| Description | Melissa officinalis 'Lime'
Lime Balm is a perennial herb that shares many characteristics with its cousins lemon balm and mint. It is as easy to grow with a distinct lime fragrance. When planted in the garden it enjoys a moist soil with dappled light. Like Mint, Lime Balm can grow quite quickly, spreading to its garden borders, so be sure to plant it in a contained garden bed or pot should this be an issue. Also like its cousins, Lime Balm will die down or back completely in the colder months, but rest assured it will return every year as lush and leafy as ever!
Lime Balm can be used in many culinary dishes as well as dried for tea or pot pourri! And if none of these tickle your fancy, this plant is absolutely gorgeous along garden edges in Cottage, Potted or Culinary gardens, adding that gorgeous lime fragrance when you brush past.
4"/10cm pot size. | Parthenocissus tricuspidata
Boston Ivy is an incredibly vigorous deciduous climber that evenly covers any surface it is grown over, making it a very popular option for hiding unsightly spots.
- Large glossy, green three-pronged leaves
- Foliage turns bright crimson in the autumn, standing out dramatically in the landscape
- Tolerates average soils, growing best in well drained loamy soil
| Cotinus Coggygria, Smoketree
Purple Smoke Bush is a gem in the garden thanks to it's unique blend of colours that change throughout the seasons. A large deciduous shrub or small tree, its beautiful eye-catching Spring foliage is green overlaid with purple. Summer brings deep purple foliage that then turns deep orange and bronze in a burst of glory for an Autumn show.
Purple Smokebush gets its name from the clouds of smoke-like purple and pink "flowers" it produces in early Summer. These are very beautiful themselves, and are prized along with the foliage by florists. Grows best in full sun to partial shade and it is tolerant of drought and most soils, making it a great addition to many gardens.
10" pot size. | Buxus sempervirens suffruticosa
A glossy green, rounded leaf box hedging plant
• Used for low to medium hedging and topiary
• Planted in the garden, along borders, pathways and in pots
• Tolerates shady positions |
| Content | | Why buy Boston Ivy?
Boston Ivy is one of our most popular climbers, and rightfully so. It suits Melbourne's weather perfectly. It is a self-adhering climber which grows by clinging to the wall or surface, but without damaging stonework or invading cracks. It can be used to cover unsightly fences, or add a lush layer of green over masonry.
Boston Ivy is deciduous and provides a phenomenal autumn display of oranges and red hues. It not only makes a fantastic addition to any garden, but is also a very cost effective way to add colour and beauty to bland areas.
What else do I need to know about buying Boston Ivy plants?
Boston Ivy is a very hardy and versatile climber and it can grow almost anywhere and under any conditions. However it loves a hot sunny spot with loose fertile soil and plenty of water, and in these ideal conditions it will grow to cover anything in no time.
Boston Ivy can also grow in shade, in pots, in poor soils and confined garden beds. However, if conditions are less than perfect, expect it to grow more slowly. The trick is to plant it more densely to achieve ideal coverage if this is the case.
Plant one plant every metre in ideal conditions, or more plants closer together if conditions are less than ideal.
Check out our Boston Ivy fact sheet page for more information. | | If your looking for a small hedging plant then this is the one for you. Dutch Box is a dwarf box that grows with dense, glossy green foliage and works well in shaded areas.
Dutch Box also likes part shade in moist, well-drained soil, but will tolerate a wide range of soils and conditions. It should be clipped to maintain a formal shape.
Slight yellow discolouration of the leaves on Dutch box may occur during cooler months, but don't worry, this is normal! This is remedied by applying with Dolomite Lime, and a slow release fertilizer a month later. Or you can just leave your Dutch Box alone and it will come back lovely and green and spring.
Having trouble choosing the right Box Hedge for your garden? Click here! |
| Additional information |
| botanical name |
Melissa officinalis "lime"
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| planting distance |
For hedge or screen: 1m
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| conditions |
Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil, very frost hardy
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| height x width |
3m x 3m
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| features |
Attractive rounded purple foliage with a red tinge in spring and autumn, inflorescences appear in summer covering the bush like a cloud of smoke
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| conditions |
Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil
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| landscape use |
Specimen, feature, color contrast
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| botanical-name |
Buxus sempervirens "Suffruticosa"
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| height-x-width |
Up to 1m, but usually kept quite low as slow growing
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| planting-distance |
For border: 5 or 6 per metre
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| features |
An evergreen dwarf shrub with glossy green oval foliage and a dense growth habit
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| conditions |
Sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil, but will tolerate a wide range of soils and conditions, clip to maintain formal shape
|
| landscape-use |
Edges and borders, topiary, pots and general garen planting, widely used in formal gardens
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