Plant Life

We have all heard of the leaves of Laurus nobilis, more commonly known as the bay tree, being used in cooking. Surprisingly, they are the weak alternative to the Californian bay laurel, Umbellularia californica.

It's often a misconception that Dunedin is too cold to successfully grow some of New Zealand's North Island flora and indeed it can be a challenge for some species.

I have a strong aversion to celery, but certainly not to the celery pine.

This is a tough time of year for your roses, especially after the summer we have had. To help maintain their health and vigour as well as extend the flowering, it is best to keep up with a few basic tasks.

With their hot, fiery colours Crocosmia species and cultivars create striking displays over summer in perennial and shrub borders.

Nearly 147 years ago, on March 10, 1863, a most royal wedding was celebrated in England.

Celmisia, the mountain daisy, is one of the spectacular sights of alpine New Zealand.

A plant I've always thought to be overlooked is Kalmia latifolia, a member of the Ericaceae family and a close relative to Rhododendron.

The genus Gunnera contains over 40 species of herbaceous plants found mainly in the southern hemisphere.

The flora of the Mediterranean region has evolved to cope with the harsh environment, as well as enduring thousands of years of human influence.