even though Chris’ childhood tree was enormous, you can prune Yulan magnolias back to keep them as a small or medium sized tree, and this is easy to do as they are slow growing.

Plants to Pair With Magnolias

A cluster of white Anemone 'Dainty Swan' Windflower 6" Pot flowers with yellow centers growing in a garden with green foliage in the background.So you’ve picked out your Magnolia, but what else should you pair with it? Here are some good options that all love the shade underneath a tree:

  • Japanese anemone will give you a sea of white flowers in autumn.
  • Hellebore will give you winter flowers. You can choose what colour you’d like.
  • Plectranthus will give you flowers from late summer to autumn. You get your pick of colour.

More deciduous magnolia trees for sale

In Closing

So there’s your rundown on the best deciduous magnolias right now in Melbourne. They really are phenomenal trees that give you that delightful indication that spring is on its way. From pure whites to deep purples, you get your pick of what shade you would like in your garden. Not only do these flowers look incredible, but they also give off a delectable fragrance. We just love magnolias so much.

Overcome the winter blues and go take a walk around your neighbourhood and see if you can spot any magnolias blossoming.


A tree covered in pink and white magnolia blossoms, famous among plants for incredible fragrance, with fallen petals scattered on the grassy ground below.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

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Garden landscape with various Australian native plants, featuring the text "TOP 16 Australian Natives" in bold white letters, showcasing Plants for Incredible Fragrance.

Top 16 Australian Natives

Written by coldev on . Posted in Plants, Top 10 Lists.

We live in Australia, it only makes sense that we should be planting Australian native plants. But for most people, they think Native Garden, and images of overgrown jungle disasters pop up. And maybe back in the day that was the case, but with selective breeding, native plants are much more manageable, and look better too.

 

A dense patch of yellow wildflowers with green stems and leaves growing in a field. These plants, known for their incredible fragrance, thrive amidst the mulch-covered ground in the background.

 

A close-up view of bright green grass blades densely packed together, reminiscent of plants known for incredible fragrance.

 

Close-up of a yellow flowering Grevillea plant with spiky green leaves, set against a blurred background of foliage and sky. Grevillea, one of the plants for incredible fragrance, adds an aromatic touch to any garden scene. Grevillea Sunkissed

 

Close-up of several purple flowers with green stems and buds against a blurred green background, showcasing plants for incredible fragrance. Digger's,Speedwell,Flowers,In,Bloom,In,Springtime

 

Close-up of vibrant pink flowers blooming among dense green foliage, these are perfect plants for incredible fragrance.

 

A dense cluster of silver cushion plants with small, round, white flower heads and green foliage in the background creates a captivating scene—ideal among plants for incredible fragrance. leucophyta brownii compacta nana

 

It’s clear that many people love Natives now, one in three of our Garden Designs include Native plants. What’s so great about Natives is that they are optimally suitable to the Australian climate because, well, they’re from Australia. They also attract gorgeous birds and bees that add delight to your space – just the other day we shot a video of Banksia Honey Pots and the rainbow lorikeets visiting them.

But there’s such a plethora of native plants that it can be tricky knowing what to pick for your garden, which is why we’ve rounded up our top favourite sixteen just for you. These choices are based on maintenance, beauty and hardiness, so rest assured that picking one of these is an excellent choice for your garden.

Top 16 Australian Native Plants for your Garden Design:

1. Acacia ‘Lime Magik’
2. Banksia ‘Honey Pots’
3. Grevillea ‘Sunkissed’
4. Grevillea ‘Sunkissed’ Standard
5. Dodonaea ‘Mr Green Sheen’
6. Westringia fruticosa
7. Casuarina ‘Cousin It’
8. Veronica ‘Diggers Speedwell’
9. Correa alba
10. Leucophyta ‘Dwarf’ Cushion Bush
11. Chrysocephalum ‘Yellow Buttons’
12. Grevillea ‘Strawberry Smoothie’
13. Callistemon ‘Little John’
14. Lomandra ‘Tanika®’
15. Scleranthus biflorus ‘Lime Lava’
16. Leptospermum ‘Copper Glow’ Tea Tree

Also don’t feel that native plants are only relevant if you’re planting a Native Style Garden – Natives are so versatile that they would look wonderful in almost any Garden Style, such as Cottage, Japanese or Modern. Let’s jump right in:

Acacia ‘Lime Magik’


A row of lush, green weeping willow trees with long, drooping branches grows along the side of a yard, bordered by a small patch of green grass. These majestic plants for incredible fragrance add an enchanting aroma to the serene setting. Acacia cognata Lime Magik Trees

With a gorgeous lemon-green weeping foliage, it’s easy to see why Lime Magik is so popular. There are two things we love most about Lime Magik. Firstly, it is so easy to trim and keep to the shape you want. That means its perfect for gardens tight on space, or just situations where you only have a small area that needs filling. Secondly, it is very wind hardy and overall a tough plant. Then to top it off, Lime Magik makes for an excellent contrast to plants that are purple or deep green.

Banksia ‘Honey Pots’


Banksia cones with orange-brown, cylindrical flowers and needle-like leaves on a branch are among the plants for incredible fragrance.

Honey Pots is a beautiful spreading plants with yellow-orange cylindrical shaped flowers for most of the year. So alongside being very long flowering, it is excellent for use as a feature plant that won’t get too big. Overall, Honey Pots grows to about 1.5 metres wide and 80cm tall. As mentioned before, the birds absolutely love Honey Pots.

Grevillea ‘Sunkissed’


Close-up of a yellow flowering Grevillea plant with spiky green leaves, set against a blurred background of foliage and sky. Grevillea, one of the plants for incredible fragrance, adds an aromatic touch to any garden scene. Grevillea Sunkissed

This is a lovely flowering groundcover that is very compact. So if you want the joy of having a Grevillea but only have a small garden, then Sunkissed is perfect. You’ll have gorgeous yellow flowers for three to four months of the year.

Grevillea ‘Sunkissed’ Standard

A potted plant with long, serrated green leaves tinged with red, promising to be among the plants for incredible fragrance, displayed in a garden center. Grevillea hybrida Sunkissed StandardNo we’re not repeating ourselves, don’t worry. This is the Grafted Standard version and it’s also so spectacular that we had to include it on the list too. So what’s so great about it? Well first of all, the foliage is an exquisite range of pinks, creams and greens with holly shaped leaves.

Next it has beautiful red flowers from late spring onwards. Then, say you have a tiny space in the garden, and wanted to have a tree that never grew taller than 1.6 metres, this is it. That stunning foliage will cascade down to the ground, giving you year round colour, and it will remain compact forever.

Dodonaea ‘Mr Green Sheen’

A row of green bushes lines the edge of a pathway, accompanied by additional greenery and plants for incredible fragrance in the background. Green Dodonaea HedgeMr Green Sheen is tough as tough gets. But it doesn’t look like it would be. With a beautiful, soft and lush appearance, this upright evergreen shrub is suitable for so many places. Sun, shade, frost, poor soil, heat – doesn’t matter. Once it’s established, it will hardly ever need water and still look a million bucks. If you have a narrow area where you want to create a wall of green, then consider Mr Green Sheen.

Westringia fruticosa

A garden bed with several green, bushy plants for incredible fragrance, surrounded by gray mulch. WestringaA beautiful hedge of blue-green foliage with little star shaped white flowers. Westringia fruticose can be clipped into a ball, square or box, and is very easy to shape. It is very versatile and useful in the garden.

Casuarina ‘Cousin It’


A bush, seemingly a jokester among its peers, is humorously decorated with a black hat and black sunglasses. Who knew even plants for incredible fragrance had a sense of style? Cousin It Sunglasses

Thick, lush green foliage cascades over a raised garden bed made of light-colored material, with additional plants for incredible fragrance visible in the background. cousin it plantThis is one of our favourite native plants, now Cousin It is actually a deformed tree that doesn’t grow up and out with branches like a normal tree. Instead, it grows on the ground and sprawls everywhere with these little mounds of interesting green foliage. We use them all the time in our Garden Designs because they are an excellent support act for other feature plants. For example, in a Japanese Garden they look fantastic alongside Pittosporum ‘Miss Muffet’.
We also use it in situations where people have big embankments that need to be covered, or spots under big trees where its going to be both in hot sun and deep shade. Cousin It is great for covering ugly retaining walls, all you need to do is plant it along the top and it will cascade down. Whether it’s as a single specimen in the garden, mass planted for covering the ground or a wall, Cousin It is an all-purpose groundcover. We have never heard of someone having troubles with Cousin It, it’s probably one of the toughest things around.

Veronica ‘Diggers Speedwell’


Close-up of several purple flowers with green stems and buds against a blurred green background, showcasing plants for incredible fragrance. Digger's,Speedwell,Flowers,In,Bloom,In,Springtime

Diggers Speedwell has very interesting foliage that looks like juvenile Eucalyptus, but it also has these beautiful purple flowers. So it has a more unique texture than other plants. It forms a mound of about 1.2 metres wide and 60cm tall. Diggers Speedwell is very hardy, and because of how thick and bushy it is, it’s fantastic to blanket out the weeds. They look particularly great with other spiky Native Grasses.

Correa alba


A dense bush with small green leaves, bordered by mulch and grass, exudes Plants for Incredible Fragrance. A logo in the bottom left corner reads "Hello Hello Plants. Correa alba

If you want a modern style landscape, you can’t go past Corre Alba. They are fantastic for clipping into balls and pair wonderfully with Cousin it or Lomandra ‘Tanika®’. The dark green-silver foliage and white starry flowers make for a beautiful appearance.

Leucophyta ‘Dwarf’ Cushion Bush


A dense cluster of silver cushion plants with small, round, white flower heads and green foliage in the background creates a captivating scene—ideal among plants for incredible fragrance. leucophyta brownii compacta nana

If you want some bright silver in the garden to provide contrast to the greenery, you can’t beat Cushion Bush. What we often do in our Garden Designs is plant four or five of these across the garden which gives our clients a lovely loose line of silver. You can clip it a bit too keep it to the shape you’d like. Cushion Bush is drought, frost, poor soil and heat hardy, so a very hardy plant. It stays nice and compact, and is perfect for small gardens.

Chrysocephalum ‘Yellow Buttons’


A dense patch of yellow wildflowers with green stems and leaves growing in a field. These plants, known for their incredible fragrance, thrive amidst the mulch-covered ground in the background.

We use this in almost every Native Garden because it’s the perfect support act to your more exciting plants. This is plants like your Kangaroo Paws or Honey Pots. Yellow Buttons has lovely silver-green foliage and vibrant yellow flowers. It is a super tough plant that requires very little maintenance.

Grevillea ‘Strawberry Smoothie’

Close-up of vibrant pink flowers blooming among dense green foliage, these are perfect plants for incredible fragrance. Grevillea hybrid Strawberry SmoothieBetween a groundcover and a bush, Strawberry Smoothie has the most exquisite pink coloured flowers. The shade of pink has dimension to it and best of all, will be present all winter long. So when your garden is looking the dullest, you still get a wonderful splash of pink. Strawberry Smoothie is fantastic mass planted or dotted around the garden and grows to about 40cm tall. It is very easy to grow in almost any conditions.

Callistemon ‘Little John’

A dense bush with green leaves and clusters of red flowers graces the garden setting, offering a stunning option among plants for incredible fragrance. little johnLittle John has been well loved for ages, it’s a very good support plant with bright green foliage and lovely red flowers. They flower for about six months of the year, so a very long flowering plant. If you never bothered to trim it, Little John will be about 1.2 metres, but with some trimming you can easily keep it to 70cm. The birds absolutely love it, and so do we. They are great for a tough low hedge that requires very little trimming to keep small.

Lomandra ‘Tanika®’


Green ornamental grasses, known for their incredible fragrance, grow along a sidewalk in a landscaped area. Lomandra longifolia Tanika

A close-up view of bright green grass blades densely packed together, reminiscent of plants known for incredible fragrance.This is Australia’s number one selling ornamental plant. You’d think it be some sort of exceptional flowering plant, but well, it’s a bit plain looking if we’re honest. If we were to guesstimate the sales of Tanika, we reckon it would be around two to three million a year. So why is it so popular? Because it’s one of the toughest, most low maintenance plants you will find that still looks quite nice and lush. In the most hideous of soils with absolutely no care, they still thrive. On a windy day these move like a wave of greenness that can be quite mesmerising. So if you own a business or holiday house and want something that will look lush and beautiful with no care, Tanika is perfect for you.

Scleranthus biflorus ‘Lime Lava’


A landscape of lush, green moss with a large grey rock in the center and various plants for incredible fragrance in the background. Scleranthus biflorus lime lava

Close-up of lush green grass with narrow blades, showcasing a vibrant and dense growth pattern among plants for incredible fragrance. Scleranthus biflorus Lime LavaSo many people absolutely adore Lime Lava, we’ve seen quite a few people in the nursery pat them like they were a dog. It’s an adorable plant that looks a bit like moss so you may be tricked into thinking it should be grown in the shade. However it hates the shade and definitely needs a sunny spot. You can grow it in a big bowl, or in the garden, and it makes for a fantastic feature when mass planted. Give it plenty of water and some Osmocote fertiliser. We love to use it in Japanese or Zen style gardens, and they look amazing with Ophiopogon ‘Black’ Mondo Grass.

Leptospermum ‘Copper Glow’ Tea Tree


A line of tall, dense shrubs with purple foliage in front of green and yellow trees, set against a grassy foreground with small yellow flowers, creates an enchanting scene. These are the perfect plants for incredible fragrance that will enhance your garden’s sensory experience.

White flowers with green centers, known to be among the best plants for incredible fragrance, are surrounded by dark purple leaves in a garden setting. Leptospermum Copper Glow Tea Tree floweringWhen so many hedges around Melbourne are starting to look the same, Copper Glow is a hedge with a difference. The deep purple foliage makes for a stunning feature, and whether you keep it shaggy and natural, or trim it into a nice shape, your garden won’t look like every other one. You can even clip it into a ball. Now we love Natives (obviously, we just wrote an entire article about them), but the problem with Natives is that most of them are all just various shades of green. So we had to include Copper Glow for when your Native Garden is feeling a bit hungry for colour. Plus, in the springtime Copper Glow will have lovely white flowers.

In Closing

So there you have it, the top sixteen Native Plants. Choose a couple or plant all of them, mix it in with your cottage or modern style plants, or build an entire native garden. But most of all, sit back and relax, because you’ll barely have to do anything to keep these Native plants thriving and looking great.


A garden with a variety of colorful flowering plants and shrubs in full bloom, featuring red and yellow flowers, with greenery in the background, showcases not only visual beauty but also includes plants for incredible fragrance.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

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A winter garden featuring various types of coniferous shrubs and trees arranged in rows, with spherical and conical shapes, against a backdrop of lush green foliage.

Don’t Get Conned by Conifers

Written by coldev on . Posted in Garden Ideas, Plant Sales & Plant Specials, Plants.

Now we’re not talking about your uncle Richard emailing you that he urgently needs $500,000, but rather how many people choose the wrong Conifer for their garden. Slight difference.

A variety of densely packed evergreen trees and shrubs, including blue spruce and pine, with vibrant green and blue-green foliage.You may think you’re getting a cute little Conifer and next moment it has taken over your yard and kidnapped your kids for ransom. Okay maybe not that last part. But there are so many cases where people have a monstrous Conifer towering over their suburban home, or farmers have puny dying Conifers in the yard. When you don’t have the gardening knowledge, it can be really hard knowing what Conifer is right for you.

A row of tall, dense green evergreen trees, closely planted, with a leafy tree in the background.Especially when there are SO many different types of Conifers that all grow to different sizes and shapes. At Hello Hello we have around 40 different types. Some are really tiny, and you can keep them in nice pots. But some are gigantic and best suited for farm life. It’s all about choosing the right Conifer for the job.

Today we’re going to break down the best Conifers for different types of application, including:

Conifers for Large Gardens

Conifers for Small Featurs

Conifers for Hedging

Conifers for Feature Trees

Conifers for Large Gardens


A well-maintained garden path in the Winter Garden is surrounded by various green and blue-hued conifer trees and bushes on a sunny day. Conifers

Pencil Pines are tall, skinny Conifers that are best for large gardens where you are wanting a focal point. Plant them as an avenue, where you could have them lead up to an even greater feature at the end of the garden. If planted close enough together, they also make an excellent narrow hedge.

These are some of the best types:

Cupressus ‘Swanes Gold’ Conifer

Swanes Gold is a lovely, neat shape with golden-green foliage. It doesn’t grow very quickly and keeps that nice tight shape forever. It grows to about five metres in height in ten years. They love full sunlight or partial shade.

Juniperus ‘Blue Arrow’

Blue Arrow has a very elegant look and is the best option for keeping really narrow and tight as it won’t grow too big. It trims up beautifully and has blue-green foliage. Once established, Blue Arrow is hardy and drought tolerant.

Cupressus ‘Glauca Pencil Pine’

Glauca Pencil Pine is absolutely fabulous – tough, fast-growing and requires minimal maintenance. Yet even though it grows like crazy, it still stays neat and tight.

The dark green towering column grows to about nine metres tall. Glauca is the one we recommend for people that don’t want to be climbing up ladders and using all this special equipment to trim it and keep it looking nice. Especially for people who are a bit older but still want something tall to block out other units.

Where a hedge needs trimming, the Glauca Pencil Pine will shoot up nine metres very quickly and only stay a metre wide. Best of all, you will never have to get up and trim it. Glauca is also a fabulous avenue option on a farm or big space.

Juniperus ‘Spartan’ Conifer

Then there is Spartan, which some people wouldn’t call a Pencil Pine, but we like to say is a fat Pencil Pine. Just like the warriors, Spartan is very tough – it doesn’t need much water or good soil. Yet, it is still such a fast grower, ending up at about six metres tall and 1.2 metres wide.

Spartan is excellent as a windbreak, dust/dirt screen and sound block because of its thick foliage. For example, if you live near a railway line or freeway and want to block off some of that noise, you are not going to want a hedge, but rather something dense like the Spartan. Similarly, if you live on a dirt road, Conifers are great at absorbing the dust and dirt.

Conifers for Small Features


A well-maintained Winter Garden with various green shrubs, bushes, and a small tree on a sunny day. Conifers

Although not tiny by any means, these are some of the smaller Conifers that would look great in a regular garden:

Thuja ‘Smaragd’ Conifer

Smaragd is perfect for the suburban garden, it makes an excellent feature reaching a maximum height of three metres. However, with some trimming you can keep it just over a metre tall. Smaragd is fairly slow growing and has a slightly higher water requirement. It will form a pointed top.

It’s beautiful, thick, and lush, and can be planted in a large pot or as an obelisk style feature. They look excellent in a variety of garden styles, such as cottage, coastal, formal or Mediterranean.

Thuja ‘Golden Biota’ Conifer

A cousin of the Smaragd, Golden Biota grows in a lovely golden-green ball shape, that with a bit of a trim you can keep to one metre tall. Or if you leave it, the end height will be of about two meters tall. The round shape and dense foliage make for a stunning garden feature.

You can plant them as a row along the front fence, or up the driveway. It has more of a rounded top than the Smaragd.

Juniperus pingii ‘Prostrata’

Prostrata is commonly made into a bonsai, by wiring the branches to hang down and arch over. They make for a spectacular small feature and can be kept in pots.

But you can also plant it as a groundcover, and it will fill a large area and grow really low. Prostrata is also extremely hardy for things like the heat and wind.

Conifers for Hedging


A tall, green hedge neatly trimmed into a perfect rectangular shape stands alongside a wooden fence in a grassy Winter Garden. The sky is partly cloudy.

Whether it’s for privacy or looks, Conifers make fantastic big and bushy hedges. These are the best ones suited to the job:

Juniperus ‘Spartan’ Conifer

Back again, Spartan is also an excellent option as a hedge. What’s interesting is that you can actually topiarise Spartan into whatever shape you’d like – we often sell them as a spiral, but you could cut it into the shape of chook if you were so inclined. But let’s chat hedging, plant them up close and cut them into a beautiful square for the most fantastic hedge.

Out of all the Pencil Pines discussed before, Spartan is the best choice because you don’t need to plant them as close together due to the thicker foliage.

Cupressus ‘Leighton Green’ Conifer

Leighton Green is one of the most popular options for hedging because it grows at an enormous speed. You need something quick? Plant a small one of these and you can have it up three metres in two years. Trim it up and it’ll grow thick and bushy.

It’s one of the fastest three metre hedges ever. There was a case where someone got their Leighton Green hedge up seven metres in three years from a small plant. That was with perfect conditions, water and fertiliser, and no grass or weeds around the bottom. Leighton Green is great as a tall screen on a farm.

Cupressus macrocarpa

Many of the most expensive properties around Melbourne have macrocarpa hedges because they look incredible and are such a classic look. A lot of people believe macrocarpa is slow growing, but the reason for that is because they receive so little care and attention. Most farmers stick them out in the paddock and never water or fertilise them.

But what we found is if you properly watered and fertilised it, macrocarpa actually grew quite quickly. If you take care of it in the first couple years, you’ll get fantastic growth, and then after that it doesn’t need very much water. So if you are in quite a dry area, then macrocarpa is the perfect option.

We sell the ‘Monterey Cypress’, a vivid green shade and ‘Lemon Scent’, a striking yellow-green colour with a lovely citrus smell.

Cupressus ‘Castlewellan Gold’ Conifer

This is the gold version of Leighton Green, although it isn’t as fast growing, it is a bit hardier. The foliage is dense and a stunning golden green hue. Castlewellan Gold is best suited for medium to large sized properties. They are easy to maintain and shape.

Conifers for Feature Trees


A winter garden scene with various green and blue-green coniferous plants, including weeping blue atlas cedar surrounded by other conifers on a bed of gravel.

Conifers make the most wonderful feature trees. Some will grow quite large and are best suited to bigger properties, whereas others are great for a suburban backyard. Here are some of our favourite choices:

Pinus ‘Japanese Black Pine’

The lovely dark green foliage is contrasted beautifully by white candle shaped needles. In Japan they trim and train these into beautiful shapes. It will reach a maximum height of 15 metres and has an irregular spreading habit. The Japanese Black Pine is perfect for sunny spots but will tolerate afternoon shade.

Araucaria ‘Norfolk Island Pine’

If you live by the beach, then Norfolk Island Pine is a great option. Being both hardy and beautiful, you’ll find that Gold Coast and South Australia is absolutely filled with them. They are fast growing and make for a stunning specimen tree.

Picea ‘Stone Pine’

The Stone Pine has a fascinating turtle shell like finish on its trunk with a flat head and a widespread body. They are a beautiful tree for big fields and do quite well in hot, dry, difficult sites.

Cedrus ‘Himalayan Cedar’

The most common Cedar is the Himalayan Cedar, also known as the Indian Cedar. It has a natural weeping form that is covered in fine long needles and cones. They are fast and easy to grow. Once established, the Himalayan Cedar can withstand frost and some drought.

Cedrus atlantica ‘Atlas Cedar’

Atlas Cedars are beautiful with short needles, as they get older, they develop a really interesting shape to them. They start off slow, but once they’re more established, they will start growing at about one and a half to two metres a year.

They trim really well, and so even though they can become huge, they are still suitable for the suburban garden. If you don’t trim it, in about thirty years, you’re going to have an absolutely massive tree (may or may not kidnap your children).

Cedrus ‘Feelin’ Blue’ Cedar

This is a very interesting, grafted miniature cedar that will need training. It has lovely blue weeping foliage and is kind of like a collector’s item. Feelin’ Blue loves the sun and doesn’t need much water once it has been established. You can grow it in a pot.

Sequoiadendron ‘Giant Sequoia Tree’

The Giant Sequoia Tree is considered one of the biggest trees in the world, so if you are to plant it in your little suburban backyard, it will kidnap your children. But on a big property they’ll make an excellent feature. Once they get going, they grow surprisingly quick. They have a thick trunk with lovely red bark.

In Conclusion

ConifersSo there’s a taste of some of the incredible types of Conifers, now it isn’t the full range we sell in the nursery, or even what is available in general. But we wanted to keep it to the best types for different applications.

Conifers are incredibly versatile, from a small to a gigantic feature, avenues to ground covers, screens to hedging, your options are endless. They’re fast. They’re tough. They’re beautiful.

Just make sure you choose the right Conifer, so you don’t get conned.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

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Pink camellia flowers in full bloom with green leaves, seen on a lush bush in a winter garden.

Harness the Versatility of Camellias

Written by coldev on . Posted in Garden Ideas, Plant Sales & Plant Specials, Plants.

Are you a fan of tea?

Well, all green and black tea is made from the foliage of Camellias, from a particular variety called Camellia sinensis ‘Tea Plant’. So you can actually grow your own Tea Plant and have an unending supply of tea. Heaven.

A clear glass teacup filled with green tea, surrounded by loose tea leaves and green foliage in the background.Now we know Camellias are an all-time classic – for years they’ve been a beloved plant in many gardens. But most people don’t know just how versatile the Camellia truly is.

Let’s change that.

We’re going to be talking about:

Here are the DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAMELLIAS that we’ve picked out for you, some of our favourites. Jump straight to them from here if you wish:

Camellia sasanqua:
‘Setsugekka’
‘Pure Silk’
‘Shell Pink’
‘Hiryu’
‘Avalanche’
Camellia sinensis ‘Tea Plant’
Camellia japonica:
‘Volunteer’
‘Pope John XXIII’
‘Black Tie’

The Benefits of Camellias

A wooden bridge in the winter garden with a blooming pink camellia shrub in the foreground.So why should you want to plant a Camellia at all?

First up, they are so easy to grow. For very little effort you are getting this gorgeous, lush, flowering plant.

Next, they are very long living. Unlike perennials, they’re not going to be a sudden flash of beauty that dies quickly thereafter. You will get year after year of wonderful blossoms.

Finally, which is the whole point of this article, is the fact that they are so versatile.

The Different Applications of Camellias

A long hedge of pink camellia flowers in full bloom with fallen petals creating a pink path on the grass alongside it, forming an enchanting Winter Garden. Trees are visible in the background.From the apartment balcony to the deep shade of suburban backyards, Camellias are kind of like that one size fits all leggings – but in this case it’s actually true.

HEDGES & BORDERS

First of all, Camellias are very popular for hedges and borders. We’ve seen hedges that are over a hundred metres long, and a couple of metres tall. Simply spectacular.


A neatly trimmed hedge densely covered with pink flowers borders a paved area, creating a picturesque winter garden scene with a light-colored house and greenery in the background.

POT PLANTS

Two potted trees with pink blossoms sit beside an outdoor wall, creating a charming winter garden ambiance, accompanied by a potted plant with green leaves and purple flowers. Camellia in PotsThe next use is as a pot plant. A lot of us live in apartments nowadays, which can make you feel like you don’t get to share in the joy of having your own garden. But just because you don’t have a backyard, doesn’t mean you can’t have an exciting, lush garden.

Pots let you put your plants wherever you want, free of the constrictions of soil. We actually stock our own range of pots, so you can easily get everything you need in one place. But what’s fantastic about Camellias is how well they grow in a pot.

So get creative with where you put them – whether it is that apartment balcony or just the patio. You can trim and shape them in this pot to however you like. Make sure you fertilize and water them to keep your Camellias lush and green.


A potted bonsai tree with dense green foliage is placed next to a flowering plant with numerous pink blossoms in a black pot, set in a winter garden with lush greenery in the background.

SPECIMEN IN THE GARDEN

White blooming flowers with green leaves in the foreground, set against a backdrop of vibrant fall foliage in shades of orange and red, create a stunning contrast that transforms your outdoor space into a Winter Garden masterpiece. Camellia in GardenNext thing is growing them as a specimen in the garden. Depending on what variety you choose, you can grow them in the shade with other shade lover plants like Helleborus or Azaleas. Or you can put them in the hot sun with other sun loving plants like Daises or Lavender.

If you are lucky enough to have your own backyard, you might come up against a different problem – the absence of sun. This can come from your neighbour’s house, it could be from other big trees in your yard, whatever the case, shade can be a limiting factor to what plants you use. But certain types of Camellias thrive in the shade, giving you colour and lushness where you most need it.


A tree with lush green leaves is covered in vibrant pink flowers, some of which have fallen to the grassy ground below. The tree, a stunning focal point in this charming Winter Garden, is surrounded by a layer of brown mulch. Camellia in Garden

A potted plant with a round canopy of pink flowers is placed on a stone patio, evoking the charm of a Winter Garden. Other potted plants and greenery surround the area, enhancing its serene beauty. Camellia Standard in PotSTANDARD (BALL ON STICK)

Then you can have them as a standard, which is a ball on a stick style plant. You’ll find that most standards don’t flower, but a Camellia standard will give you gorgeous blooms and evergreen foliage. The standard we sell uses a Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ which has stunning hot pink/red flowers and is a slow grower. You can plant a row of standards in your garden or have it in a pot with some flowers planted underneath.

Three potted plants with white and pink flowers are placed in front of a lattice fence, creating a charming winter garden scene. Fallen petals are scattered on the gravel ground beneath them. Trees and a cloudy sky can be seen in the background. Espaliered CamelliaESPALIER (USING TRELLIS)

The next application is a bit trickier, but so worth the effort. Get some trellis and use Camellia as an espalier. The best type to plant for this is Sasanqua. Espalier Camellia is perfect for a tight situation up against the wall. For the whole year you will have lovely evergreen foliage and then in autumn and winter you get this gorgeous show of flowers.

camellia sculptureSCULPTURE

The last application is even more unusual, but perfect for those who are wanting to do something a bit more different in their gardens. If you are intentional with the trimming, you can shape your Camellia like it was a sculpture, and have it as an exquisite centrepiece in the garden.

One of Chris’ first jobs was to do just this, here is a story from him:

“When I was seven, I went and got myself a gardening job and I used to work every Saturday morning for an elderly lady. Anything that was a bit tricky like climbing the ladder or lifting heavy things, I used to do for her. She planted a sasanqua Camellia that was cut into a perfect cylinder shape with a flat top. I was the one trimming it. It would take me hours, she would direct each snip and I would trim it little by little. But it was a beautiful thing.”

You’re practically spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding how to plant a Camellia in your garden.

The Different Types of Camellias


Close-up of pink camellia flowers blooming amid green foliage on a bush in a serene winter garden.

There are MANY sorts of Camellias, each with their own unique characteristics and strengths.

We bet you’re dying to hear more about that tea producing Camellia, so let’s jump straight into that one first.

Camellia sinensis ‘Tea Plant’







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These are grown all over the world for tea plantation, from Australia, to China, to India. The flowers themselves smell like green tea, but really, it’s the new growth you’re looking at to make that delicious cup of tea. Also yes, you can make green OR black tea, from the same plant. It’s all in the way you harvest the leaves that make the difference.

Close-up of a metal tea strainer filled with dried tea leaves and garnished with two fresh green leaves, placed on a dark surface with scattered tea leaves around. Camellia TeaYou have to wait until summer for the new shoots, pick a few grams and dry it in the microwave or oven. Then chuck on the kettle and make yourself a cuppa. This is going to be like no tea you’ve ever had before, that old stuff at the grocery store can’t measure up to freshly plucked and brewed tea.

But of course, the Cammellia Sinensis is so much more than just a tea producer, it’s also a very attractive feature in the garden. You can plant them in a pot, have them as a specimen in the garden, or create a hedge out of them. The flowers are gorgeous, delicate white petals with a golden/yellow centre.

Camellia sasanqua











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We get it, not everyone is a tea fanatic, so here is a Camellia that is purely for show. It’s actually our most popular Camellia in the nursery.

Sasanqua Camellias have smaller flowers and finer leaves than most Camellias. But they also have greater versatility in that they can grow in hot full sun, but also deep shade.

A potted camellia plant with dark green leaves and vibrant red flowers placed on a wooden deck near a light blue wooden fence. CamelliaAs we mentioned before, a lot of gardens have those spots where the sun never quite reaches, and it can be tricky to find a plant that will work there. But you’re also not limited to the shade, if you have a big kitchen window or an ugly fence you want to cover and it’s in full sun, this is no problem for the Camellia sasanqua. Just make sure you’re watering it more if it is in a sunny spot.

Beyond this, they are also nifty in a tight area because they don’t need a lot of root space as long as you use really good soil. They’ll grow up and then with a bit of a trim you can keep them nice and narrow.

You can grow them under verandas or pergolas, or they make beautiful pot plants. They flower from autumn to mid-winter.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT COLOUR CHOICES, SO THESE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVOURITES:

‘Setsugekka’

Setsugekka is great for hedging and has beautiful dark green foliage with lots of white flowers. They are the perfect option for a green and white garden style.

‘Pure Silk’

Pure Silk have gorgeous white flowers with hints of pink in the petals and fresh buds. People are drawn to Pure Silk because of the lack of a big yellow centre that most other Camellias have.

‘Shell Pink’

Shell Pink is a very strong and rapid grower with massive pink flowers. They are perfect as a dense hedge or specimen in the garden.

‘Hiryu’

Hiryu has vivid pink-purple flowers and is the strongest grower of all the Camellias. It’s great as a hedge and an excellent option for those who are wanting a brighter pop of colour.

‘Avalanche’

Avalanche is a new type on the market that is very handy for lots of people. It is a dense and bushy column that is quite tall and skinny. You can have it as an individual specimen or plant it as a hedge.

Camellia japonica







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Japonica has a wider leaf and tend to grow bushier and fatter than the Sasanqua. They grow quite tall and will live for many, many years. But keep them out of the hot afternoon sun or you’ll get brown patches in the middle of the leaves.

They flower from late winter into spring, so will have blossoms at different times than the Sasanqua. If you plant both species then you can have flowers for five or six months of the year.

JAPONICA ALSO COMES IN DIFFERENT COLOURS, HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE PICKS:

‘Volunteer’

Volunteer has the most amazing flowers, it is an eruption of red-pink flowers into white tips. It is the only Japonica that flourishes in the hot sun (provided there is adequate watering), as well as the deep shade. Volunteer is a good strong grower, nice and bushy, and what’s interesting is that the flowers become richer in colour the more you progress through the season.

‘Pope John XXIII’

Pope John XXIII is a classic white with semi-formal double flowers and really nice foliage. They are another great selection for that green and white garden style.

‘Black Tie’

Black Tie is a more formal double flower in a brilliant shade of red with large leaves. It’s another strong grower that is going to form a dense rounded shape.

How to Take Care of your Camellias

A green and pink container of Scotts Osmocote Plus Organics, 800g. Intended for feeding roses, gardenias, and azaleas, and improves water retention and soil. Organically enriches the soil for up to six months. fertiliserOkay so you’ve decided what type and where you’re going to use it, now you need to know how to take care of it.

Camellias like loose well-drained soil that is acidic. If you don’t have quite the right soil, then dig a big hole and mix in some fine composted pine bark or acidic potting mix. They love lots and lots of fertiliser.

If you’re Camellia is looking a bit crook, what’s likely happened is that you’ve started taking your old Camellia for granted and not watered it enough. So make sure you give it plenty of water. Another solution is to mulch it with fine pine bark or Osmocote. If it was really crook, try the Osmocote liquid fertiliser for acid loving plants, this will almost bring it back from the dead.

Close-up of hands using a pair of pruning shears to cut a branch of a green leafy plant. Pruning CamelliasIn general, your Camellia needs regular feeding – water it and give it Osmocote, and Camellias will absolutely flourish. The best time to prune is immediately after the flowering is finished. The reason for this is that pruning them halfway through the season inhibits next year’s growths.

Although Camellias flower in winter, you won’t get much foliage growth. But being evergreen means that you will still have gorgeous green leaves all year.

In Conclusion

A cup of black tea sits on a wooden table next to fresh green tea leaves, loose black tea, and a potted tea plant. Camellia Tea PlantCamellias are a stunning plant with so many applications, from a thick hedge to a pot plant, you have so much freedom with where you want to put it in your garden.

There is a huge range of colour choices so you can go bold or stay subtle.

And if you love tea as much as we do, then chances are you’re gunning for the Camellia sinensis ‘Tea Plant’.

So pour yourself a cuppa and get to thinking about how you want to harness the versatility of Camellias.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

Articles you may also like

A cluster of purple flowers with green leaves grows in a garden bed, reminiscent of one of the top indoor plants. The background includes a concrete wall and scattered dry leaves.

Inject Colour into your Winter Garden

Written by coldev on . Posted in Garden Ideas, Plant Sales & Plant Specials, Plants.

Take a peek out the window or have a think about your garden. Is it looking a bit grey and bare? Have all the leaves fallen off those once gorgeous autumn-coloured trees? Is there even a single blossom left?

You may be suffering from winter-itis. A very real and not made-up disease where one believes that winter is the ugliest time of the year for the garden. If you drive through Melbourne right now, at the end of May, you’ll see there is a bit of an epidemic of this.

Now a lacklustre garden in winter is not inevitable, but rather a lack of forethought and knowledge on what plants will keep your garden looking lush and colourful, including this list of plants that flower in winter:

Nandina ‘Moon Bay
Heuchera
Loropetalum
Cordylines
Coprosmas
Ajuga
Camellia Sasanqua
Erica ‘Ruby Shepherd’ Winter Heath
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Oakleaf

A winter garden featuring a bed with red and green foliage plants in the foreground and orange flowers blooming in the background.In this article we will cover:

Now the first part of winter is the most difficult. Many plants have stopped flowering such as summer Perennials, Roses and Magnolias. Deciduous trees have lost their leaves, and their bare branches can be quite a stark sight.

Late winter you’ll see things start to pick up again, plants like your Quince, Plum, Magnolia or Peaches will start flowering. The further you move along, the more exciting gardens get.

But we’re here to talk about how to get your garden looking incredible ALL winter.

Your Current Garden Check Up

A frost-covered winter garden with bushes, bare trees, a birdhouse on a post, and three bird-shaped ornaments in the foreground. A hedge borders the back of the garden.

First things first, let’s run some diagnostics on your current garden.

Can you find any spots of colour or lushness? Is anything still flowering? Are your trees deciduous or evergreen?

Now don’t freak out if you step outside and see a barren landscape. Even Chris, our master horticulturist, didn’t always have a perfect garden as he explains here:

A small tree with dark purple leaves stands in front of a house with shingle siding, accompanied by various green shrubs. loropetalum topiary

“I remember when I built my first home, and I carefully chose all my plants. This would be my first ever garden I was designing myself. I was nowhere near as experienced as I am now, but I still had a good sense of gardening.

“I loved deciduous trees, especially maples. So I planted pretty much just deciduous trees, and all kinds of different perennials. It was late spring, and I had the most beautiful garden all through spring and summer.”

Then winter came. The perennials shrivelled up and lost their flowers. The maples all dropped their leaves. Suddenly I had the saddest, most barren looking garden you’ve ever seen. But I learned a lesson from that, and that lesson was balance.

But how do you create balance in your garden?

Having an Holistic Approach to Gardening


A collection of mixed foliage plants with vibrant colors, including green, purple, and variegated leaves, and a few purple flowers, set in a well-maintained winter garden.

What everybody wants is a garden that is going to look great all year. Not just in the spring. Not just in the winter.
All year.

But that means being clever with your selection of plants, and for most of us with no horticulture background, it can be incredibly difficult. But this is why we are writing this article today and why we offer services like the free Garden Design with Chris and here’s what he says about them:

“I’m very careful in my garden designs. When someone comes in with a list of plants they want and they’re all deciduous, I make them aware of the problems they could have in wintertime.

I would never tell someone what they can and cannot plant. But I suggest bringing in some more evergreens. For example, they could have all their favourite deciduous trees, but plant some larger evergreen shrubs.”







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Let’s take this lesson and apply it your own garden:

PLANT A HEALTHY MIX OF EVERGREENS AND DECIDUOUS
Having evergreens in your garden will help eliminate that bleakness. Consider Magnolias, Camellias, Pittosporums, Olive Trees, the list goes on. Browse our entire category of evergreen trees here. Also don’t forget about other evergreens like Shrubs or Grasses.

USE INTERESTING DECIDUOUS TREES
Close-up of a plant with bright red stems and vibrant green, deeply lobed leaves, set against the serene backdrop of a winter garden's green grass. senkaki japanese mapleNot all deciduous trees look terrible as soon as they drop their leaves. For some, their beauty actually increases. Consider the popular Senkaki Japanese Maple. The trunk and branches are a bright, bold red. It practically looks more sculpture than tree. But this isn’t the only tree with interesting bark. There’s the classic Silver Birches with their lovely white and speckled black trunk. If you want to be adventurous, look at trees such as Acer ‘Winter Gold’ Japanese Maple and Betula ‘Wades Golden’ Birch, that have yellow/gold coloured bark.

BE TACTICAL WITH TYPES OF SPECIES
We’re going to use the example of Lavenders to explain this, but you can apply this to a lot of flowering plants. By being clever with what type of Lavender you plant, you can have your Lavenders flowering 365 days of the year. A good plan of attack would look like this:

Deep Purple for the winter. Avonview for spring into early summer. Hidcote for the full summer. French Lavender for autumn. Then back to the start with Deep Purple.

Plants that are Colourful in the Winter


Close-up of a plant with dark purple leaves and small, bright pink flowers, covered in water droplets against a blurred green background, evoking the serene beauty of a winter garden. Loropetalum

There’s two ways a plant can give you colour – foliage or flowers. Both have their advantages. Plants with colourful foliage give you colour all year round. Flowering plants give you extra interest and excitement. We’re going to first talk about foliage.

Nandina ‘Moon Bay’







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With fiery red foliage and an economical price, Moon Bay is an excellent way to keep those winter blues away. We’re not going to get into them too much here, as we have an article coming out soon about Adding Warmth to Your Winter Garden Using Nandinas. But they’re a very versatile plant that is incredibly low maintenance – so many commercial gardens chuck them in and never think about them again.

Heuchera







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Aren’t these just the cutest looking plant? You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to colour, from the amber hues of Marmalade to the vibrant fuchsia of Wild Rose.

Because they’re so petite, they are perfect for a tiny garden bed. Or pop them in some pots on a deck and have fun with the different colour combinations.

For a dark dramatic look, take Obsidian and pair it with our Urban Style Olive Pot Matt Black. Or keep it light and sweet with Peach Flambe and our Limecrete Egg Pot Antique Rust.

Be gentle with Heuchera and place them in a sheltered spot, with dappled shade.

Loropetalum







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Rising in popularity is the Loropetalum. We love them so much we wrote an entire article about how to Add Excitement to Your Garden with Loropetalum. They have great versatility – trim them into any shape or let them sprawl artfully.

Cut on top and have them as a tall groundcover/low spreading bush. Trim them into a hedge to create privacy from your neighbours. There is a huge selection to choose from, with each type having its own strengths and suitability. So it’s important to read up about them so you know which type will work the best for you.

Cordylines











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If you bought Cordylines a while back, you may have found that some of them discoloured badly in the winter. But with the genius of our plant breeders, this has actually been bred out of them. Nowadays, you have a huge variety of different shades, from pink to purple to brown.

They are very tough growing, tolerating almost any soil type, and love an open sunny spot. One we love in particular is Pocahontas – a rich burgundy intermixed with vibrant purple-pink hues.

It grows up like a palm tree and adds a tropical look to your garden, making you feel like you’re on island getaway and not, well ah, stuck in miserable Melbourne. There are also clumping Cordylines that don’t grow trunks and have a bushier look, such as Electric Flash.

Coprosmas







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Okay we harp on a lot about Coprosmas but it’s because they’re just such damn good plants. They’re tougher than cactuses and have fabulous colours. The colder it gets, the more intense the colours become.

For those living in apartments and have either a rooftop or balcony garden, these are an excellent choice. Wind, heat, salt spray, frost, sun – Coprosma can take anything. They are a great pot plant. Flex your creativity and experiment with different pairings. Use Ignite with our Seafoam Bronte Planter Copper. Pair Pacific Sunrise with our GardenLite Trough Black. Try different shapes, colours and sizes.

Or plant them in the garden, shape them into a round ball, cut them into a square box hedge. Stick with one colour or alternate between different colour combinations. The world is your oyster.

Ajuga







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These are great placed next to plants that look bleak in the wintertime, such as most Hydrangeas or the Arthropodium ‘NZ Rock Lily’. We don’t want to discourage you from buying the plants you love because they don’t look so great in the winter.

Rather, we want to encourage you to include other plants that are a supporting act to your fabulous summer plants. Then in the summer you can enjoy all those Perennials and Hydrangeas and come winter your garden still looks great.
In particular we love the Burgundy Glow with its medley of pink, green, purple and burgundy hues. They’re great as a border in the garden or can be planted in a hanging basket on the patio.

Okay so there’s plenty of colourful foliage options, but let’s chat about some of the plants that flower during winter.

Camellia Sasanqua







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This is one of your best sources of flowers in the winter. What’s really interesting is that in the summertime, the white Camellias sell like crazy, but come winter, no one wants to buy the white. This is because the white shade is quite cold and doesn’t do much to uplift the rest of the garden during winter.

We’re finding that a lot of people right now are buying the soft pink shade because it just looks warmer and friendlier. You can even take it a step further and plant hot pink Camellias. So a little hint: when looking at flowering plants, don’t just look at your whites. Camellias are also just a great, reliable plant that are super easy to grow.

Erica ‘Ruby Shepherd’ Winter Heath


Close-up of pink and purple heather flowers with green stems and leaves. The blooms are densely clustered, forming a vibrant and delicate display perfect for a winter garden.

Originating from Africa, these are incredibly tough and very popular. The flowers are an exquisite purple/pink shade and stick around all throughout autumn and winter.

They’re unbothered by the cold wet weather, whereas other flowers can struggle in a particularly miserable spell. They’re going to grow about a metre tall and are great for mass plantings.

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Oakleaf’


Close-up of a plant with red, purple, and green leaves in a Winter Garden. The plant has clustered, dried flowers in the center.

If you are really wanting Hydrangeas, but the horror-quality they take on in the wintertime scares you, then Oakleaf is perfect.

Instead of shedding its leaves, they turn a gorgeous purple shade for all of winter. Then in springtime, new bright green leaves push through, for a time giving you a mix of purple and green leaves.

Curing Winter-itis

If any of your friends or loved ones are suffering from winter-itis, please be sure to share this article with them. We want to help as many people as we can bring colour and lushness into their lives. If you’re hungry for more options, go check out our YouTube playlist How to Have a Colourful Garden During Winter.

Let’s bring beauty into all Australian gardens during winter.

Feeling inspired to create your own garden, but want some expert advice? Try our one-on-one garden design service with Chris. Together you’ll come up with a selection of plants along with a layout plan that gives you the look you want, as well as being suitable for your local soil and conditions.

get your own tailored modern garden design:


FIND OUT HOW

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