1. home and garden

 Garden Plants of the World
with Gary Lewis on Gardening 101
Australia & New Zealand
Many of the plants in this catalogue are available this year at Phoenix.
Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.
3380 No. 6 Rd. | Richmond, BC | V6V 1P5
604-270-4133 | [email protected]
www.phoenixperennials.com
Perennials p. 1
1
Perennials
Acaena inermis 'Purpurea'
New Zealand Burr
Rosaceae (The Rose Family)
Zone 6-9
An excellent ground cover especially for crawling
over gravel paths or stones. Gorgeous purple-bluegrey foliage with cherry pink stems. Small spherical
flower heads flower white and then age to red. Also
can be used for trailing from containers.
White/Cr H under
W 12-24"
Summer
Full - Part Sun
Sun
New Zealand Burr
Acaena saccaticupula ‘Blue Haze’
Rosaceae (The Rose Family)
Zone 6-9
An excellent ground cover especially for crawling
over gravel paths or stones. Gorgeous blue-grey
foliage with cherry pink stems. A must for those in
love with anything glaucous!
Blue
H under
W 12-24"
Summer
Adiantum hispidulum
Pteridaceae (The Maidenhair Fern Family)
Full - Part Sun
Sun
Rosy Australian Maidenhair Fern
Zone 7-8
This distinctive maidenhair fern grows into a small, upright clump
to about 17" high. The young fronds are rose-coloured contrasting
with the dark green or green-bronze colours of the leathery mature
foliage. It performs best in soils with high organic matter and
plenty of moisture but will tolerate dry situations. Use among
traditional woodland perennials beneath shade trees and in
containers.
H 12-24"
W 12-24"
Full - Part Shade
Loves Shade
Mother Fern
Asplenium bulbiferum
Aspleniaceae (The Spleenwort Family)
Zone 9-11
Asplenium bulbiferum
is an evergreen fern with short, erect
rhizome producing a rosette of finely divided, leathery fronds. The
fronds are gracefully arched with bright green upper surfaces. This
species produce small plantlets on the upper surface of the fronds.
A. bulbiferum is an excellent choice for shade landscapes.
Green
H 2-4'
W 2-3'
Loves Shade
Full - Part Shade
Perennials p. 2
Brass Buttons
Leptinella squallida 'Platt's Black'
Asteraceae (The Aster Family)
Zone 5
A low carpet of feathery foliage makes this an
excellent ground cover and lawn replacement.
'Platt's Black' has dainty, bronze, ferny foliage that
spreads to make a soft mat. Small yellow button-like
blossoms are a subtle addition in the summer
months.
Yellow
H under
W 8-12"
Summer
Sun
Part
Sun
New Zealand Iris
Libertia peregrinans
Iridaceae (The Iris Family)
Zone 8-10
Valued for its richly coloured orangey-bronze, erect,
iris-like foliage that is especially pretty backlit by the
sun. The foliage is evergreen, or I should say
everorange, and looks great 365 days a year. The
small creamy white flowers appear intermittently and
are lightly fragrant. The orange colouration in the
leaves is more intense when plants are stressed so
don’t baby them. Give them lean, well-drained soil in
sun.
White/Cr H 8-12"
W 12-24"
Late Spring
Muehlenbeckia complexa 'Variegated'
Polygonaceae (The Buckwheat Family)
Full - Part Sun
Sun
Maidenhair Vine, Creeping Wire Vine
Zone 4-9
The small oval leaves are mottled with cream and
soft yellow making a very nice contrast with the pink
stems. The leaves may have pink tones in the upper
surface and the edges when young. It is easy to
grow and is a fast grower creating a great
groundcover. Also great spilling out of containers.
White/Cr H 4-8"
W 12-24"
Summer - Fall
Sun
Part Sun
New Zealand Flax
Phormium 'Jester'
Xanthorrhoeaceae (The Grass Tree Family)
Zone 8
Phormiums have cornered the market on structure
and drama, which is likely why they’re so popular.
'Jester' is an unmistakable cultivar with broad
reddish-pink leaves edged in contrasting olivey
green. Phormiums usually sail through our winters.
'Tricolor' is one of the hardiest variegated forms..
Grow in pots and bring indoors in colder climates.
Green
H 4-6'
W 2-3'
Spring - Winter
Loves Sun
Full - Part Sun
Perennials p. 3
New Zealand Flax
Phormium 'Sundowner'
Xanthorrhoeaceae (The Grass Tree Family)
Zone 8
Phormiums have cornered the market on structure
and drama, which is likely why they’re so popular.
'Sundowner' is a large plant with erect, greyish
burgundy leaves with hot pink highlights. Phormiums
usually sail through our winters. However, the
burgundy cultivars are generally hardier than the
variegated ones. Grow in pots and bring indoors in
colder climates.
Green
H 4-6'
W 2-3'
Spring - Winter
Loves Sun
Full
- Part Flax
Sun
New Zealand
Phormium 'Tricolor'
Xanthorrhoeaceae (The Grass Tree Family)
Zone 8
Phormiums have cornered the market on structure
and drama, which is likely why they’re so popular.
'Tricolor' is a large plant with arching green and
creamy white variegated leaves with red edges.
Phormiums usually sail through our winters. 'Tricolor'
is one of the hardiest variegated forms.. Grow in pots
and bring indoors in colder climates.
Green
H 4-6'
W 2-3'
Spring - Winter
Loves Sun
FullScab
- PartPlant
Sun
New Zealand
Raoulia australis
Asteraceae (The Aster Family)
Zone 7-10
Tiny silver-grey foliage forms a dense, evergreen
mat and from a distance resembles granite. Grows
slowly. Prefers cool summers and mild winters.
Thrives in rockeries and raised beds that provide
good drainage, especially in winter which is very
important.
H under
W 8-12"
Summer
Sun
Remusatia vivipara
Hitchhiker Elephant Ear
Araceae (The Arum Family)
Zone 7b-10
In late spring the very glossy, green, elephant earlike leaves emerge forming a tropical clump two to
three feet tall. The new foliage is accompanied by
fragrant, yellow flowers. In late summer strange,
erect stolons arise from the tuber and become
covered with fuzzy, hooked tubercles (hairy bulbils).
It is the ability of these hairy offsets to attach to fur
and feather which has resulted in the distribution of
this species over three continents. Unusual,
subtropical looking and reportedly very easy to grow.
Yellow
H 2-4'
W 2-3'
Late Spring
Sun
Part Sun
Botanically Intriguing (Mostly Tender) p. 4
3
Botanically
Intriguing (Mostly Tender)
Anigozanthos 'Bush Nugget'
Kangaroo Paw
Haemodoraceae (The Bloodwort Family)
Zone 8-11
Kangaroo paws have some of the most distinctive
flowers in the botanical world with clusters of fuzzy
tubular flowers that look like a kangaroo's paw and
that bloom for months! 'Bush Nugget' has golden
yellow flowers on red stems to two feet above irislike mid-green foliage. Though tolerant of some
freezing it would be safest to bring plants inside to a
greenhouse or as a houseplant in winter.
Yellow
H 12-24"
W 8-12"
Spring - Fall
Sun
Anigozanthos 'Bush Ranger'
Kangaroo Paw
Haemodoraceae (The Bloodwort Family)
Zone 8-11
Kangaroo paws have some of the most distinctive
flowers in the botanical world with clusters of fuzzy
tubular flowers that look like a kangaroo's paw and
that bloom for months! 'Bush Ranger' has red flowers
flaring to reveal green interiors. Flowers at two feet
tall above iris-like mid-green foliage. Tolerant of
some freezing but safest to bring plants inside to a
greenhouse or as a houseplant in winter.
Red
H 12-24"
W 8-12"
Spring - Fall
Sun
Anigozanthos 'Bush Tango'
Kangaroo Paw
Haemodoraceae (The Bloodwort Family)
Zone 8-11
Kangaroo paws have some of the most distinctive
flowers in the botanical world with clusters of fuzzy
tubular flowers that look like a kangaroo's paw and
that bloom for months! 'Bush Tango' has flowers in
shades of orange, apricot and red on stems up to
three feet tall above iris-like mid-green foliage.
Tolerant of some freezing but safest to bring plants
inside to a greenhouse or as a houseplant in winter.
Orange
H 2-4'
W 8-12"
Spring - Fall
Sun
Anigozanthos 'Cape Magenta'
Kangaroo Paw
Haemodoraceae (The Bloodwort Family)
Zone 8-11
Kangaroo paws have some of the most distinctive
flowers in the botanical world with clusters of fuzzy
tubular flowers that look like a kangaroo's paw and
that bloom for months! 'Cape Magenta' has mid to
deep pink flowers on stems to two feet tall above irislike mid-green foliage. Tolerant of some freezing but
safest to bring plants inside to a greenhouse or as a
houseplant in winter.
Pink
H 12-24"
W 8-12"
Spring - Fall
Sun
Astelia chathamica ‘Silver Shadow’
Asteliaceae (The Astelia Family)
Botanically Intriguing (Mostly Tender) p. 5
Chatham Island Astelia
Zone 9-10
‘Silver Shadow’ is a selection from the endangered
Chatham Island astelia, endemic to these
subantarctic islands near New Zealand. It's an
extremely ornamental plant with shiny, metallic
silvery-green recurved leaves. (No kidding. The
leaves look made of real silver!) So very close to
being hardy in coastal BC but not quite. It has taken
minus 10 Celsius in our unheated greenhouse but
can't take cold in combination with wet. Best kept
above zero and on the dry side or up against a
Yellow
H 2-4'
W 3-5'
Summer
Sun
Part Sun
Chatham Island Astelia
Astelia chathamica ‘Silver Spear’
Asteliaceae (The Astelia Family)
Zone 9-10
‘Silver Spear’ is a selection from the endangered
Chatham Island astelia, endemic to these
subantarctic islands near New Zealand. It's an
extremely ornamental plant with flax-like leaves
sporting an amazing satin-silver-metalic sheen!
Offers drama in spades. So very close to being
hardy here but not quite. It has taken minus 10
Celsius in our unheated greenhouse but can't
freezing combined with rain and wind. Best kept
above zero and on the dry side. Worth every effort.
Yellow
H 4-6'
W 3-5'
Summer
Sun
Part Sun
Shrubs p. 6
4
Shrubs
Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’
Cootamundra Wattle
Fabaceae (The Legume Family)
Zone 8-10
This stunning, choice acacia has evergreen, fernlike, silvery grey leaves infused with purple. In early
spring it is covered with small spheres of yellow puffy
flowers that are sweetly scented. It grows quickly to
10 to 20 feet. Plant in a protected location in full sun
with well-drained soil. If I haven’t yet convinced you,
isn’t it worth it just for the common name?
Yellow
H 6-10'
W 5-8'
Early Spring
Loves Sun
Sun
Ovens Wattle
Acacia pravissima
Fabaceae (The Legume Family)
Zone 8-10
A fast growing large shrub or small tree with
evergreen triangular, blue-green leaves that clasp
the stems. In late winter or early spring the stems are
adorned with spheres of soft yellow, honey-scented
flowers. Well-drained soil, sheltered positions.
Yellow
H 6-10'
W 5-8'
Early Spring
Loves Sun
Sun
Dwarf Bottlebrush
Callistemon citrinus 'Little John'
Myrtaceae (The Myrtle Family)
Zone 8-11
'Little John' has rich red bottlebrush blooms on
compact plants to just 3 feet tall by 5 feet wide. The
foliage is blue-green. Full to part sun. Best in welldrained soil.
Red
H 2-4'
W 3-5'
Summer
Full - Part Sun
Loves Sun
Bottlebrush
Callistemon subulatus
Myrtaceae (The Myrtle Family)
Zone 8-11
The large red blooms makes this bottlebrush special.
Frost resistant to at least -5°C though in a protected
spot with a little mulch it should be hardier. Full to
part sun. Best in well-drained soil.
Red
H 4-6'
W 3-5'
Summer
Full - Part Sun
Loves Sun
Shrubs p. 7
Australian Finger Lime
Citrus (Microcitrus) australasica
Rutaceae (The Citrus Family)
Zone 10
This lime relative may grow as a small tree or a
shrub. The fragrant flowers are white and the long
cylindrical fruit comes in different colours, including
pink and green. The fruit are filled with tiny vesicles
that have been described as "lime caviar". They can
be sprinkled on desserts or Asian dishes for a burst
of lime flavour or used to make marmalades.
White/Cr H 2-4'
W 2-3'
Spring - Fall
Sun
Part
Sun
Mirror Plant
Coprosma repens 'Rainbow Surprise'
Rubiaceae (The Madder Family)
Zone 9-10
Glossy green and cream variegated leaves are tinged with gold and
pink and become hot pink and olive green in winter. A neat compact
shrub for a low hedge or container plant. Evergreen. Tolerates salt
spray.
H 4-6'
W 3-5'
Sun
PartPlant
Sun
Mirror
Coprosma repens 'Tequila Sunrise'
Rubiaceae (The Madder Family)
Zone 9-10
Glossy green, yellow, orange and pink variegated leaves make this
mirror plant cultivar one of the best and boldest. A neat compact shrub
for a low hedge or container plant. Evergreen. Tolerates salt spray.
H 4-6'
W 3-5'
Sun
Part Sun
Cabbage Palm
Cordyline australis ‘Red Sensation’
Zone 8b-11
Cabbage palm is native to New Zealand where it can
grow into an exotic, branched tree with its long,
linear leaves. In cold climates it is called a "spike"
and has traditionally been planted in the middle of
pots surrounded by orange geraniums. In coastal BC
it can prove hardy for many winters but often gets hit
by cold snaps except for Tofino and Ucluelet where
"old growth" Cordyline form impressive stands. 'Red
Sensation' is a burgundy-leaved selection.
White/Cr H 10-15'
W 2-3'
Summer
Sun
Shrubs p. 8
Snow Gum
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Myrtaceae (The Myrtle Family)
Zone 7-10
Snow gum is one of the hardiest of eucalyptus
species and can survive -23 degrees Celsius. It
grows into the subalpine at high elevation in the Alps
of eastern Australia. Trees from seed collected at
elevation will be the hardiest. Snow gum is a fastgrowing tree with attractive peeling bark and long,
narrow, grey-green foliage. Plant in full sun with
good drainage, especially in winter.
White/Cr H 25-40'
W 8-10'
Summer
Loves Sun
Sun
Tasmanian Leatherwood
Eucryphia lucida 'Spring Cream'
Cunoniaceae (The Wild Alder Family)
Zone 8-10
A beautifully variegated evergreen shrub with small
rounded leaves edged in cream, providing a
wonderful illuminating quality, especially in a dappled
shade garden. Midsummer flowers of white appear
from reddish branch tips. Columnar form and
moderate stature is stunning as a single specimen or
massed as a natural hedge or screen. Evergreen.
White/Cr H 10-15'
W 3-5'
Summer
Part Sun
Part
Shade
Grevillea
Grevillea rosmarinifolia Crimson Villea
Proteaceae (The Protea Family)
Zone 8-10
An intriguing evergreen shrub from the family that
brings us proteas and banksias, this grevillea blooms
in winter with red clusters of tubular flowers. Plant in
a warm sunny spot of your garden in well-drained
soil. Protect from drying or cold winter winds or in a
cool room or sunroom in cold climates.
Orange
H 2-4'
W 2-3'
Fall - Spring
Sun
Grevillea victoriae
Royal Grevillea
Proteaceae (The Protea Family)
Zone 8-10
An intriguing evergreen shrub from the family that
brings us proteas and banksias, this grevillea blooms
in winter with orange-red clusters of tubular flowers.
Plant in a warm sunny spot of your garden in welldrained soil. Protect from drying or cold winter winds.
Orange
H 4-6'
W 3-5'
Winter
Sun
Shrubs p. 9
Hebe
Hebe ‘Pretty ‘n Pink’
Scrophulariaceae (The Figwort Family)
Zone 7-10
This is a fantastic hebe with short spikes of pink
flowers and a low-growing, groundcovering habit.
The foliage is rich dark green but flushed with rich
burgundy when young. The plant is dense, spreads
to three feet wide while only rising to one foot tall,
and is extremely useful for interesting plant
combinations in the garden and in containers.
Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Prune lightly to
shape.
Pink
H 8-12"
W 2-3'
Summer
Full - Part Sun
Sun
Hebe
Hebe anomala 'Purpurea Nana'
Scrophulariaceae (The Figwort Family)
Zone 7
A favourite at the nursery: this very effective
evergreen shrub of unusual and striking texture
forms a mound of tiny green leaves with plum-tinted
tips. Flowers are palest pinky-white. H. anomala is
the hardiest hebe we have yet seen, surviving
winters that have gone to minus 17 degrees Celsius
without a scratch!
White/Cr H 2-4'
W 2-3'
Late Summer
Loves Sun
Sun
Wollemi Pine
Wollemia nobilis
Araucariaceae (The Araucaria Family)
Zone 7?
Known only from Jurassic fossils and thought to
have gone extinct with the dinosaurs, the Wollemi
pine was found in 1994 by a park ranger in an
innaccessible canyon of Wollemi National Park,
Australia -- the botanical equivalent of finding a
Tyranosaurus rex alive today! It has beautiful and
intriguing bluish green foliage. Grow it as a
houseplant (like its cousin the Norfolk Island pine) or
outside. Recent trials suggest hardiness to zone 7b.
Supplies are good for 2008 but spotty for 2009.
H 40' and W 10' and
Sun
Part Sun
Grasses p. 10
5
Grasses
Carex buchananii ‘Red Rooster’
Leatherleaf Sedge
Cyperaceae (The Sedge Family)
Zone 7-10
This richly coloured selection of leatherleaf sedge
has wiry, orangey-reddish-brown foliage in a nice
vase shape. Great in containers and, because of its
texture and shape, great in combination with almost
anything! Originally from New Zealand.
Green
H 12-24"
W 8-12"
Spring
Full - Part Sun
Sun
Vines p. 11
6
Vines
Billardiera longiflora
Appleberry
Pittosporaceae (The Pittosporum Family)
Zone 8-10
The fragrant, tubular, yellow flowers of this
evergreen vine become attractive and edible purpleblue berries after pollination. Plant in a warm
sheltered location. From the Australian states of New
South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria.
Yellow
H 4-6'
W 2-3'
Summer
Loves Sun
Full - Part Sun