GARDENING WITH GRAHAM SHIEFF
Spectacular winter colour! Flame vine - pyrostegia venusta. Sometimes referred to as the “Chinese cracker flower” the flame vine is a native to Brazil. This highly attractive evergreen climber is presently smothered in intense orange tubular flowers. Its flowering season begins around late autumn and continues until early spring. The flame vine prefers our sub tropical Auckland climate and excels in an open, sunny location. This versatile climber can be planted in a large container like a half whiskey barrel, so, if you live in an apartment with limited garden space you could place a container on the balcony and support the vine with wire or on a frame.
When planting, remember to add peat moss and slow release fertiliser to the soil and stake each tree for support.
Titoki or alectryon excelsa is a native to New Zealand and not only grows into a stunning specimen tree but is extensively used to form a hedge for privacy.
Lilly pilly or eugenia ventenati is one of the most popular evergreen trees grown for privacy within the Auckland region. Apart from its fast growth habit and dense form the lilly pilly shows off attractive bronze/red foliage throughout the year. Like the titoki and karo, lilly pilly can be easily trimmed to the height you desire. It has the potential to reach, a height of 6m - 8m so is ideal if you wish to block out an unsightly building.
If grown as a specimen tree the titoki can reach a height of up to eight metres within 15 years but, if grown as a hedge or pleached, it responds favourably to trimming.
Lilly pilly is vulnerable to attack from masses of tiny insects called psyllid which congregate on the trees’ leaves and suck the goodness out of the foliage. This ravaging insect can decimate the lilly pilly so it’s critical that you spray your hedge quarterly with an organic insecticide like pyrethrum.
You can therefore maintain your hedge at whatever height you prefer.
Exquisite groundcover camellia Camellia 'Quintessence' is an amazing low-growing miniature camellia that produces adorable semi double creamy white flowers from late autumn to spring.
Planting for privacy Winter is an ideal time to plant trees for privacy and several evergreen specimens can be grown to form a perfect screen.
When planting, space the trees at two metre intervals and stake them to offer support. Titoki can be planted in semi shade to full sun. Pleaching enables you to plant small shrubs like clivia or buxus below the taller specimens. Karo or pittosporum crassifolium is an extremely robust New Zealand native tree that can withstand the elements in difficult coastal locations. Karo grows very well in urban gardens too. It’s an evergreen that can reach six metres when mature but, like the titoki, can be grown as a dense hedge for screening purposes. This beauty is resistant to most pests and diseases and is easily maintained requiring two trims annually when grown as a hedge. Attractive, small star-shaped, maroon flowers appear early in spring and have a beautiful scent. Once the flowers have been pollinated seeds are produced within vanilla-coloured fruit pods.
Quintessence prefers a garden position with filtered sunlight and free-draining quality soil. For optimum results add a little flowers of sulphur to the soil surrounding the plant and gently work it in. This little stunner looks impressive when planted en masse beneath taller camellias, rhododendrons, magnolias or other acid-loving shrubs and small trees. Try growing a Quintessence in a hanging basket but make certain it’s protected from direct sunlight. Intriguing lime The kaffir lime also known as the makrut lime is a citrus fruit tree native to tropical Asia including India, Thailand and Malaysia.
To encourage a karo hedge to form the best shape keep the hedge trimmed on top as this will ensure dense growth from ground level upwards.
Its fruit and leaves are extensively used in Southeast Asian cuisine and its essential oil is used in the production of perfume. The kaffir can be easily grown in containers, pots or in conservatories. Try adding kaffir lime leaves to your recipe when cooking Thai green curry or other Asian dishes. (GRAHAM SHIEFF) PN
The karo, when in bloom attracts birds including our fascinating tui.
M: 021 997 743, www.gardenhelp.co.nz
100 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2016
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)