For this week’s Six on Saturday (SoS) I’ve chosen six flowering shrubs.
1. Dodonaea Viscosa – Hop Bush
I planted this Dodonaea hedge about twelve years ago to screen the pool area from the driveway. By last summer, it had only reached the heady heights of around 2-3 ft, and with the threat of eviction hanging over its head, the plants had a growth spurt. That could be because we had a significant water leak from the mains water supply from the road to the house, which had gone undetected for a couple of months, or it could have taken my threat seriously. Now (fingers crossed), it is growing like a weed, and one of the plants is as tall as me. (which isn’t hard as I am also vertically challenged.
On a serious note, the Dodonaea Vicosa does make for an interesting hedge rather than the usual suspects.
2. Honeysuckle
This is another example of a plant that took years to establish. It started life as a few cuttings, and for years, it struggled to survive. This year, I have been rewarded with the most amazing display of scented honeysuckle, which is covered in bees.
3. Hibiscus
The Hibiscus, with its magnificent flowers, is my favourite. I grow mine in tubs.
This beauty is a standard and my latest acquisition. I went to the garden centre to buy a plant for my friend’s birthday and could not resist this red Hibiscus.
The leaves on this specimen went limp and bleh. I fed her with nettle fertilizer, and she perked up to reward us with a beautiful display of huge flowers.
4. Oleander
This is another favourite I use as a screen. The variegated Oleander Iweuse as a screen between our back terrace and vegetable area. It needs reducing in height, but there is a bird nesting in there at the moment, so I am loath to touch it. Meanwhile, it must be 12ft plus tall and reaching for the stars.
I’m not sure if this is a dwarf variety, but its never grown beyond around 2 feet tall. Given that the Malueca hedge now offers a screen from our neighbours, it forms an interesting addition to the side border.
5. Lantana
This is a self-seeded member of our plant family. I love the colours, so we let it remain. Many people use Lantanas as a colourful hedge.
6. Lavender
A favourite with the bees, and the bushes usually hum with happy bees. I grow several lavender bushes by the vegetable patch, hoping that the bees will discover my courgette flowers, etc. I think the bees saw me approaching with the camera this morning and disappeared.
That’s my six plants in focus for this week’s Six on Saturday hosted by Jim.
Piglet in Portugal 
A great selection. I can almost smell the honeysuckle from here.
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Yes, I’m sorry I planted it so far from our outside living area now.
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Looking marvelous. You’ve been working in the garden a lot I see!
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thanks, Rebecca. My garden is a constant challenge and good exercise.
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Astonishingly beautiful!
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thank you. My garden brings me peace for the mind and weeds for exercise 🙂
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Lots of Mediterranean varieties in what you presented to us this week ….but that’s normal. My preference obviously goes to hibiscus which are truly magnificent with their large, colourful flowers. Is this a pachypodium to the left of the yellow hibiscus flower?
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pachypodium? Had to look that one up. LoL We call her Madge for Madagascar Cactus palm. I have two. I wasn’t sure if they would survive the winter and cold winds but apart from losing all the leaves … phew.
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Your hibiscus success has inspired me to try again. I tried one in the ground but it did not survive. I will try in pots. I have 4 oleanders and am trying to keep them manageable by pruning every season. They are one of my favourites but I don’t want them to take over the garden. I have a variegated variety which I pinched from somewhere and it’s doing well. I do like lantana but I think it deserves to spread itself to be effective and I don’t have the room.
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I love hibiscus. The flowers are stunning! Give it a try. I have also never had any success growing them in the ground. At least in a pot I can grow on the terrace so I can enjoy them. The latana I do keep cutting right back. Oleander – yes, my variaged Ol needs pruning but I’m not sure if it’s too late in the year now?
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