Perennials - Just Arrived
In designing with plants, it is the perennials that ensure that there is constant change, and that there is always an element of surprise or interest in the garden.
Getting to know the dormant and flowering periods of the plants is essential to achieving the right balance in the design, so that as one perennial goes to sleep, another awakens.
Perennials, perhaps more than any other group of plants, are available in a huge range of colours, forms, textures and fragrances in both foliage and flower. There are perennials suitable for almost every area of the garden: from full sun to full shade, in large gardens or small beds and to suit every mood or style. Popular perennial plants include Penstemon, Gaura, Canna, Dahlias, Salvias, Lupins, Columbines, Lilies, Delphiniums and Hellebores - oh! the list is endless.
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A perennial plant (Latin per, "through", annum, "year") is a plant that lives for more than two years, unlike an Annual which grows, sets seed, gayly disperses it and then dies - all in a single season. Perennial plants are divided into two large groups: those that are woody and those that are herbaceous. They can be short-lived (only a few years) or they can be long-lived, and can vary in size from only a few millimeters to over 10 meters tall. They include a wide assortment of plant groups from Ferns to the highly diverse flowering plants like Orchids and Ornamental Grasses.
Perennials typically grow structures that allow them to adapt to living from one year to the next. These structures include bulbs, tubers, woody crowns, rhizomes plus others. They might have specialized stems or crowns that allow them to survive periods of dormancy over cold or dry seasons during the year. Many perennials have adapted to survive under extreme environmental conditions: some can survive hot dry conditions, or cold temperatures. These plants tend to invest a lot of resource into their adaptations and often do not flower and set seed until after a few years of growth.
Many perennials produce relatively large seeds, which can have an advantage as they produce larger seedlings after germination that can better compete with other plants or more quickly develop leaves, ensuring their survival.
In warmer climates, perennials grow continuously. In seasonal climates, their growth is limited to the growing season. For example, in temperate regions a perennial plant may grow and bloom during the warm part of the year, with the foliage dying back in the winter. These plants are deciduous perennials. Regrowth is from existing stem tissue. In some species, perennials retain their foliage all year round; these are evergreen perennials. Come in and take a look around. We've always got something pretty, perky and persuasive in the perennial line.
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aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose. This range of Hellebores has a tight petaloid forming around the centre of each flower, which fall off once the flower is pollinated - the flower is then single. Very pretty and free flowering winter-spring. Plant in humus rich soil for best results. Perennial.
Clifton Homestead N.Z.'s premier grower of Hellebores tells us that these hybrids will tolerate some sun but probably best to still give them some shade in the afternoon. The colour range is mainly from white through to pink.
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 45cm x 45cm
Helleborus Anemone Centre
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 2l ?
$39.99
aka Winter Rose or Lenten Rose
Winter Rose single. A special form from the Clifton Homestead collection with stems of soft apricot, outward facing blooms that sometimes have a red blush on the reverse. Dark green, divided leathery leaves that form a clump. Plant in semi-shade in nice humus rich soil that is well drained. Perennial.
Habit: Clump Forming
Leaves: Deciduous, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 45cm x 45cm
Helleborus Apricot
Current Stock Height: 5/10 cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$14.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose single. From the 'Clifton Homestead' breeding programme we offer these exciting and dramatic dark hybrids. Includes shades of slate grey, blue-black and deep burgundy. Some may also be spotted. No matter the colour they will be beautiful in the winter garden. Plant in semi-shade. Perennial.
Leaves: Deciduous, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 45cm x 45cm
Helleborus Dark Hybrid
Current Stock Height: 5/10cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$14.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
Winter Rose double. These delightful doubles are from Clifton Homestead - a Hellebore specialist from the deep South. The exquisite blooms are round and facing outwards on sturdy stems. Available in white and various shades of pink. Happy in semi-shade in humus rich soil that is well drained. Perennial.
Hellebore foliage is mostly evergreen but the old leaves start to look a bit tatty after awhile. It is usual to cut them off just as the flower buds start to appear.
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 45cm x 45cm
Helleborus Double Hybrids
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 2l ?
$39.99
aka Winter Rose, Lenten Rose
The handsome dark green leaves combine well with the pale pink cupped shaped blooms which appear from winter through to early spring. Happiest in a semi-shaded position, ideal to naturalize under deciduous trees. Well worth planting. Perennial.
Habit: Clump Forming
Leaves: Evergreen, Green
Mature Size (HxW): 45cm x 45cm
Helleborus Pink Single
Current Stock Height: 5/10 cm ?
Container: 1l ?
$14.99
HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: