Gardening Australia

There is something about the sight of a lemon tree in a garden that feels fitting and right to me. Maybe it’s because most of the backyards of my childhood had one. Or maybe it’s because the tree’s form is pretty much the classic silhouette of a sturdy trunk, spreading branches and cloud-shaped canopy. Then there is the fact that the fruit (so outwardly sunny and inwardly tangy) contributes to so many flavour-filled meals. It’s a trusty bon vivant of the garden. Those lemon trees of my childhood were invariably big trees, requiring a certain amount of space in a backyard. But these days, there are some wonderful dwarf varieties available (including exotic hybrids), making them possible for balconies, courtyards and backyards alike. Regardless of size, now is a great time…

CRACKING THE CODE In a world first, scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria have sequenced the genome, or the DNA ‘fingerprint’, of the golden wattle ( Acacia pycnantha ) – Australia’s floral emblem. This painstaking process took just over three years for scientists from the CSIRO and the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, among others, to complete. This is one of only a handful of other Australian plants whose genomes have been sequenced, including the macadamia, waratah and blue gum, and there are plans afoot to sequence the genomes of other native Australian plants, too. FEBRUARY 11 FEBRUARY 11 MARKS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE. IT’S A DAY TO CELEBRATE WOMEN’S ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR, AND HONOUR THOSE WHO ARE AGENTS OF CHANGE. WHO KNOWS, PERHAPS A BUDDING…

Behold three gorgeous new David Austin Shrub roses. ‘Dame Judi Dench’ (right, below) grows to 1.1m high and 1.25m wide. It’s a vigorous grower, producing mounds of repeat-flowering blooms on arching stems that start as red-tipped buds, then fade from a rich orange in the middle to pale apricot at the edges. The scent is typically delicate for English roses of this colour. ‘James L. Austin’ (top), named for David Austin senior’s son, has large rosette flowers with a button eye, and a slightly ‘fruitier’ fragrance as befits such striking hot-pink blooms. It’s a compact, tidy shrub, also repeat flowering, with an upright habit to 1.25m high and 1.1m wide. ‘Vanessa Bell’ (top right) is named for the artist, interior designer and founder (along with her sister Virginia Woolf) of…

FLOWER PHILOSOPHY Anna Potter Photography by India Hobson White Lion Publishing A celebration of nature’s bounty, this latest book by UK florist Anna Potter showcases 25 of her striking floral arrangements. The book is divided into seasons, with gorgeous photography, helpful information and advice to inspire and guide you to create bouquets, wreaths and floral installations all year round. It encourages readers to create original designs, without the pressure for perfection. Included are tips on sourcing flowers – bought, found or foraged – how to use colour, and arranging and pairing flowers. It also has a floral thesaurus and information about useful floristry tools. The seasons are based on the Northern Hemisphere, but the information is relevant to anyone wishing to create novel floral designs, wherever they’re located. Available from 14 February…

There’s really so much to love about citrus trees. They grow everywhere that’s warm and sunny, look lush and handsome year round and, to top it all off, reward growers with tangy, juicy fruit that can be eaten, drunk or preserved. Once it was the lemon that graced every backyard. While it remains number one in the citrus stakes, limes are now trending. The rise in popularity of the seed-free Tahitian lime (above) is not just because people want to have a slice on hand for a gin and tonic; cooks love lime juice for its fresh, exotic flavour, which works well squeezed over meals or in desserts. Backyards are bursting with orange, blood orange, mandarin, grapefruit, cumquat and native finger lime (right), with its colourful fruit and juicy, caviar-like beads of…

When people ask what my favourite indoor plants are, philodendrons are at the top of my list. There are nearly 500 known species and countless hybrids, and the variety of sizes, leaf forms and growth habits is mind-blowing! Leaves can be small, large, heart-shaped, toothed, sword-like or deeply lobed, with a smooth or velvety texture in various shades and patterns of green, pink, red and orange. Philodendrons, or ‘philos’ to their friends, are mostly climbers or vines, but a few of them are self-headers, meaning they have clumps of leaves that emerge from a thickened arborescent stem. Some species creep along the ground, too. Despite their many unusual forms, they are fairly low-maintenance plants and will happily grow indoors without much fuss. Of course, there are a few exceptions, with some needing…