Author: Antonio Pachowko

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the pretty shrub of Olearia in containers. Olearia, which has the common name of daisy bush, is a genus that belongs to the largest flowering plant of the Asteraceae (the Aster) family, where 180 species are known to exist. Olearias are native to Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand and include shrubs, herbaceous plants and small trees.

They all bear the familiar daisy-like flower heads often seen in members of the Aster family. Olearias are shrubs that either is small or high. The leaves are nothing to write home about as …

In this article, we will discover how to grow Myrtus in containers, a popular English shrub. Myrtus, which has the common name of Myrtle, is a flowering shrub that belongs to its own family of Myrtaceae, It has been grown in English gardens since the 16th century, where sprays of blooms have been used in Victorian bride’s bouquet.

The genus itself was described for the first time by the famous Swedish Botanist of Linnaeus in 1753. Myrtus is a funny old genus, where at one time or other, 600 species have been proposed. The problem is that a lot of …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the unusual shrub of Leucothoe in containers. Leucothoes are attractive shrubs of 10 species that belong to the Ericaceae (the Erica or Heath) family.  It has an unusual common name of dog hobble for some unknown reason. What makes it suitable to grow in containers, is that they are relatively short, only growing up to 2m tall.

The genus is split up into species that are deciduous or species that are evergreen, made up of leaves that are glossy and oblong-lanceolate. Some species and varieties have 2cm short leaves, which in …

In this article, we will talk about how to grow the not so often seen shrub of Leptospermum in containers. Leptospermum is a genus of shrubs and small trees that belongs to the Myrtaceae (Myrtle) family. It has the common name of tea tree, which is often used for species of Melaleuca (where Melaleuca honey comes from). Most, despite their common name, are not found in New Zealand but in Australia, where great diversity can be found. It is not popular as it can be a tender plant and needs the protection of being near a wall.

Plants in the …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the familiar and scented shrub of Lavandula (Lavender) in containers. You may be familiar with the plant but in this article, you will discover how to get the best from your Lavender plants. Lavandula is a modestly sized flowering shrub of 47 species that belong to the Lamiaceae (Mint) family.  It is native to Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia all the way to India.

They are often used as Ornamental shrubs in colder climates, where you often see them growing in gardens, but the same plant …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the small shrub of Dorycnium (Lotus) in containers. Dorycnium is a synonym of Lotus, a flowering plant in the Fabaceae (Legume) family. There are only 3 species known to exist- Lotus hirsutus (Dorycnium hirsutum), Lotus dorycnium (Dorycnium pentaphyllium) the prostrate canary clover, and Lotus herbaceus (Dorcynium herbaceum or Darycnium jardinii).

They are, in general, low-growing, silvery shrubs that are native to the Canary Islands. Lotus hirsutus is a semi-evergreen, subshrub that only grows up to 80cm high. It is grown for its attractive foliage, with closely packed leaflets of greyish-green and …

In this article, we will discover how to grow the unfussy shrub of Kerria in containers. Kerria japonica is the only species of Kerria that you will find in this genus. It is actually a member of the Rosaceae (the Rose) family.  In its native growing habitat, it is found in thickets on mountain slopes, making it a highly tough and adaptive plant.

There are several varieties on offer as you will discover later on. The plant gets its name from William Kerr, who introduced the cultivar ‘Pleniflora’ the most popular variety.

It is a 1 to 3m tall shrub …

In this article, we will discover how to grow the beautiful flowering shrub of Kalmia in containers. Kalmia is a small species of evergreen shrub that belong to the Ericaceae (the Erica) family. They are native to North America and Cuba, where they are found growing either in wet, acidic bogs or dry, sandy soils.

Kalmia was named by the famous Botanist Linnaeus to honour his friend Pehr Kalm, who brought it back to the UK in the mid-18th century. The most popular species when not in flower can be easily mistaken for a Rhododendron. The leaves are markedly long …

In this article, we will be discovering how to grow the long spiked flowering shrub of Itea in containers. Itea is a small genus of 10 species of shrub and small trees. The flowers that are produced are normally scented and hence why it has the common name of sweet spire.

The flowers are either borne in racemes as found in Itea ilicifolia or like spikes as in Itea virginica. The plant is natively found in Eastern Asia and one deciduous species comes from North America. They tend to be grown for the long raceme flower but the leaves can …