If you are looking for a lovely specimen tree for the garden consider Hymenosporum flavum, known as the native frangipani.
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This lovely small tree produces very fragrant clusters of tubular flowers that open cream then darken to yellow with age.
PASTEL BEAUTY
An eye-catching evergreen shrub is Podalyria sericea with striking silky/grey foliage hence its common name of stain bush.
The pea-like flowers are a pretty delicate pink.
This plant is drought-tolerant when established and looks great mass planted or used as a low hedge.
BERRY DELICIOUS
The gooseberry produces small fruits and from the original green berry hybridisers have produced yellow, red or white, smooth or hairy skinned, dessert or cooking varieties.
As these bushes are very thorny prune to open up the centre to make picking easier.
Locally, varieties of Invicta and Green Giant usually fruit around October while the thornless Captivator is a little later.
The jostaberry is the result of a gooseberry crossed with a blackcurrant.
GENDER BALANCE
The persimmon is grown for its attractive edible orange fruits and brilliant autumn display which sees the foliage turn red, orange and gold.
When selecting a tree be aware that there are two types of fruit - astringent and non-astringent.
An unusual feature of this tree is that it bears both male and female blooms on the current season's wood.
Male blossom is found either singly, in pairs or clusters of three and is borne on separate twigs from the female blossom.
The female blossom is a light amber colour fading to grey.
BLOOMING BEST
In winter there is hardly a garden that does not have some pansies or violas tucked away somewhere such is their popularity for giving a colourful display at this time of year.
They like a sunny position preferably in soil that has been enriched with compost and a forthrightly feed with a liquid fertiliser and they will reward you by showing off their charming little faces.
Remove faded blooms to encourage continuous flowering.
Nemesias are among the most colourful and floriferous of all bedding plants.
Long-flowering they are well suited for containers, hanging baskets, ground covering and edging plantings.
The flowers are similar to that of an orchid with the top four petals forming a fan shape with a larger petal on the bottom and come in a huge diversity of colours with some bicolours.
These delicately perfumed, low-maintenance plants like to grow in well-drained soil in a sunny position that affords some afternoon shade.