What’s in Season – November’s Garden Gems
As we transition into November, the gardens continue to flourish with the vibrant energy of spring. This month, we’re highlighting four stunning plants that are in season and ready to transform your garden into a blooming haven:
Agapanthus (Indigenous)
Care Tips:
- Light: Agapanthus thrive in full sun to partial shade. They need at least 6 hours of sunlight to produce their striking flower clusters.
- Soil: These plants prefer well-draining soil, enriched with organic matter. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
- Water: Water regularly, especially during dry spells. Established plants are moderately drought-tolerant but will perform best with consistent moisture.
Uses in the Garden: Agapanthus, with their tall stalks and beautiful blue or white clusters of flowers, are perfect for adding height and structure to garden beds and borders. Larger varieties of Agapanthus make a striking impact when planted en masse at the back of garden beds, creating a lush, dramatic backdrop. Smaller varieties are perfect for edging plants and rockeries, adding delicate beauty and structure. Their long-lasting blooms make them a favourite for low-maintenance, indigenous gardening.
Argyranthemum
Care Tips:
- Light: Argyranthemums thrive in full sun, which encourages abundant flowering from late spring until late autumn. There are few plants in the garden that can compete with this display! The constant shower of colourful daisies are not only appreciated by gardeners, but by birds, butterflies and bees as well!
- Soil: Well-draining soil is essential. The root systems of Agryranthemums can tolerate almost all soil types.
- Water: Although not ‘thirsty’ plants, they do require moderate watering during dry spells, particularly in hot climates. To promote and extend the proliferation of flowers, remember to deadhead the spent blooms regularly.
Uses in the Garden: Argyranthemums are excellent for adding continuous colour to flower beds and borders. Their compact growth habit makes them perfect for edging paths and they are also highly suited to use in pots and containers.
Begonias (Baby Wings and Dragon Wings)
Care Tips:
- Light: Begonias thrive in full sun to partial shade. Too much direct sunlight can cause leaf burn, while too little light can reduce blooming.
- Soil: They prefer well-draining, fertile soil.
- Water: Water consistently, keeping the soil evenly moist, but avoid overwatering.
Uses in the Garden: Both Baby Wings and Dragon Wings Begonias are perfect for adding lush foliage and vibrant flowers to garden beds, hanging baskets and containers. Their bright, long-lasting blooms make them excellent choices for creating colourful, low-maintenance displays. They are particularly effective in adding a tropical feel to the garden.
Sunpatiens
Care Tips:
- Light: Sunpatiens are incredibly versatile. They are a hybrid that thrives in full sun and hot, humid weather, greatly expanding the area in which gardeners can grow impatiens. While they can grow in semi-shade, for the most abundant blooms, provide at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Soil: These long-flowering plants prefer rich, well-draining soil. Adding compost or organic matter will boost soil health and moisture retention.
- Water: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during warmer weather. Sunpatiens are more heat-tolerant than traditional Impatiens, but still require moderate watering to maintain vibrant blooms.
Uses in the Garden: Sunpatiens are ideal for adding bright colour to garden beds, borders and containers, offering continuous blooms in a range of shades from vivid reds to soft pastels. Their bushy, compact growth habit and self-cleaning blooms make them perfect for low-maintenance displays, while their impressive resistance to pests and disease adds extra garden reliability. Sunpatiens are also perfect for mass planting and create bold impact with minimal effort, bringing long-lasting colour throughout the summer season.
These beautiful plants are in season and ready to enhance your garden with their stunning colours and forms. Embrace the full bloom of spring with these fantastic options at your nearest Blackwood’s!