Pumpkins and gourds at Harris Nursery, Tsawwassen in B.C.
October Garden Chores
Gourds galore!
In This Issue
The trees of Hatley Park, Victoria, BC show off their beautiful profiles and fall colours.
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Garden ClassesClick on the green links to register.
Pruning the Right Way: Sat. Oct 29, 9:30am - 3:30pm, $59.99 few seats left
Lawn Care: Sat, Oct 15, 9:30am - noon, $29.99 Lawn Alternatives: Sat, Oct 15, 1:30 - 4:30pm, $29.99 Getting Ready for Fall: Sat, Oct 22 2022, 9:30 am - 3:30pm, $59.99 Location: Credo Christian High School 21846 52 Ave Langley |
The winged seeds (samaras, keys) of a maple tree.
Fellow Gardeners..
October's flowers will soon fade.
Even after a September that resembled summer, not the onset of autumn, the garden is winding down. In preparation for winter, plant colours are slowly changing in tandem with the waning sun and cooler temperatures.
In the Pacific Northwest, October is the perfect time of the year to prepare for next years’ garden. What we do and don’t do now makes a difference to next year’s successes and maintenance. This doesn’t mean we have to rake it clean of all debris and to cut everything back. That’s what not to do. Instead, it’s time to protect plants from the cold, the rain, heavy snow and fluctuating temperatures by following nature’s example. Autumn is such a busy time, so I garden with sustainability in mind. A garden that takes care of itself gives me more time to enjoy it and to drink more tea. One of the easiest ways to improve soil and plant health, while reducing maintenance, is to take advantage of all the fallen autumn leaves. They make a nutritious and free mulch when spread thickly on top of the soil and around plants. There are fewer weeds, and soil loss due to erosion is eliminated. Plants also appreciate having a leafy blanket to ward off the cold whilst earthworms and other beneficial insects have a colourful confetti feast to feed on. I know the list of garden chores is lengthy this month. I do my best to get everything done, but at least I am not fretting over raking the leaves off the beds and pruning every plant back. My role as a gardener is not to dominate and control my garden, but to facilitate nature, like watering the garden when the rain fails to fall. I bow to her wisdom, as I am just a mere mortal. Good luck with the garden this month. Take care of your knees and back. Hope October is good to you. Cheers, Amanda P.S. Oh, and since we haven't had a good rain for well over a month, please, please water your garden, and don't forget the trees. You're plants will thank you. Hope this plea doesn't encourage a deluge of rain now... that would be just so typical - sigh. (Don't blame me if it does.) 
Last year's garden ready for winter.
Hatley's Japanese Garden
Hatley's Japanese Garden in October.
This article features pictures of the many trees, some of them dating back to when Hatley Castle was first built in 1908. Click here or on the picture to be redirected.
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Not happy with your garden? Need help figuring what to do, how to do it and when? Amanda will answer your question help you make the most of your garden. Make an appointment here for a consultation.
Serving Metro Vancouver. Hatley's Trees
I bet this beech tree has some stories to tell.
If you love beautiful gardens, you'll love the Japanese Gardens at Hatley Estates. Click here or on the picture to see the many pictures from my visit in October.
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October Garden Stars
Ornamental kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, biennial, 1’x 15”, grown for foliage, sun to part shade. Zones 2-9. Click on the pic for more.
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Chinese lantern, Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii, herbaceous perennial, 24”-34” x 24”-36”, underground runners are invasive, sun to part shade. Zones 3 to 9.
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Strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, broadleaf evergreen, 10’-20’ tall & wide, fragrant flowers Oct to Dec, fruit resembles strawberries. Zones 7 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus quincefolia, clinging, woody deciduous vine, 30', blue berries, fall colour, sun to part shade. Zones 3 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
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Beautyberry, Callicarpa bodinieri, North American deciduous shrub, 6-10', sun to part shade. Zones 6-8. Click on the pic for more.
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Japanese Stewartia, Stewartia pseudocamellia, deciduous tree, 20 - 40' tall, 10 - 25' wide, sun part shade, attractive bark, white camellia-like flowers June to July. Zones 5-8. Click on pic for more.
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Sourwood, sorrel tree, Oxydendrum arboreum, deciduous tree, 20 – 50’ x 10-25’, fragrant summer blooms, sun, part shade, fall colour. Zone 5 to 9.
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Honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos, deciduous tree, 60’-80’ x 60’-80’, sun, thorny, inconspicuous flowers followed by twisted seed pods, fall colour. Zones 3 to 8.
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Japanese maple, Acer palmatum, deciduous tree, height, width, shape varies on species, cultivar, sun to part shade, shade from west sun. Zones 5 to 9. Click on pic for more.
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Katsura, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, deciduous tree, 40 -60’ x 25 – 50’, sun, part shade, fall colour. Zones 4 to 8.
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Hardy cyclamen, Cyclamen hederifolium, 6-8” x 12”, herbaceous perennial, blooms Sept – Oct, part shade, mulch. Zones 5 to 9.
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Persian Ironwood, Parrotia persica, deciduous tree, zones 4-8, 20 to 40' tall to 30' wide, full sun, interesting bark.
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Chrysanthemums, herbaceous perennial, 1-3’ x 1-2’, many flower colours and flowers from September to frost. Zones 5 to 9.
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Autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale, corm, 6 - 10”, spring leaves, fall flowers, sun to shade. Zones 4 to 8. Click on pic for more.
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Dwarf winged burning bush, Euonymus alatus 'Compactus', deciduous shrub, 9 to 10' tall and wide, sun to part shade. Zones 4-8. Click on pic for more.
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October PLANT COMBO
Butchart Gardens displays the colours of fall.
Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC., knows how to make colourful seasonal displays. The autumnal colours of purple, orange, maroon and yellow work together, but more importantly is the repetition of colour and form. The foreground grassy plants are black and green mondo grass (Ophiopogon sp.), with purple and white ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) tucked inbetween. Orange and yellow chrysanthemums alternate behind the kale. A line of green dracaenas and 'Purple Majesty' millet (Pannisetum glaucum 'Purple Majesty'). All these plants prefer full sun with good drainage. This is a seasonal display as everything will be removed at the end of the season and replaced.
plant police
Bindweed wraps around plants shutting off light and air, which will kill the plant if it isn't controlled.
Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), is often confused morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea), but morning glory is not invasive and bindweed definitely is. Bindweed is a twining vine with arrow shaped foliage and white or pinkish trumpet shaped flowers, similar to petunias. It's found from the far north to the deep, tropical south. It knows no boundaries. Bindweed tends to grow nestled at the base of a plant. This makes using a herbicide impossible as it will kill the plant it's climbing on. Also because it's so close, it is difficult to grab onto and pull out.
Don't try and dig out bindweed; it makes it spread even more as each piece of root and underground stems re-roots. Herbicides work, but you have to keep applying every 7 days and you must be careful not to hit desirable plants. The best way I have found is to keep on pulling them out and not digging them up. Try to get below the soil surface with your fingers, grab on and firmly pull. You won't get it all, as their white runners go on forever, but do keep pulling. Don't give them a chance to grow. This is the same approach used to rid the garden of horsetail weeds. For more info click on Horsetail, the Weed. Good luck, and may the force be with you. 
Don't dig up bindweed (morning glory) and horsetail, just keep pulling and they will finally give up.
Pruning in October
Remove suckers on tree trunks as indicated above.
Just a wee bit of pruning is needed this time of year. Don’t go crazy hacking everything back. Start off removing any dead, diseased and broken branches. Next, remove any suckers from the base of the tree, along the trunk and branches. Also remove watersprouts that grow horizontally along branches. Lastly remove any limbs that are hanging down too low and are in the way.
Why Do Leaves Change Colour?
A Legacy sugar maple.
Autumnal colours of red, orange and yellow, indicate that winter is fast approaching. Short days, long nights coupled with lower temperatures initiates the colour change. Green leaves turn colour as their chlorophyll, which is responsible for the green colour and making food for the plant, starts to degrade. Once that happens other less dominant colours are revealed. The sunnier the fall, the more brilliant the colours. For a list of colourful fall plants click on Colourful Fall Plants.
Plants for Autumn Colour
A Japanese maple donning it's autumnal dress.
Majestic trees with colourful leaves are the epitome of autumn. From big to small, there's a perfect one for every garden. Not to be outdone, there's shrubs that stop a clock with their riotous colours. Since it is the end of the season, all sorts of plants are loaded with gem-coloured berries. For those with more demure tastes, there's ornamental grass with their feather plumes, and plants with colourful stems. For more information click on Colourful Fall Plants.
Those Darn Leaves!
Rake leaves from the lawn, but save them as they have many uses.
Many people hate the mess their trees make in the autumn and some even cut them down – just for that reason.
Those that curse fallen fall foliage complain about raking the mountains of leaves but there’s no need. Only rake or mow them off the lawn – not the garden beds. Leave them on top of the soil but brush them off shrubs. As the leaves breakdown, they improve the soil, provide nutrients, reduce weeds and erosion. A three-inch layer of fall leaves is ideal. Compact the leaves by walking on them then hose them down to keep them in place and to help with decomposition. Use leftover foliage in the compost for the brown layer and store the rest for later use. Leaf mould: It’s an easy way to turn fall foliage into a rich and nutritious soil amendment. It’s not necessary to shred them with a lawn mower but it helps speed up the process. Place the leaves in a big open pile or place in a sealed garbage back with some holes poked in. Be patient, as it takes about a year for it to decompose, but it’s worth the wait. What about Buggy and Diseased Leaves? Use them but don’t place them around the mother plant or any other members of the same family. For example, big leaf maple foliage covered with powdery mildew will further contaminate the mother plant, however, it’s fine to place them around other plants that aren’t maples. October Lawns
This lawn has been cut too short and the clippings are too long.
Some TLC will go a long way if the lawn is not already buried under a layer of snow. Set the mower at 2.0 to 2.5 inches and mow when dry and frost free. Rake fall leaves onto garden beds or mow and bag them, then place on garden beds. Fertilize with a winterizer fertilizer, low in nitrogen (first #) and high in potash (last #) (ex:2-4-8). Apply Dolopril lime if needed after a pH test and on mossy lawns. Topdress with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of screened compost. Sow seeds on sparse areas. This is a good time to renovate and install new lawns either seed or sod. For more information click on Lawn Reno Seed & Sod
Frost: Keep off the grass when it is frozen as it breaks off the crowns, killings the plants, and certainly don’t mow. Click on the following links for more info: Lawn Care Basics - Lawn Maintenance Schedule - Mossy Lawns - Lawn Reno Seed & Sod - Lawn Grub Control. No Lawn Love-loss: If you are done trying to grow a green lawn, then consider other options such as ground covers, clover or hardscaping. For more ideas click on Lawn Alternatives October Veggie Gardens
A map of where you've planted your crops will come in handy next year for crop rotation.
Crop rotation: Before cleaning up spent crops, make a map of where crops were this year so you don’t plant the same crop in the same place next year. For more information click on Crop Rotation, Succession & Companion Planting.
Harvest: Gather any remaining crops and discard any unhealthy ones including those lying on the ground. If you are unsure when to harvest specific crops, click on Harvesting. Clean and tidy: Unlike garden beds, veggie gardens need to be cleaned of all debris. This reduces overwintering diseases and insects. The only exceptions are crops that are still viable and don’t mind the cold: Brussel sprouts, chard, cabbage, turnips, kale & carrots. Be vigilant cleaning up debris from tomato plants, including any fruit that are on the ground. Plant garlic! Select a well-drained, sunny site and add some compost, as they are heavy feeders. Break apart the cloves from the bulb and plant them 2 to 3 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart. Don’t forget to label! Harvest next summer. Cure winter squash: After harvesting acorn, spaghetti squash and pumpkins, wipe them down with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts of water. Cure for 4 to 5 days by placing them in a dry, warm, frost-free location.. Store at 10 to 15°C (50 to 60°F). Cover bare soil: Fallow beds lead to erosion, soil and nutrient loss so either cover with fall leaves, straw or shredded newspaper. It should be at least 2 inches deep, so it doesn't blow away. The thicker the better. I like to stomp it down then water it thoroughly to help keep it in place. 
Use fall leaves to cover veggie beds during the winter.
Winter Protection
Frost blankets are available at home hardware stores, garden centres, and dollar stores.
As we need protection from the cold, so do plants. Wrapping plants in plastic does not keep them warm. Imagine standing outside wrapped in plastic on a icy cold wintry day. Plants don’t like it either. Plastic also cuts off air, which leads to rot and diseases. Instead, wrap plants in fabric. Use numerous layers of burlap, old sheets, tablecloths or frost blankets available at garden centres.
Know your growing zone. In the Lower Mainland of BC, we are Zone 8. If you don’t know your hardiness zone, check with your local plant nursery and garden centre. They will also recommend hardy varieties for your area. Or check these resources online: Wiki Hardiness Zones, and North America Hardiness Zones. For more information on winter protection click on Winterize Your Garden. 
To protect roses, place soil on and around their crowns.
Dahlias, Tuberous Begonias, Cannas & Other Tender Plants
There's no need to buy cannas every year.
To store dahlias and gladiolus, dig them up after frost and store in a cool, frost-free location. For more details and pictures, click on Dahlias
Tuberous Begonias: Wait for the stems to naturally break off from the tubers then store in a cool, dark, frost-or details and accompanying pictures click on Tuberous Begonias Cannas: In the garden, cut back stems to a couple of inches when plants go dormant, or frost kills their tops. Shake or hose off soil, then place the rhizomes on newspapers to cure. Dust with cinnamon, then either wrap them in newspaper, or place them in a box filled with vermiculite, coir or clean potting soil. Keep potted cannas in their pots and store all cannas in a cool, frost-free basement or cellar. For more info click on Overwintering Tropical Plants Indoors. Fuchsias: Bring them inside in USDA growing zones 1 to 7. Either treat them as houseplants by placing in front of a sunny window or induce dormancy by placing in a cool dry place, 4-7°C (45-55°F) - a basement works well. Water every 3 to 4 weeks to slightly moisten the soil. In zones 8 to 9, bury them in the garden. For more info click on Overwintering Tropical Plants Indoors |
October Garden Chores
The Japanese Garden at Hatley Estates. Click on the pic for info & more pics.
Click on the coloured links to be redirected.
Fall Garden Clean-up: It's difficult to know where to start, what order to do things and how to do them. Here's some tips to help with the process Fall Garden Chores.
Add Fall Colour: If your garden is just too green during the fall, get thee to a local garden centre and pick up some autumnal beauties. For a list of colourful fall plants click on Colourful Fall Plants. Planting Time: Autumn is the ideal time of the year to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. For more on successful planting methods click on Planting Know-How 
A dusting of cinnamon works as a natural fungicide when planting bulbs.
Plant spring flowering bulbs. Purchase bulbs now for best selection. To prevent critters from eating tulip bulbs, place them in a bulb pan covered in chicken wire, or plant them in planters then cover with chicken wire. For more information click on Spring Flowering Bulbs.
Once daylily leaves, and other perennials yellow, cut them back to a few inches.
Perennials: Once the leaves of daylilies, irises, daisies and other perennials turn yellow, cut them back to 6 inches. Avoid cutting them down to the ground as the stems provide winter protection and a place for overwintering beneficial insects.
Perennials: Divide overgrown, old and tired iris, daylilies and other perennials. Cut back yellowing and dead foliage, chop it up and drop it around the plant. Don’t cut off the seed heads of coneflowers, sedums & ornamental grasses as they provide seeds for the birds and add winter interest. 
Add winter pansies wherever you want.
Annuals/Bedding Plants: Remove spent petunias and other bedding plants from garden beds and planters.
Winter Bedding Plants: Plant winter pansies, primroses, ornamental kale and cyclamen in the garden and in planters. 
Make new beds easily and quickly with sheet mulching (lasagna gardening).
New Beds: Need more space to plant more plants without digging up the lawn? Make new beds easily and quickly with the lasagna gardening method.
The black claw-like calendula seeds are hardy and often overwinter.
Plants that Reseed Themselves: The seeds from snapdragons, nasturtiums, foxgloves, poppies, hollyhocks, other annuals and biennials are hardy. They overwinter in temperate climates, like British Columbia, so allow plants to drop their seeds and they will germinate in spring.
Save Seeds: Save your money, experiment and have fun by collecting garden seeds. Wait until seed pods and seeds turn brown, label and store. To learn more about collecting seeds click on Collecting Seeds 
Hibiscus and other tropical plants must be brought inside well before the first frost.
Overwintering Tender Plants: If you want to save your bougainvilleas and other tender plants for next year, bring them inside today. For more info, click on Overwintering Tropical Plants Indoors and Bananas & Palms
There are numerous options for upping your game with fall planters.
Fall/Winter Planters: After removing dead or dying annuals, bury some daffodils, tulips and other bulbs for spring colour. Follow up with ornamental kale, pansies, gourds. For all-season interest add evergreens: azaleas, pumilio mugo pine, blue star juniper, winter heathers as well as primroses and Lenten roses (hellebores). Don’t forget to add some funky branches. You can never go wrong with funky branches. For more information click on Container Growing.
Wrap planters to protect plant roots.
Protecting Container Plants: Remove all drainage trays underneath planters to allow free drainage. Place planted planters that aren't on display, in protective areas against the house, but water them if they get too dry. Or if you have a garden, sink the pots into the ground. Where winters are severe, insulate roots by wrapping the containers with bubble wrap, Styrofoam, blankets, mats etc. If there's room, add at least 3 inches of fallen leaves on top of the soil.
Storm Drains & Eaves: Remove fallen leaves and other debris to prevent overflowing eaves and flooded roads.
After a Storm: Have a good walkabout the garden and check along the road for broken and fallen limbs. Prune them off if you can reach or hire a certified arborist to do the job for you. Call Hydro if overhead lines are in jeopardy from broken branches, and certainly don’t attempt to do any pruning near hydro lines.
Compost: Be mindful what you put in your compost; it’s not a dumping ground for plant debris. Avoid seedy weeds, ones with runners, buggy and diseased plants, unless temperatures reach 60°C (140°F) for 2 weeks. Don’t put entire plants into the bin without cutting them up to pieces first. Turn the compost add water if needed and finish it off with 4-to-6-inch layer of fall leaves or strips of torn newspaper. For more on composting click on Composting 
A tidy shed is a thing of beauty.
Garden Shed/Greenhouse: Before the onset of winter and freezing temperatures, move fertilizers, dormant oil, lime sulfur and other garden products into a frost free and dry location. Once you have finished gardening for the year, clean and tidy the shed and the greenhouse, if applicable. This is also a reminder for me to do the same.
Outdoor Furniture: Before the rain, snow, windy and icy temperatures, bring in all soft outdoor furnishings such as pillows and rugs before they get mouldy. Move patio furniture inside into a protected location, or cover them. 
Clean off the mower deck before storing.
Lawn Mowers: If you are done mowing the lawn, it’s a good time to clean and sharpen the blades. Scrape off any caked-on grass on the mower deck. Remove the batteries on cordless mowers. For gas mowers, drain the gas tank, disconnect and clean. Store in a protected, dry location.
Tools & Hoses: Clean and put away your tools where it’s dry. Use Pam vegetable oil spray on pruning gear after cleaning. To learn more about pruning tools click on Pruning Tools. Once you no longer need your garden hoses (hose pipes), drain them, remove the nozzles and store in a frost-free location. 
Ponds: Fall clean up and winter prep is necessary for a healthy pond. To learn more click on Ponds in Winter.
Hummingbirds need a steady supply of fresh nectar over the winter.
Hummingbirds: If you are lucky enough to live where hummingbirds overwinter in the north, like British Columbia, click on Hummingbirds in Winter to learn some tricks and tips.
Birds: Birds really need help to get through the winter months. Provide them with stocked with fresh suet and seeds. 
A sticky trap stops caterpillars in their tracts.
Tree Banding: Stop forest tent caterpillars and other insects from crawling up tree trunks. Wrap a 6-inch-wide band of plastic wrap or foil backed pink insulation around tree trunks at a convenient height. For more details click on Plant Pests Part 2 - Controlling Insects
Roses
Secure climbing roses to their supports before the weather turns.
It was an accepted practice to cut back roses hard in the fall, but research and experience has proven that it’s not beneficial. Only remove one quarter of overall growth, no more. Remove dead flowers and canes, as well as diseased foliage from the plant and the ground. Cut back overly long stems to prevent the wind from catching the canes, which loosens their roots (windrock). Tie climbing roses to their supports securely. Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch around plants. To protect roses during winter, especially up north, mound a few inches of soil over the plant’s crown. Do you want more roses? Fall is the perfect time of the year to plant them. For more on pruning click on Pruning Roses. To select easy care roses click on Easy Roses.
Mushrooms/Toadstools
Toadstools are nature's decaying crew.
Mushrooms & Toadstools: Don’t worry when toadstools miraculously pop up in your garden and lawn. They are doing their job, breaking down dead tree roots or other underground organic matter.
When they pop up in the lawn, don't mow them down as it spreads the spores and scatters broken pieces. Just pick them up and discard them. This ensures that they are not eaten by children and animals, especially dogs, as they seem to like them. Both mushrooms and toadstools come in a vast array of sizes, colours and shapes. It’s often quite difficult to differentiate between edible wild mushrooms from toxic toadstools. Therefore, don’t eat them unless you know your fungi. October's Floral Arrangement
October's arrangement are the last of the summer flowers.
October's arrangement includes dahlias, colourful fall branches, the last of the roses are other fall flora. For a numbered guide to the specific flower names and for other arrangements go to Monthly Flower Arrangements
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Plant of the month
Glossy Abelia
Glossy abelias are well-behaved shrubs that flower for many months.
Flowers are pinkish-white and are fragrant.
Abelias flower from summer into late fall.
Pink new growth combines with the flower clusters.
October flowers
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Common Name: Glossy Abelia
Botanical Name: Abelia x grandiflora Form: upright, arching branches, multi-stemmed, twiggy Family: Caprifoliaceae Genus: Abelia Species: grandiflora Plant Type: broadleaf evergreen, semi-evergreen in colder zones Mature Size: 3-5 ft high and wide Growth: moderate to fast Origin: Italy, hybrid cross between A. uniflora and A. chinensis Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9, top growth dies down in Zone 5 but will often regrow from the roots. Foliage: simple, 1 inch leaves, half as wide, dentate leaf margins, deep green that turn bronze in fall Flowers: clusters of tubular pinkish white, bell-shaped, ¾”fragrant flowers, attracts butterflies late spring to late fall Fruit: capsule Exposure: full sun to partial shade Soil: moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral Uses: hedge, accent, border, foundation, specimen, planters, erosion control on slopes Propagation: softwood cuttings Pruning: after flowering Problems: not common: root rot, mildews, fungal leaf spot Cultivars: Dwarf Purple. leaves turn purple in autumn and are retained throughout winter, pink blooms, dense low growth to 3 ft. ‘Edward Goucher’, flowers a deeper pink and leaves less shiny than the glossy abelia, Grows 5ft x 5ft. Flowers from June to frost. Comments: Well-behaved, fall flowering shrubs are rare and very desirable, but this pretty shrub is often overlooked. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because abelias aren’t flashy nor bold, and they don’t have huge showy flowers, but don’t let that dissuade you from planting this versatile, well-behaved an attractive shrub. Although their flowers aren’t huge and flashy, they do have a plethora of them. They are tubular, star-shaped, 3/4" long, fragrant and are borne in pinkish clusters at the end of stems. Their flowering period lasts for months, starting from June or July and into November, peaking in autumn. Glossy abelias have many uses in the garden. They have copious amounts of twiggy stems covered in glossy, 1.25 inches long, oval leaves with pointed tips. Leaves turn a purplish bronze in autumn. |
In areas from USDA Zones 5 to 6, glossy abelias are not evergreen. Even though they might lose their leaves in fall, it doesn’t mean they are dead. It’s just the plant’s way of surviving the winter. When winters are harsh, abelias may die right back to their roots, but they will regrow – so don’t give up on them.
Abelias are perfect to use as hedging, screens and topiaries due to their dense twiggy growth, small foliage and flowers that don’t stop because they form on new growth. They are desirable foundation plants as they don’t get too big or unruly. Their deep green glossy leaves are perfect to use as background plants and their fragrant flowers are welcome anywhere in the garden.
Abelias are perfect to use as hedging, screens and topiaries due to their dense twiggy growth, small foliage and flowers that don’t stop because they form on new growth. They are desirable foundation plants as they don’t get too big or unruly. Their deep green glossy leaves are perfect to use as background plants and their fragrant flowers are welcome anywhere in the garden.
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THE GARDEN WEBSITE INDEX
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for the tropical Gardener
While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here.
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