Welcome to iGarden

Hello and welcome to iGarden. Anyone who knows me will know that I am 'The Compulsive Gardener' - I love everything about gardening.

Allow me to share some of my enthusiasm and interests in gardening with a focus on the plants I know best and those that do especially well in my own Sydney garden.

This is more than just about plants: it's also about the people involved in gardening; their books and gardens; planting schemes; choosing appropriate plant types; colour selection... There is plenty to think and read about in iGarden.

So, while you are here, enjoy all my blogs, have a browse through my extensive Plant descriptions and don't forget to check out the Discussion Forums, Marketplace, Garden Ramble and your local Gardening Events.

See my latest blog

"Shades of silver"

Silver foliage is nuanced!

I love silver foliage and have tried many plants with such leaves over my years of gardening. The characteristics that give rise to the appearance of silver on a leaf are generally plant adaptations to hot, dry conditions, such as fine hairs or a sort of powdery 'bloom'. Such plants as Lychnis coronaria (ht 25 cm basal leaf clump, 60-75 cm in bloom), Stachys byzantina (ht 20 cm basal leaf clump, 45 cm in bloom), Kalanchoe bracteata 'Silver Spoons' (ht to 1 m),  ... Read On »

December in my garden

What's in bloom

See the full list of what's flowering in my garden this month. Here »


Jobs to do

December is a busy month, when there is not so much time for gardening! However, there are a few important tasks to remember. Read More »


My Gardening Tip of the month

The garden can be given a bit of a tidy up in preparation for Christmas visitors! I find that by early December, many of my flowering plants, such as Salvia, Verbena, Gaura and Nicotiana are looking a bit straggly and tired so I trim them back to promote a fresh crop of flowers. There are lots of weeds in my garden at this time, too, that need to be pulled out, as they compete with the plants for moisture and nutrients. Deadhead the spent flowering stems of Acanthus mollis and Phormium, throwing the spikes into the green bin - do not compost as seedlings may come up through your garden if this is done. Deadhead Canna and Dahlia regularly to keep them flowering well and keep them tidy.Make sure tall plants have sufficient support so they don't snap off when it is wet or windy. Cradle stakes provide good support.

My Plant Reference

My current garden is located in one of Sydney's northern suburbs so my focus is naturally on what does well here. I have grown over 321 different plant varieties that are all described in this reference.
See all my Plant Descriptions »

Discussion Forums Recent Item

"Bulbs" forum topic: "Haemanthus albiflos"

Rebecca asks:
 Hi, I live in Northern N.S.W just a hop from Queensland border, just wondering about these plants. I have two large pots of these and had them for many years, have grown heaps of leaves but no flowers, not sure what to do, maybe more sun but how much sun or should I plant some of them in our garden and repot the others with fresh potting mix? Any tips or information would be greatly appreciated, cheers Rebecca.

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