Before starting the nursery, Mrs Michel operated a landscaping and construction business with her partner.
The business and the nursery now complement each other and run side-by-side.
Gardens on Archer specialises in everyday plants with the “odd weird and wonderful thing” thrown in.
Just because the weather is starting to get a bit drab doesn’t mean your garden needs to.
As we head into the cooler months some of our Australian natives really come into their own.
A few that are flowering now in the nursery, or soon will be, are some of my garden favourites:
Hardenbergia
Most commonly found as a climber or ground cover, these hardy Australian natives with their dark green foliage and sprays of pea-like flowers are about to start their annual show, with most varieties flowering from winter through spring they are suited to a full sun or lightly shaded position.
● Hardenbergia violacea ‘Mini Ha Ha’ is a small growing shrubby variety great for screening or as a dense groundcover growing approximately 50 cm x100 cm with deep violet flowers.
● Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’ – possibly the most well-known of the hardenbergia family. This fast-growing climber is excellent for covering fences and trellises. A mass of violet- mauve flowers growing 2-3m x 3m.
● Hardenbergia violacea ‘Free N Easy’ - very similar to Happy Wanderer in its habit with lacy white flowers suffused with a lavender pink.
● Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Duo’ – for when you can’t decide between purple and white, why not have both? A combination of two flowering Hardenbergias to give you both white and purple flowers in the one spot, growing 2-3 m x 3 m.
Crowea
These beauties have an abundance of flowers generally preferring a little bit of shade but should tolerate full sun if adequately watered.
● Crowea saligna ‘Large Flower’ - as the name suggests this variety has quite a large pink flower for such a compact little shrub, growing approximately 1 m x .5 m and flowering from summer through autumn and winter.
● Crowea exalata x saligna ‘Cooper’s Classic’ - with an abundance of deep pink flowers this little guy grows approximately 60 cm x 60 cm. Its compact size lends itself to being a great potted specimen also. Flowering from late summer through autumn.Correa - commonly referred to as native Fuchsia these compact little shrubs with their masses of bell-shaped flowers are a must. They definitely offer “bang for your buck” when it comes to profuse flowering as well as attracting birds into the garden. With a variety for most seasons, they are a tough shrub with low water requirements. Most varieties will suit a full sun to part shade position. Some of the varieties in bud or flower now include:
● Correa pulchella ‘Orange Glow’ – a compact little mounding plant only reaching around 30 cm in height, flowering from autumn through winter with vibrant orange flowers.
● Correa ‘Just a Touch’ – a slightly larger growing variety to approximately 1 m high, creamy white coloured bells in autumn and winter.
● Correa pulchella ‘Autumn Blaze’ – suited to use as a groundcover growing only 30 cm tall but up to 1.2 m wide again flowering through autumn/winter with bright orange bells.
● Correa alba - known as White Correa, with silvery green foliage and white flowers, growing to approximately 1.5 m x 1.5 m .
Try adding one of these Australian natives to your garden this autumn.
Happy Gardening!
- Michelle Michel, Gardens on Archer
Gardens on Archer is located at 535 Archer Rd, Kialla.
If you would like to get in contact with Michelle, send her an email at michelle@gardensonarcher.com.au
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