As we head into a new gardening year, I will highlight some new plants that are likely to become more available in 2017. Wholesale nursery suppliers have advised me of the following plants that are relatively new for Australian gardens.
Firstly, new roses: Three to highlight are David Austin “Boscobel” (with deep pink, highly fragrant blooms; growing 1.2m high); Parfuma “Earth Angel” (white/light pink flowers with intense fragrance; grow- ing 0.7m high) and Lilliputs “Dwarf Fairy” (deep red flowers; growing 0.4m high and suitable for borders or containers).
A new shrub that you should consider for your garden is Daphne Perfume Princess- more compact growing and suited to sunny positions, than the old style daphne, and with masses of pink/white fragrant flowers. Another new shrub cultivar is Westringia Aussie Box-an Australian bred shrub that produces mauve flowers and can be grown as a low hedge or as dense, ball shaped specimen shrubs.
A few new deciduous tree cultivars are on the supply list from my major tree supply nursery in Victoria. Crimson Spire Oak is a cross between English and White Oaks and is a tall, fast growing, columnar oak tree that could be a good new option for lining driveways. At the other end of the size scale is a new miniature, weeping form of crepe myrtle called New Orleans. It produces masses of purple flowers and grows to about 1m. There is also a new form of weeping birch called Summer Cascade.
Finally, a couple of newish perennial colour providers in the garden. Geranium Rozanne, won the top perennial award at the Chelsea Flower Show a couple of years ago. I have one in my garden and it produces masses of dark blue/purple flow- ers and is an excellent filler/groundcover. Echinacea purpurea “Cheyenne Spirit” is another new perennial that produces a mass of multi-coloured, daisy type flowers.
Ian Rogan Millthorpe Garden Nursery