Strap Leaf Garden Superstars
Episode: #2 17/03/07
Presenter: Neville Passmore
When choosing drought tough specimens for a new garden or perhaps a garden that is having a makeover, the value of strap leaf plants really comes to the fore. With sword like foliage grasses and kangaroo paws around it, it can create an attractive and practical groundcover effect.
The shape and softness of the leaf make them ideal for windy locations, as the blade just follows the direction of the breeze and can exist unstressed where woody shrubs would cop a hiding.
Taller plants which have similar dispositions include palms and the dracaena or Dragon Trees add a tropical feel to a garden as well.
Some thirty years ago in New Zealand a particularly lovely hybrid cabbage tree was discovered which had wine red, weeping foliage and a most unusual base branching growth habit.
The “Red Fountain” is one of the most useful landscape feature plants Neville has seen in years, and since its release a couple of years ago has gone straight to the top of the international popularity poll.
The beautiful foliage adds a splash of colour to a garden bed just like a brushstroke of paint on an artist’s canvas. In this way you can paint wine red highlights into garden beds giving them wonderful interest. It forms large clumps that are ideal when planted out on banks andborders.
The shape of the leaf works like that of a grass, but there is a woody stem at the base which gives this plant the ability to handle dryness once it has established a solid root system.
One of the best ways of using the “Red Fountain” is to plant it in a pot. It will spread out to fill the container and make a portable burst of colour for full sun or even deep shaded spots.
The flowers are a surprising feature of the “Red Fountain” they are a light mauve colour; they also have perfume which would smell lovely if picked for a vase for an indoor display.
Old leaves tend to be covered over by newer ones, and being disease resistant and not favoured by insect pest means very little maintenance is required. This is one plant that’s on my list of must haves for my new garden.
“Red Fountain” can be seen as a Clayton’s water feature for the garden; the one you have when you haven’t got a water fountain.
One of the most remarkable new garden plants available.Colour, form and habit all go to ensure that this plant is one of the most asked for new plants available.Striking burgundy strap-like leaves help make it stand out in any garden, patio or mixed container. Very short stems and cascading foliagemake Red Fountain a real winner.
For further information on the Cordyline Red Fountain visit the Anthony Tesselaar International website
www.tesselaar.com
Presenter: Neville Passmore
When choosing drought tough specimens for a new garden or perhaps a garden that is having a makeover, the value of strap leaf plants really comes to the fore. With sword like foliage grasses and kangaroo paws around it, it can create an attractive and practical groundcover effect.
The shape and softness of the leaf make them ideal for windy locations, as the blade just follows the direction of the breeze and can exist unstressed where woody shrubs would cop a hiding.
Taller plants which have similar dispositions include palms and the dracaena or Dragon Trees add a tropical feel to a garden as well.
Some thirty years ago in New Zealand a particularly lovely hybrid cabbage tree was discovered which had wine red, weeping foliage and a most unusual base branching growth habit.
The “Red Fountain” is one of the most useful landscape feature plants Neville has seen in years, and since its release a couple of years ago has gone straight to the top of the international popularity poll.
The beautiful foliage adds a splash of colour to a garden bed just like a brushstroke of paint on an artist’s canvas. In this way you can paint wine red highlights into garden beds giving them wonderful interest. It forms large clumps that are ideal when planted out on banks andborders.
The shape of the leaf works like that of a grass, but there is a woody stem at the base which gives this plant the ability to handle dryness once it has established a solid root system.
One of the best ways of using the “Red Fountain” is to plant it in a pot. It will spread out to fill the container and make a portable burst of colour for full sun or even deep shaded spots.
The flowers are a surprising feature of the “Red Fountain” they are a light mauve colour; they also have perfume which would smell lovely if picked for a vase for an indoor display.
Old leaves tend to be covered over by newer ones, and being disease resistant and not favoured by insect pest means very little maintenance is required. This is one plant that’s on my list of must haves for my new garden.
“Red Fountain” can be seen as a Clayton’s water feature for the garden; the one you have when you haven’t got a water fountain.
One of the most remarkable new garden plants available.Colour, form and habit all go to ensure that this plant is one of the most asked for new plants available.Striking burgundy strap-like leaves help make it stand out in any garden, patio or mixed container. Very short stems and cascading foliagemake Red Fountain a real winner.
For further information on the Cordyline Red Fountain visit the Anthony Tesselaar International website
www.tesselaar.com
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