Innholdsfortegnelse for 10-Feb-2018 i Amateur Gardening

THE return of longer, lighter days and the flowers of spring have been welcome sights. However, this annual resurgence of vigour means there is no time to be lost completing essential winter tasks – and pruning is one of the most important. It is already too late to prune grapevines, Japanese maple and birch trees as their sap rises in late winter and if cut now they will ‘bleed’ profusely from their wounds. If you haven’t already pruned these, wait until next winter. Most other trees and shrubs can be cut back or trimmed now before they come back into growth and become rather unkempt. Pruning deciduous plants in winter encourages robust spring growth and it is easier to shape a shrub well once it has lost all its leaves.…

1 Botrytis and other moulds occur in greenhouses where the air is cold and still. Open their doors, vents and windows on mild days to increase airflow. 2 A greenhouse is the perfect place for pests to overwinter, so keep an eye out for slugs, snails and greenfly and deal with them immediately. 3 Leaf spot is a fungal disease affecting pansies and violas. Remove, bin or burn affected foliage – don’t compost it. 4 Rabbits and deer eat bark, which will kill the tree if it is stripped all the way around. Protect trees with plastic guards.…

BUNCHES of lovely long-stemmed cut roses are the accepted gift for Valentine’s Day, yet February is not the ideal time. Most have to be flown in from warmer countries and the peak in demand lifts prices and drops quality. The gift of a rose bush, providing rich red flowers for many summer months and for years to come, has always looked a better gift to me. Even though we have many lovely cultivars from which to choose this idea has never taken root, and yet, have we at last a breakthrough with this year’s novelty introduction Rosa ‘Lots of Kisses’? It comes from the disease-resistant Flower Carpet Roses Series breeder, is compact growing, with rich, shiny, bright-green leaves and masses of small, fully double, blood-red flowers. The plant I have…

1 Fill a module tray with fresh, sieved seed and cuttings compost. Modules make it easier to pot-on growing seedlings. 2 Sow the seeds, placing one or two in each module. Don’t worry if more fall in – you can thin out weaker plants later. 3 Cover the seeds with a thin layer of compost or a compost/vermiculite mix and dampen with clean tap water using a fine rose. 4 Label the seeds, cover with a lid or layer of clingfilm to be removed when seeds germinate, and place the tray on a warm, light windowsill.…

IT’S becoming ever easier to grow a healthier diet. When I started gardening fresh lettuces were just full ‘butter’ heads of soft leaves, and these were almost the only acceptable option available. This type of lettuce needed rich, moist soil to grow and careful nurturing to be succulent and sweet. Then icebergs arrived, lettuces with a crunchy, almost pure-white, heart. But these were yet more demanding and even harder to grow well. The result was that cut-and-come-again loose-leaf sorts were next introduced. Easier to cultivate and giving several harvests from the one sowing, these made home-grown greens so much simpler. Now there has been another change with the introduction of single-leaf salads and microgreens. Instead of growing a batch of plants each to maturity, the trend has been to sow…

ONE of my earliest gardening memories is sneaking down to my grandparents’ veg plot and eating some fresh peas. The sweetness of those juicy peas was divine – perhaps the fact that I’d “stolen” them added to the experience, too! I know there’s been a trend to sow peas in guttering in recent years, but I’m going back to my favoured method of sowing into pots. For one, peas are deep-rooted plants that don’t appreciate such a shallow container, and two, it’s actually quite tricky to get the peas from the gutter into the soil without disturbing them. I also like the flexibility of transplanting at my preferred spacings, so, here’s what to do (see right). Cut back new fruit trees, canes and bushes I’M crossing my fingers here, but…

HAVING grown the best celery and celeriac I’ve ever harvested in recent years, my enthusiasm for these two crops has swelled considerably – much like them in all the rain we had last summer. Giving these veg a consistent supply of moisture is one of the secrets to sizeable harvests – they hate to dry out. To that end, I’m digging lots of organic matter into the ground that will ultimately be home to them this spring, because it will help retain soil moisture. The bed is positioned on the shadier side of the veg plot, which will also help keep the soil nice and damp. Another key to success is providing them with a long growing season, because both crops are slow to germinate and bulk up. Early February…

Most daphnes never need pruning; some even resent it and may die back from the pruning cut. Daphnes also dislike being moved, especially when they mature, so choose your planting site carefully and allow them to develop. In raised beds mulch with gravel, or cover roots with thin, flat stones to help retain moisture. In shadier sites mulch with a weed-free soil improver. Viral diseases can be a problem. Keeping aphids under control will help prevent these from spreading.…

Alchemilla mollis AGM Mounds of rounded leaves with scalloped edges are almost hidden in early summer by 12in (60cm) tall arching sprays of frothy, lime-green flowers Buxus sempervirens Common box is the most popular of all topiary plants. Balls, cones, hedges and other shapes look great next to paths. It is perfect in sun or shade, and tolerant of most soils Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ AGM Ideal in a formal setting, this sun-lover boasts silvery-green leaves and deep-violet flowers on 24in (60cm) tall spikes from July until September Geranium macrorrhizum This hardy geranium forms an 18in (45cm) tall mat of lobed leaves topped by a mass of magenta blooms on slender stems in summer. Ideal for sun or dry shade Ajuga reptans ‘Catlin’s…

Orlaya grandiflora (AGM) This lacy beauty is a good pick for its long flowering period, with delicate white blooms that appear from June to the first frosts. A hardy annual, it can be sown under cover from March, or direct from April. H: 18-24in (45-60cm). Nigella Easy and fast-growing, with feathery foliage, love-in-a-mist is a cottage-garden annual that flowers from June to September. Try sky blue ‘Miss Jekyll’ (H: 18in/45cm; above) or ‘Oxford Blue’ (H: 30in/75cm). Sow direct, March to May. Limnanthes douglas The poached-egg plant is a low grower that attracts pollinating insects. Those vibrant yellow flowers will fill borders with cheery colour throughout summer and into autumn. Sow direct, March to May. H: 6-8in (15-20cm). Cosmos This has ample bright summer blooms that fill borders at…

■ Sow half-hardy annuals like sweet peas under cover – the seedlings can then be planted out when the weather warms up and there is no danger of frost. ■ Sow hardy annuals direct from March to May, depending on variety, once the soil warms up. ■ Look for emerging weeds as a sign that the soil is warm enough to plant out annual seedlings. ■ Prepare the soil in borders well before sowing annual seeds – rake to a fine consistency and remove any stones. ■ Sow thinly, then thin seedlings once they have a true pair of leaves – check instructions on your seed packet for the ideal distance between plants. ■ Water well while plants are establishing, especially during hot weather. ■ Avoid sowing annuals in rich…

Q Something has damaged the leaves on my bay tree – what is it? Brenda George, Bishops Castle, Shropshire A The damage was done by bay suckers last year, and not helped by the current cold weather. Feed the tree with Vitax Conifer and Shrub to give it a boost. Sprinkle it over the root area monthly from April to August. Q Will a ‘Braeburn’ apple cross-pollinate a ‘Bramley’? Colin Mace, via email A They are in different pollination groups so not an ideal combination. However, they are in adjacent groups (D and E), so flowering could overlap and cross-pollination might occur. For further details, visit keepers-nursery.co.uk. Q What is this plant, please? I bought it for a tenner! Mel Dewe, Aston, Oxon A This is devil’s ivy (Scindapsus aureus…

Botanic romantic for St Valentine’s St Valentine’s Day is next Wednesday, 14 February, and there are some amazing facts and crazy off-the-wall humour about plants and their relationships to love. For instance, in 1913 French botanist Prof Raymond Hamet expressed his love for a colleague in the bestowing of specific names to three forms of kalanchoe (most often grown as houseplants in the UK). They were Kalanchoe aliciae, K. leblanciae and K. mitejea. The girl’s name was Alice Leblanc, and mitejea is an anagram of je tÕaime (French for “I love you”). The language of flowers Over the last 1,000 years, and especially during the Ottoman Empire, it wasn’t always possible for young people of opposite sexes to talk to each other. So a suitor learnt that if they carried,…

A PLACE for everything, and everything in its place: we may know the saying but do we live by it? When winter comes it is all too easy to throw everything in the shed, lock it and forget about it for another day. Then spring arrives and you need your tools. You can see them propped up in the corner, but you can’t reach them without first moving the mower, evicting the patio chairs and climbing over the wheelbarrow. It’s time to get organised! It is best to keep regularly used tools close to the door. Of course, you could just bash a few long nails into the woodwork and hang up your spades and forks. But a number of companies offer designed systems as solutions to keeping tools in…

THE ‘hush’ of the gravel tipping from the lorry was so loud I couldn’t resist taking a peek at what was going on. The stones were being spread to create parking spaces on what had once been a beautiful front garden. Even the shrubs around the edge had gone, and out of kindness – or maybe guilt – the builders had wrapped up the roots of the larger leafy outcasts in dumpy bags and were offering them to passers-by. One plant caught my eye – a 9ft (2.7m) tall Chusan palm with a full crown of fan-shaped leaves and a hefty muscular trunk as hairy as an orangutan’s arm. I’ve always wanted one of these exotic palms, but until now I’ve lacked a spot open enough to do justice to…

IF you want to inject some glamour into your garden, look no further than lilies. These opulent blooms bring structure, scent and an elegance to borders and containers. And despite their glamorous appearance, they go well with more traditional British garden flowers. This is the final call for planting lilies for blooms this summer, so I am getting mine in the ground this week. I already have some growing extremely well in containers and have decided to add some to a sunny border as well. Lilies like free-draining soil, as bulbs and corms are prone to rotting in heavy wet conditions. You can lighten your soil by digging in some grit or plenty of well-rotted organic matter (compost or manure) before planting. The easiest and most attractive way to plant…

Rose ‘Double Delight’, commonly called “The Lipstick Rose” on account of the crimson picotee colouring to the edge of the petals, has very strong scent. Mid-March is the best time to prune all but rambler roses. The harder you prune, the bigger and better the flowers, although there will be fewer of them. Lighter pruning on multi-flowering cultivars including ‘Charisma’ will yield many more, slightly smaller flowers. Tie strong young stems of climbing roses down to near horizontal to get them flowering along the length of the stem, rather than just at the top.…

WHEN perennials come back into growth the last thing they need is close competition from weeds. Weeding around them is one way of helping them along, but this easy job can become more complex if weeds and couch grass are growing so closely that their roots are tightly entwined with the plant you are trying to salvage. Removing the top growth is not enough as perennial weeds regenerate from the roots, so you need to remove the whole plant. This involves digging up the cultivated plant and the weed together, and separating the two by hand. Take care you don’t damage the roots of the plant you want to keep – digging wide of the rootball and keeping some soil attached helps protect the roots. Place the rootball on a…

1 Place hollowed-out half-spud pest ‘traps’ in your propagator and cold frame to catch slugs, snails, millipedes and woodlice – and stop them eating your plants. 2 Put those silica gel pouches acquired with electrical goods and foods in with your seed packets to help keep them drier. 3 Sow broad beans in small pots under cover, or outdoors under cloches, and plant out when they are growing away. 4 Turn over plants in pots and inspect their drainage holes as these can become blocked. Look for slugs that are hiding, too.…

1 There are plenty of early pea varieties to choose from, such as ‘Early Onward’, ‘Jaguar’, ‘Kelvedon Wonder’. It’s risky to sow too early in the year outside (the peas simply rot off in cold, wet soils) so take the safer option and sow them under cover. 2 Fill some 3.5in (9cm) pots with multipurpose compost (larger seeds don’t need the more expensive seed compost), water well and allow to drain. Make two 2in (5cm)-deep holes per pot with a pencil or dibber, and sow one seed in each. Cover over with compost and water 3 Place the pots in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory (a heated propagator isn’t necessary) and protect them from mice with some fine wire mesh. Keep them moist, and when the seedlings are 4-5in (10-13cm)…

ABOUT this time last year I was driving along a country lane on the edge of the Fens when I spotted some glossy-leaved evergreens growing on a verge beside the road. Stopping to investigate, I could not fail to notice the fragrance emanating from the vivid green flowers hidden beneath the foliage. Closer inspection revealed that the plants in question were one of our two native daphnes, the spurge laurel (Daphne laureola). They had migrated from the copse behind, where they’d spread to form a large patch. In winter, spring or summer, scent is a key feature of daphnes. In fact, they include some of the most fragrant shrubs you can grow. Evergreen or deciduous, daphnes are generally neat and well-behaved. Some will reach 6 ½ ft (2m), while many…

IN recent years a number of variegated daphnes have been introduced, mostly with foliage edged (rather than splashed) in cream or yellow. These complement the flowers and bring year-round, and often bright and dramatic, colour to the garden. None has so far received an RHS AGM, partly because they’re slower growing than green-leaved types and more difficult to keep growing well, and partly because they occasionally revert and produce a green shoot that strives to take over from the variegated growth. However, both new and well-established variegated forms of the super-scented D. odora are worth considering. Look out for the dramatic, broadly cream-edged D. odora Rebecca (‘Hewreb’) and ‘Mae-jima’ (pictured above), and the less brightly marked (but old favourite ‘Aureomarginata’. If you…

Mark the path out on the ground using a trail of dry sand trickled from a bottle – paths should be at least 2ft (60cm) wide to accommodate a wheelbarrow. Dig out the marked-off area to a depth of about 2in (5cm). Roughly flatten the bottom of the excavation by chopping out any lumps with a spade and then compacting the base by walking up and down. Edge your path to prevent gravel from escaping. Upended bricks or terracotta rope top tiles are popular and are easily fixed on a bed of mortar. If a path is in the lawn, consider using flexible steel strips. Cut a piece of weed-suppressing fabric to roughly the size of the path, lay it along the path and trim. This will prevent weeds popping…

Vine weevil in potted plants Q I keep spare plants in pots to donate for charity sales, but several (including some hardy cyclamen and a heuchera or two) have wilted and the tops have come away from the roots. Inside were pale grubs. Are these vine weevils and what preventative measures can I take? Clare Sutton, Leicester A This is almost textbook vine weevil larvae damage, especially if the culprits were just under 1/2in (10mm) long, form a plump C-shape and have creamy bodies with brown heads. They spend the winter months tucked up in rootballs, feeding and hibernating, with damage to the plants becoming more apparent towards the end of winter. You’ve described some of their favourite plants, as they love anything in the saxifrage family, especially heuchera. They…

IMAGINE being able to pick fresh fruit from your own garden. These miniature fruit trees are specially bred dwarf varieties that produce fruits on stems reaching only 40in (1m) tall – just perfect for the patio. Supplied in 3 1/2in (9cm) pots, grown 12-16in (30-40cm). • Buy 1 of any variety for £9.99 • Buy 5 (1 of each) for £39.99 – Saving £9.96 • PRIORITY ORDER ONLINE thompson-morgan.com/amateurgardening HOW TO ORDER  TELEPHONE ORDER LINE 0844 573 2021 please quote TM_AG1 All orders will be acknowledged by letter or email, advising you of the expected despatch date. This offer is subject to availability. Offer enquiry line 0844 573 2021. Order lines are open 9am to 8pm (weekdays) and 9am to 6pm (weekends). All correspondence concerning this offer should be sent…

• 6 February 1783 Sir Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, landscaper and ‘England’s greatest gardener’, died at the age of 67. • 11 February 1897 Roger Crompton Notcutt purchased a nursery in Woodbridge, Suffolk, which was later named Notcutts. Today the company operates 18 garden centres and is currently in its fourth generation of family ownership – Roger’s great-granddaughter Caroline Notcutt is vice-chairman. Notcutts is the exclusive supplier of Mattocks Roses. • 10 February 1855 The first winter meeting of the Horticultural Society was held in Regent Street, London. The society became the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in 1861. • 12 February 1809 Charles Darwin, naturalist, was born. He died in 1882.…

There are around 1,000 species of wattle, and growing a few different ones from seed in a greenhouse or conservatory is fun. To hasten germination, damage the hard seed coat by abrading it slightly prior to sowing. Alternatively, place seeds in a cup of hot (just boiled) water and leave to stand for 24 hours. Seeds germinate best in warmth (21°C) and young plants should be given cool, bright, frost-free winters for a couple of years prior to being planted out.…

My definition of an architectural plant is one that casts an attractive shadow. With this in mind, space around the leaves is essential to show off the interesting outline. Use smaller-leaved neighbours for contrast and to frame the foliage, but avoid placing big leaves among the bustle and spill of cottage garden schemes as they can look like ‘cuckoos’. Better to cluster them near walls and brickwork where striking foliage always looks good and receives some protection from bad weather.…

IT may still be uninviting outside, but this won’t deter pests and diseases from taking hold where they can. In a few short weeks the garden will surge back to life and you will be busy enough keeping up with seasonal jobs without taking time out to deal with unwanted visitors and failing plants. So get on top of health and hygiene now, to save yourself a lot of bother in the future. The also applies to houseplants. They will be vulnerable after their winter rest and need checking to make sure they aren’t hosting pests lured indoors by the promise of a warm home. I health-check my garden routinely, starting with the greenhouse and cold frame. Opening the doors on milder days helps keep fungal problems at bay, although…

IF you are looking for beauty and a beast wrapped up in one package, look no further than lily beetles. Resembling brilliant scarlet jewels, they will strip plants of foliage, and eat flowers, stems and seed pods. To add insult to injury, their larvae protect themselves with a casing made from their own poo. As well as attacking lilies, these voracious pests also eat fritillaries and crown imperials (Fritillaria imperialis). Lily beetles start to appear in March, although they may be spotted earlier in very mild and sheltered areas. Their vivid-red colour makes them easy to spot, but they swiftly evade capture by dropping into the heart of the plant when you go to pick them off. Early infestations cause defoliation, which can lead to undersized bulbs (because the leaves…

THIS week’s free seeds from Mr Fothergill’s are for an extremely versatile plant that can be used as a climber or a trailing plant in hanging baskets. Thunbergia ‘Susie Mixed’ is a robust grower with attractive foliage and myriad black-centred blooms in shades of yellow and cream. Also known as Black Eyed Susan (not to be confused with Rudbeckias of the same name), it grows to 48in (120cm) tall and can even be used as a wall decoration in light conservatories. I’m starting my plants off in modules of seed compost and will pot them on and harden them off before moving them outside to their final location. I may grow them in a flamboyant border pyramid, or train them against the side of the shed to hide areas that…

10-March 4: Snowdrop Spectacular: Burton Agnes Gardens, Burton Agnes, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 4NB. 01262 490324, burtonagnes.com 10: So You Want to be a Garden Designer? RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 10-11: Snowdrop Walk: Rode Hall, Scholar Green, Cheshire, ST7 3QP. 01270 873237, rodehall.co.uk 10-11: Snowdrops at Colesbourne Park, Colesbourne, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9NP. 01242 870264/870567,colesbournegardens.org.uk 10-28: Snowdrop Days: Evenley Wood Garden, Evenley, Northants, NN13 5SH. 017776 307849, Evenleywoodgarden.co.uk 10-18: Family Fun – Mud and Machines: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks, HG3 1QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 10-March 9: Snowdrops: Chippenham Park Gardens, Ely, Cambs, CB7 5PT. 01638 721416, chippenhamparkgardens.info • Please send details and images of any events happening in your area to ruth.hayes@timeinc.com or address them to What’s…

MY garden lies close to 700ft (213m) above sea level in a very cold area of the Cotswolds. It’s often bright in winter and garden visitors tend to shiver because spring arrives late here. I once had a garden gathering in March, when hardly anything had struggled from the ground, and shortly afterwards I had a card from one witty attendee. It was addressed “Almost Spring Cottage, Cold Cold Aston!” The bracing air is reputed to be extremely healthy and has been “credited with the longevity of its inhabitants, including several vicars”, according to British History online (british-history.ac.uk). Here’s hoping it works for me, as I don’t intend to move. My first winter was cold and sunny, with 38 frosts in 40 days, and I fell in love with the…

IT was utter decadence at Christmas – vodka and tonic with my very own home-grown slice of lime! Citrus are evocative plants, conjuring up images of sun-drenched Mediterranean courtyards. They lend themselves very well to pot culture, which allows us to grow them in the rather un-Mediterranean UK. We can simply protect them in winter by moving them somewhere well lit and frost-free, ready to adorn our patios in the warmer months. You often get a burst of flowers in late winter – and because fruits can take a year to mature here, a nice harvest, too. Once picked, it pays to give these little evergreen trees a quick prune to shape them up – just snip off any leggy shoots that spoil the shape. A balanced liquid feed now…

Plant at any time in spring or autumn, with mail-order nurseries providing the best choice. Also look for offers in AG . Check individual soil and site preferences, but most daphnes are best in that elusive combination of a well-drained soil that retains moisture. No daphne enjoys waterlogging. Many appreciate full sun – in a raised bed, for example. Some thrive in dappled shade. They are suitable for container growing: plant in a deep pot, filled with a soil-based compost such as John Innes No3.…

I ONCE lived in a mid-terraced house that overlooked at least a dozen back gardens. The one thing that united all these plots (apart from mine, obviously) was the garden path – a slab or concrete creation that ran as straight as an arrow down the centre of the lawn, from the back of the house to a shed plonked at the very bottom. Yet, a garden path can be so much more than a functional way to get from A to B. It can be used to direct movement, lead the eye to a focal point or to divide gardens into different areas. A path allows access to the garden in poor weather and lets you get up close to plants. Although paths can be temporary (such as a…

Black-eyed Susan ( Thunbergia ) Grow this vigorous annual climber up an obelisk or support in a pot – it will be smothered with flowers all summer long. There are several colours available, from white through to orange and red. Sow from February to March. H: 70in (1.8m). Nasturtium Whether climbing, trailing or compact, nasturtiums are endlessly versatile. Perfect for the border or containers, they are free-flowering with vibrant blooms. Sow in early spring under cover, or direct in mid to late spring. Marigold Tough and fast-growing, these jaunty flowers add easy colour to containers. Perfect for a sunny spot on the patio, with blooms from June to September. There are many varieties, including Calendula officinali s (above). Gypsophila elegans Create a cloud of flowers with an annual…

Dicentra formosa ‘Bacchanal’ (AGM) A very good, long-lived, deep-red perennial with ferny green foliage and a taller habit. It always produces seed heads, but can set inferior seedlings – as I know to my cost. H: 4-20in (10-50cm). Dicentra cucullaria From north-eastern USA and Canada, this small woodlander has creamy-white flowers and deeply dissected greenish foliage. Very ephemeral, each flower lasts around two weeks. H: 4-20in (10-50cm). Dicentra formosa ‘Langtrees’ (AGM) Very similar to the popular ‘Pearl Drops’, this white-flowered form has grey-blue foliage so it can be difficult to place in a woodland garden full of soft greens. H: 4-20in (10-50cm). Dicentra ‘Luxuriant’ (AGM) A shorter option, with grey-tinted ferny foliage and lots of cherry-blossom-pink slender lockets. May be a hybrid between US…

How do I prune my mimosa into shape? Q How should I prune my little mimosa Acacia dealbata ? Lindsay Griffin, via email A Mimosa can be grown either as a single-stemmed tree, or some species can be hard-pruned when young to encourage them to grow as multi-stemmed shrubs. Only the most vigorous growers can cope with this treatment, but as your mimosa is Acacia dealbata this should be all right. To grow your plant as a single-stemmed specimen all that is required is light pruning after flowering in spring. Remove any frost-damaged growth back to a healthy shoot. Dead-head, cutting back flowered shoots to a side shoot to encourage compact branching growth. If you would like a multi-stemmed shrub then this will involve cutting the whole trunk back, nearly…

Versatile crop protection We want to hear your stories. Angela Ness from Perth shares her ideas for keeping the birds off IN the spring and summer, tender young crops are irresistible to birds. Then in autumn and winter when food becomes scarce, your late and overwintering crops can become decimated by an onslaught of the hungry creatures. But for a small financial outlay you can create semipermanent structures to protect your crops all year round. Buy a roll of 20mm diameter Qualplast (MDPE) pipe from a plumbers’ merchant. This costs around £25 for a 50m length. Unravel the piping and make an arch shape to the height and width you need. Cut the arches with a hacksaw. Then, use 2ft (60cm) sections of bamboo cane to secure them, placing half…

Acacia pravissima (Oven’s wattle) Native to Victoria, this bushy acacia reaches 10ft (3m). Distinctive triangular grey-green “leaves” are in fact adapted leaf stalks or phyllodes. Fragrant flower heads are bright yellow. Acacia suaveolens (sweet-scented wattle) Medium-sized, bearing long, narrow, blue-grey phyllodes and deliciously scented flowers the colour of lemon cheesecake. These are followed by impressive seed pods. Acacia retinodes (swamp wattle or wirilda) Narrow, willow-like phyllodes and a generous show of pretty canary-yellow blooms. A pretty, slightly weeping, small tree that is tolerant of lime. Acacia verticillata (prickly Moses, star acacia) This acacia bears dark-green, needle-like phyllodes and will form a prickly barrier. Cylindrical flower spikes open to a pale, creamy yellow.…