Agapanthus
Vibrant, colourful flowers with shiny green leaves, Agapanthus can really brighten up your garden.
Are you after a strappy leaved grass plant that provides the same look as a liriope but has a white flower similar to that of the ‘One Day’ iris? Look no further than the Libertia (Libertia spp.)! This grass plant, with species native to New Zealand and Australia, provide great leaf form and shape around borders and burst into flower come Spring.
How to grow libertia in a garden
- Choose a place in the garden that gets half-shade. Prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.
- Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the plant.
- Feed every 1-2 weeks with Yates Thrive Natural Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
How to grow libertia in a pot
- Choose a pot that is at least twice the size of the selected plant. Position in the garden that receives half shade.
- Fill the pot with a quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.
- Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.
- Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the plant.
- Feed every 1-2 weeks with Yates Thrive Natural Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
Growing tips
- To keep the plant looking its best, give it a hard prune back in late autumn.
- This plant can be easily propagated through division in autumn by carefully removing it from the ground or pot and dividing the rhizomes with a sharp spade.
- There are two main species available in Australia:
Grass Flag (L. paniculata).
This is an Australian native species from the east coast of Australia. Perfect for partly shaded gardens. Can tolerate light frosts and is great to use as a border or as an additional attractant for insects into the garden.
Goldfinger (L. Ixioides).
This Libertia calls New Zealand home and is great for those that want a plant that can handle full sun to part shade. Varieties such as Taupo Blaze provide great purple foliage colour in winter followed by white flowers in spring..
Ageratum
Ageratum flowers are tough plants that can even handle a bit of shade. They are the truest blue annuals you can find for your garden.
Ajuga
Looking for options for groundcover, try growing ajuga. Ajuga has a wide variety of foliage colors usually in the rich deep burgundy realm.
Allamanda
How to grow yellow Allamanda! A tropical evergreen shrub features large golden-yellow flowers. Please note in QLD it's an invasive plant.
Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser
Create organic nutrient rich soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter for better root growth, stronger plants and more flowers and fruit.
Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter
A high quality all purpose organic-based potting mix suitable for most indoor and outdoor potted plants.
Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Concentrate
A complete plant food specially developed for boosting healthy growth of beautiful flowers, roses and other flowering plants, naturally!
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