Agapanthus
Vibrant, colourful flowers with shiny green leaves, Agapanthus can really brighten up your garden.
It is often difficult to find a hardy plant that can tolerate the filtered light under the canopies of large trees. For these tricky areas, the Oyster Plant (Acanthus mollis) is a good performer. Its common name derives from the purple and white shell–shaped flowers that appear on tall spikes in summer. These plants are easy to care for and will provide lovely foliage texture to the shaded areas to your garden.
How to grow oyster plants in a garden
- Choose a part shaded spot in the garden that receives filtered sun that has well drained soil. Enrich the soil with 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 shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it’s needed most. Water in well.
- Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
- Feed every 1 to 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
How to grow oyster plants in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 200 mm wide and deep. Position in part shade or a spot that receives filtered sun.
- Fill the chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.
- Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.
- Feed every 1 to 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
Growing tips
- Remove spent flowers to encourage further growth and control the spread of seeds.
- Can become weedy in certain areas. Regularly trim back and remove any dead plants to retain control and keep beds clean.
- Clean up plants by removing any damaged leaves or flowers.
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.
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