Elephant Yam (Amorphophallus)
Plants from the Amorphophallus genus are not commonly grown in the urban garden. Usually they are found in the care of plant collectors. They are…
Piccabeen Palm (Archontophoenix)
Recently I was relaxing over dinner, marvelling at the peaceful silence outside. There was no pitter patter or hammering of incessant rain on the tin…
Midgen Berry (Austromyrtus)
Once considered much larger, the Austromyrtus genus has recently undergone a bit of pruning leaving it with only 3 species. They are a genus of…
Kurrajong (Brachychiton)
“Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver”. These iconic lyrics by Cold Chisel refer to the equally iconic Brachychiton acerifolius or Illawarra Flame…
Everlasting Daisy (Bracteantha)
Botanical names of plants are used to help avoid confusion created by several plants using the same common name but occasionally the classification of a…
Bamboo
Over 1000 species of bamboo have been classified under the grass family – Poaceae. Many people believe that while beautiful to look at, it is…
Cordyline
Few plants really epitomise the tropical and sub tropical garden as well as the Cordyline. Planted alongside a few palms and bromeliads, you are instantly…
Siam Tulip (Curcuma)
This gorgeous member of the ginger family fits under an umbrella known as tropical gingers. Originating from tropical Asia through to Northern Australia, there are…
Purple Wings (Dalechampia)
Imagine having large magenta coloured butterflies in your garden. And they won’t produce leaf munching grubs. That’s what it seems like when you grow the…
Blue Ginger (Dichorisandra)
Just disappearing from our gardens at the moment is the electric blue of the Blue Ginger flower. To me this heralds the arrival of winter…
EUPHORBIA
Have you noticed the spectacular red shrubs blooming around the place at the moment? Revered in its native Mexico, the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is also…
Korea Grass (Zoysia)
“Is there a lawn grass that I don’t have to mow as often?” This question often comes up when discussing gardens. The answer to the…
Yucca
The Yucca is a striking plant with a strong architectural structure which fits in comfortably with many contemporary landscapes. It easily conjures up a semi…
Golden Penda (Xanthostemon)
This is one of my favourite trees. Rather than a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it’s more like a mountain of…
Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea)
Picture this scene. You are driving through the outback. The ground is a never ending expanse of red soil, the sky is rich blue. Under…
Westringia
Westringia is a member of the Lamiaceae family, making it a relative of Mint, Lavender and Salvia to name a few. A distinguishing feature of…
Bugle Lily (Watsonia)
The Watsonia genus, otherwise known as the Bugle Lily, has a lot of similarities to its close relative, the Gladioli. Both are in the Iris…
Bromelia (Vriesea)
In recent years, Bromeliads have really come into their own for the home gardener. They provide amazing colour in shady areas or where the soil…
Viburnum
Viburnum is one of those plants which sit quietly, almost demurely in your garden for most of the year. But when it blooms, puts on…
Queensland Golden Myrtle (Thaleropia)
On a drive between Mapleton and Maleny late in October, I was blown away by a tree covered in golden flowers. Having done this drive…
About Tohm
Tohm currently heads the team at Amber Leaf Landscaping and is qualified in horticulture, design and construction. His blog is a great place to get some ideas for your landscape, learn about specific plants that thrive in your local environment and see what inspires Tohm as he gets out and about.