I have always loved plants that have flowers on tall spires - a legacy of my cottage gardening years when I was so influenced by traditional English gardens, with their soaring hollyhocks, foxgloves and delphiniums. These gave such a dreamy, ethereal look to gardens and I yearned to create a similar garden in suburban Sydney. I discovered many of the cottagey stalwarts didn't do well here, but I found some substitutes that did the job. Most of these bloom in late spring, and I have written about them here. However, surveying my late summer garden, I found there are lots of flowery spires on warm-climate plants that thrive in Sydney, which are bringing joy at this time of year!
Salvia Mysty, a compact version of Mystic SpiresSalvias were mentioned in the late spring blog on spires, and in late summer, many are still offering welcome flowers. Perhaps the most indefatigable is Salvia 'Indigo Spires' (ht 1.5 m), with its long, deep blue inflorescences. If lightly trimmed back on a regular basis, it will bloom from October to May. 'Mystic Spires' is a related plant that is said to be shorter, but it is really not much different in size, in my experience. Last year, I obtained what was stated to be a miniature form of 'Mystic Spires' called 'Mysty' (pictured above), and so far, it has lived up to that claim, growing only about 30 cm tall. It is rather cute for the front of a border. Lots of other Salvia cultivars are in bloom now, offering spires galore: hot pink 'Joan', lavender-blue and white 'Phyllis Fancy', plum-hued 'Desley' and rich purple 'Amistad' to name just a few.
Lepechinia salviaeA shrubby plant sometimes mistaken for a Salvia is also coming into flower now: Lepechinia salviae (ht 1.5 m). It has large, grey-green textured leaves shaped like arrowheads; they have a sharp medicinal - though not unpleasant - scent. From late February to May it sends up long spires of burgundy flowers, held in dark calyces on deep pinkish stems. It is a tough plant that can tolerate a dry, hot position, but it will do best and be more lush in reasonable soil.
Hot-coloured border in the former garden of Alida Gray in Sydney; Odontonema tubaeforme in foregroundA spectacular spired shrub that has been in bloom for a while but seems to be at its peak at the moment is Justicia betonica (ht 1-2 m, pictured at the start of the blog), one of the less well-known of the Justicia genus from the family Acanthaceae. The slim upright spires are comprised of papery, green-veined white bracts enclosing pale pink flowers, that last for a very long time. It looks very effective grown next to very dark foliage or nearby white-variegated leaves. Note that in subtropical and tropical areas this plant is considered an environmental weed; it isn't a problem to grow it in Sydney gardens. Another spired Acanthaceae shrub just coming out now is Odontonema tubaeforme (ht 2m, pictured above). It has plumes of blood red, glossy spikes of flowers on a purplish-black stem, providing a vivid contrast. It will stay out for several months.
Dichorisandra thyrsiflora in the garden of Ian McMaugh in SydneyThe so-called blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, ht 1.5 to 2 m), a rhizomatous perennial, produces its spires of vibrant purple-blue flowers in late summer, atop of spiralled, ginger-like stems of leaves. Preferring a shaded spot, it is not a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae); it belongs instead to the Commelinaceae family of plants, which includes the various Tradescantia species. Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea' (syn. Setcreasea purpurea, Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart') is a useful (if vigorous) foliage plant with rich purple leaves that can provide colour all year round, and it is a good companion to its cousin the blue ginger in a shaded, semi-tropical style border in Sydney gardens.
Aechmea blanchetiana in the Royal Botanic Gardens SydneyMost ornamental grasses are in flower at the moment and their upright inflorescences add a vertical element to the garden, even though they are not what we would regard as conventional 'blooms', with their feathery plumes. Various cultivars of Miscanthus along with the burgundy-coloured Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' add variety to the scene. Another unusual flower spike out now is that of the huge bromeliad Aechmea blanchetiana (ht 1 m, pictured above). The flower stem, appearing in mid- to late summer, can reach 2 m in height and has feathery yellow and red blooms.
Lobelia siphiliticaAmongst smaller plants, I have been delighted with Lobelia siphilitica (ht 60-90 cm) this year. I actually treat this North American clump-forming perennial as an annual, as it fades away after flowering. However, it self-seeds every year and I just dig up these new plants and group them together in a rather damp, sunny border. Clustered spires of blue and white flowers appear at this time of year to form a pretty picture.
Various Liriope, with their dainty spires of tiny bells are in bloom now, adding colour to shady parts of the garden. The flowers range in colour from white and pale mauve to striking purples. Liriope are useful for lining the edges of paths or massed as a groundcover.
There are lots of options for late summer spires in Sydney gardens!
Gosh your garden is looking spectacular!
How do I add my garden to the Garden Ramble page.? I cant see a tab or link to do that. I'm sorry but our website had an error. It has been corrected and, when logged in, you should see a link in the top righthand corner of the Garden Ramble page that allows you to add your own garden. We look forward to seeing it!
Thank you Deirdre, for talking about plant spires. I, too, was enthralled by the tall spires on plants in English cottage gardens. However, in my garden I seem to have plants which should not be too tall, but are: things such as physostegia, cannas, cosmos, dahlias, cane begonias - all of which reach for the sky. Pretty, and colourful, though
Your photo at the beginning is just lovely, thank you. I am enjoying Salvia Oxyphora and Phyllis Fancy as well as some of those blue salvias. The bandicoots especially like one I planted last year, Salvia Mexicana, so that is protected at ground level by plastic netting nailed into the ground. A great time of the year for the Salvia collection.
Your garden looks lovely Deirdre and the spires of the Justicia are great. Mine is doing the same and it's such a worthwhile plant, which seems to survive heat and humidity well. I do like the Lobelia - grew Lobelia cardinalis one year but realised it needed a lot of moisture. Yours is obviously a better choice.
I must admit-my odontonema tubaeforme (planted throughout the outer edges of my garden) are flowering very prolifically this year. They really dress up the top of a boring fence when they flower.
November climbers
17 Nov 24
Explore some of the vines in flower now.
Hydrangea buddies
10 Nov 24
Good companions for Hydrangea shrubs
Fuchsia time
03 Nov 24
November sees fuchsias come into their own.
Self-sown surprises in spring
27 Oct 24
It's fun to discover new plants in the garden.
Silver in the shade
20 Oct 24
Some beautiful silver-foliage plants thrive in shade.
