18 MAY 2019 GARDENING AUSTRALIA
MOTHER’S DAY
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
This fragrant, old-world favourite never
goes out of fashion. French lavender,
and Spanish (also called Italian) lavender
(right), are drought and heat tolerant, and
fl ower repeatedly throughout the year.
The smaller-growing English lavender is
sweetly scented, with less camphor, but
blooms only in summer and is most suited
to cool areas. On the whole, lavender
needs free-draining soil and doesn’t like
humidity, although French lavender is
more tolerant of hot and wet conditions.
To keep plants dense, trim back lightly
after fl owering but don’t cut into the hard
wood. The fl owers and leaves retain their
fragrance when dried, and Mum can use
thesetoscentlinenandrepelmoths.
30cm–1.8m 30cm–1m full sun
Guzmania bromeliad
(Guzmania lingulata)
These shade-loving, rainforest epiphytes have vibrant red, yellow,
orange or purple central bracts that look like stars and can last
for up to four months. Guzmania can be planted beneath trees in
tropical and subtropical areas but elsewhere should be confi ned to
containers in a rich, free-draining mix. They need heat and humidity,
but can be grown indoors in warm, well-lit areas as far south as
Melbourne. Provide water in their reservoir, where the leaves form
a ‘cup’ towards the base of the plant, and mist regularly in warm
weather. The plants will die after fl owering but they’ll have produced
‘pups’ that can be cut from the mother plant and re-potted – another
value-addedgiftforthemumwho’sadabhandatpropagating.
30cm–1m 30–80cm shade/indoorsBEFORE YOU BUY
Consider the following before
settlingonaplantforyourmum
(oranyoneelse,forthatmatter!)
Does your mum have a garden
orwillsheneedtokeepthe
plantinapot?
Willitliveinsideorout?
Howbigwillitgrow?
Will the plant look after itself
or require regular maintenance
to keep it healthy?