..BOTANICAL NAME:
 Convolvulus mauritanicus 'Blue Moon'
 SIZE: Prostrate, trailing groundcover.
 POSITION: Full sun.
 FLOWERING PERIOD: Summer.
                                          Convolvulus                                      'Blue Moon'

A charming prostrate plant used en mass as an ornamental groundcover or for cascading down sides of retaining walls. The blue, funnel shaped flowers are approximately 3cm in diameter and are produced in abundance over the warm summer months. Tolerant of dry conditions it is particularly useful for Australias often harsh conditions. Non-invasive and easy to grow for low maintenance areas as well as adding restful,  cool colour to the summer landscape.

 CULTURAL NOTES
C. 'Blue Moon' performs best in full sun with well drained soil. Although dry tolerant once established it is still recommended to give occasional deep waterings through extended dry periods. Pruning is not necessary although a light prune after main flowering period (ie. autumn) can help promote bushiness for the following season. An application of slow release fertiliser during
spring will be beneficial to overall performance.

LANDSCAPE IDEAS
Use as a permanent ground cover for banks and in garden beds. Grow over the edge of retaining walls to soften the overall look of your landscape. Can be used to fill the base of decorative containers holding standardised plants. Looks great spilling over the edges of a hanging basket. Can be slotted into any colour scheme whether bright or pastel. A complementary plant for its white flowering, shrubby cousin, Convolvulus cneorum 'Silvery Moon'.

 Long, fleshy stems which trail over the rim of the basket; oval leaves with green, pruple and silver variegations.
                              Plant Form or Habit: cascading
                              Plant Use: medium foliage hanging basket
                              Exposure: medium
                              Flower Color: purple
                              Blooming Period:
                              Height: runners several feet long
                              Width: Diameter of the pot
                              Foliage Texture: medium
                              Heat Tolerance: medium
                              Water Requirements: low
      Additional Comments: You may allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings; bright cool but not direct light. 

  Plant Type: Deciduous Vine
  Uses: Climbing, Ornamental, Fragrance
  Propagation: Stem cuttings, Seeds, Layering
  Habit: Climbing
  Light: Full Sun, Part Shade
  Flower Color: White, Yellow
  Blooms: Summer
  Width: .5 - 1 ft.; Height: 15 - 30 ft.
  Fertility: Average
  Soil: Neutral, Well-drained
  Zone: 4 - 11

  This ornamental beauty is not only another fragrant honeysuckle for your  garden but has the added attraction of ornamental fruit. The black berries  appear in early autumn. Foliage becomes golden in the fall also and may  be used as a groundcover instead of a climber, if you prefer. This plant was
  introduced into cultivation in 1860 and is native to eastern Asia, where its  Oriental name means "gold and silver flower". The cultivar 'Halliana' is  pictured.

                                Family:                                                 Myrtaceae
                                Distribution:                                                 Not applicable.
                                Common
                               Name:                                                 Bottlebrush
                                Derivation of
                               Name:       Callistemon...from Greek kalos; beautiful and stemon; stamens
                                Conservation
                                Status:                                                 Not applicable.

     General Description:

     Callistemon "Captain Cook" is one of the most popular bottlebrush cultivars.
     It was widely promoted to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Captain
     James Cook's discovery of the east coast of Australian in 1770.

     The cultivar is a form of Callistemon viminalis which is normally a small tree
     with a weeping habit. C."Captain Cook", on the other hand, is a dense, bushy
     shrub 1.5 to 2 m tall by a similar spread. It has narrow leaves 50-60 mm long
     and produces masses of red brushes in mid to late spring (October to
     November). Flowers may also appear in late summer and autumn.

     In common with many callistemons, C."Captain Cook" can tolerate less than
     perfect drainage but usually performs best in gardens with reasonable
     drainage and regular availability of water. It responds well to annual fertilising
     after flowering and is not as sensitive as some other Australian plants to
     phosphorus. It will withstand at least moderate frost and flowers best in a
     sunny position.

     Like most Callistemon cultivars, C."Captain Cook" produces viable seed
     which germinates easily. However, because of seedling variation, any plants
     produced from this seed will not be identical to the parent plant. Unfortunately
     C."Captain Cook" suffered from this problem in the 1970s with the result that
     some plants did not retain the dwarf habit which is its main horticultural
     characteristic. This problem does not seem to affect plants purchased today
     from reliable sources. Plants produced from cuttings (which usually strike
     readily) will produce genetically identical plants to the parent.

     Asplenium is a well known genus of ferns, commonly known as
     "spleenworts". There are about 650 species worldwide with around 26 native
     to Australia.

     A.australasicum grows on trees (epiphytic) or rocks (lithophytic) and
     occasionally in the soil. It consists of large, elliptical shaped fronds arising
     from a central stem to form a deep, saucer shape. The spreading fronds can
     reach about 3 metres in diameter. The spores on the underside of the fronds
     occur in parallel rows. The species is easily confused with A.nidus which only
     occurs on Cape York in north Queensland.

     This a hardy and very popular fern in cultivation. It can be grown on trees or
     rocks or in the ground in soils containing appreciable organic matter with
     plenty of moisture. It will tolerate at least moderate frost and prefers a
     situation in filtered sun. It will respond favourably to regular applications of
     general purpose fertilizers. Like most ferns, A.australasicum makes an
     excellent container plant for both outdoors and indoors.

     Propagation is carried out from spores (see "Australian Plants online" March
     1999 issue for simple propagation methods).

Asplenium nidus   (Bird's Nest Fern)

  Plant Type: Fern
  Uses: Shade, Ornamental, Container, Foliage, Indoors, Greenhouse
  Propagation: Offsets, Seeds
  Habit: Upright, Spreading
  Light: Part Shade, Full Shade
  Width: 2 - 3 ft.; Height: 2 - 4 ft.
  Fertility: Rich
  Soil: Neutral, Moist, Low
  Zone: 9 - 11

  Bird's Nest Fern is grown for its glossy, bright green fronds which grow in a
  shuttlecock arrangement. These leaves are broad, lance-shaped and
  provide year-round greenery. This is an excellent container plant in cooler
  regions and a striking outdoor accent fern in a tropical or semi-tropical
  setting.