This weekend why not take a drive to Central Queensland high country, from Mount Morgan to Wowan. It is a very pleasant drive plus these townships will give a great display of flowering shrubs in the town’s home gardens.
Plus the local Cafes and Hotels could provide great meals and in doing so you are supporting the local businesses. Last Wednesday I attended a meeting in Mount Morgan and travelled to the town a couple of hours early to look at what is in bloom at the moment.
Last month I did the same in Wowan. Each year the Wowan Show is one of the country Shows in the state and every year has a massive horticultural display. As was the floral beauty of Wowan I love one the features of Wowan, the avenues of Eucalypts that line the road to the show grounds.
The following are some of blooming great plants flowering that you will see blooming in Mount Morgan and Wowan this week.
Adhatoda vasica or Adulsa is a dense, evergreen shrub with large lance-shaped leaves. White tubular flowers are formed on short spikes that are attractive to Butterflies and Birds to the garden. Most parts of this plant have bio-medical values. Adhatoda vasica grows in a variety of conditions from a sunny to part-shades positions including Western gardens.
Buddleia Pink Delight is an evergreen medium shrub with huge spikes of showy pink scented flowers in summer. The combination of the pink flowers and the large silvery foliage makes this plant stand out in most gardens. It provides good shelter and can attract butterflies to the garden. It will grow in most positions in the garden, but likes good drainage.
Clerodendrum ugandense or Blue butterfly Bush is sprawling shrub with unusual blue flowers. The flowers sport two shades of blue and truly resemble butterflies, especially the way they flock around the plant. The flowers of this plant are attractive to both butterflies and birds. A native of dry East Africa Clerodendrum ugandense will grow to about 2m tall.
Ervatamia coronaria or Mock Gardenia is a beautiful tropical shrub growing around 2m high by 1m wide. This shrub is suitable for most positions in the garden and can be heavily pruned. It will flower throughout the year with lightly perfumed white flowers that covering the shrubs like snow.
Galphimia glauca or Golden Shower is a fast growing, evergreen medium shrub to 2m with masses of beautiful yellow star-shaped flowers during spring and summer. It prefers well-drained soil in full sun but will tolerate some shade. It is frost and drought tolerant and is also suitable for most inland locations around Central Queensland.
Grevillea Firesprite is one of the most spectacular grevilleas available to local gardeners, with its candle-like dark red flowers that will appear almost all year round. Growing 3m high, this shrub is very suitable to the Central Queensland area, as both parent plants are local native species, one being Grevillea venusta from Byfield, and the other Grevillea longistyla from the Blackdown Tablelands.
Melaleuca laterita or Robyn Red-Breast is a small upright shrub 1.5m x 1m with bright green foliage. The flowers are as the common name states bright orange in colour, but there are variations in colour shades. The Bottlebrush like flowers are up to 8cm long and can appear throughout the year. For maximum growth a sunny well-drained spot is required.
Pandorea jasminoides Charisma is a vigorous climber with luxurious dark green and yellow variegated leaves with clusters of bell shaped pink flowers with maroon to mauve centres. Pandorea jasminoides Charisma will add a pretty tropical display to the garden as well as being hardy and easy to maintain.
Plumbago indica or Pink Plumbago is an evergreen shrub with light green soft foliage. Long arching iridescent Phlox like pink flowers on spikes occur most of the year. This versatile shrub will grow up to 1.5 metres in a part shaded well-drained position. It can be grown as a formal hedging plant or as feature in a shaded garden.
Westringea Sea Mist is an attractive shrub with attractive narrow golden variegated narrow shrub. This variegated form of Westringea Wynyabbie Gem will grow about 1.5m tall by 1.5 m high. Clusters of small lilac-mauve flowers appear mostly in Spring but will also spot flowers throughout the year. It is a great plant for coastal gardens withstanding salt and wind beautifully and is also tolerant of frost and drought. This shrub would be one of hardiest variegated shrubs you could grow in this region.
These two towns are definitely places you’re going to want to visit, maybe a Sunday afternoon?
