Lisa's Spring Favourites 2025
Discover three exceptional plants handpicked by Lisa for their stunning spring performance and suitability for our Ballarat climate.
Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset'
Origin: Native to South Africa's Cape region.
Height & Width: Grows 8-10 feet (2.4-3m) tall and 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4m) wide.
Evergreen or Deciduous: Evergreen shrub.
Growing Tips: Prefers full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic soil (loam or sand). Drought tolerant once established. Avoid phosphorus-rich fertilizers. Prune to maintain shape and encourage bushiness. Excellent as screens, hedges, or cut flowers.
Fun Fact: The plant is known for its red upright stems and striking red to cream bracts that last long as floral arrangement material. It's also drought tolerant making it perfect for water-wise gardens.
Pultenaea 'Burnt Orange'
Origin: Native Australian groundcover shrub in the Fabaceae family.
Height & Width: Grows around 0.6 meters high, spreading up to 3 meters wide.
Evergreen or Deciduous: Evergreen groundcover.
Growing Tips: Thrives in full sun to part shade, tolerant of various soils including clay, sandy or loam. Prefers well-drained soil with moderate moisture. Prune lightly after flowering to encourage dense growth. Good for rockeries, borders, and playground-friendly gardens.
Fun Fact: Often called the "Matted Bush-pea," it produces bright burnt orange pea-like flowers in spring and summer, attracting pollinators.
Clematis montana 'Rubens'
Origin: Native to mountainous regions of China and Himalayas.
Height & Width: Vigorous climber reaching 20-25 feet (6-7.5m) long, spread depends on support.
Evergreen or Deciduous: Deciduous climber.
Growing Tips: Prefers full to part sun with roots shaded and cool. Likes well-drained, slightly alkaline soils, regularly watered but not soggy. Fertilize when new growth begins in spring. Prune hard post-flowering to encourage next season's blooms. Supports like trellis or arbor needed.
Fun Fact: This clematis is renowned for its profuse, fragrant pale pink flowers in late spring to early summer, often completely covering the plant. The foliage emerges burgundy and matures to bronze-green for seasonal interest.