Jerry shares his checklist on how to pick a surefire winning plant next time you visit your local native nursery. Subscribe 🔔 ab.co/GA-subscribe
Size matters: You may be tempted to purchase a plant with a lot of height, but if it’s in a small pot, this can indicate root congestion. Select a plant that is twice the height of its pot. This smaller ratio of height to root growth will establish well and be better value for money.
Go for a single leader: A specimen that has two leaders may look like a bushier plant now, but this can lead to trouble down the track. Double leader trees can split as they mature, and no amount of pruning will ensure the perfect health of the tree.
Give it a squeeze: Squeezing the pot gives you an indication of what's happening in the root zone. If there’s too much resistance, it may be crowded with roots that are strangling the plant, and this will make it difficult for the plant to establish. Too loose and the plant’s too young to take home.
Check the drainage holes: If roots are forming well, you may see new roots starting to poke out at the base, this means the roots have developed well and it’s ready for planting into the garden.
Check moisture levels: The moisture level in the pot will be indicated by the surface of the mix. Is there mix nice and evenly damp, or is it dried out, desiccated and resisting water? This could be a sign of hydrophobia where potting mix becomes old and tired. A thick crust of moss can also prevent water reaching the plant which affects the health of the plant overall.
Give it a thorough check-over: A dead branch here and there or a chewed leaf is fine. This is where we might put conventional thinking aside, especially if the plant is a host plant for beneficial insects.
Pot types: Jerry preferences tube stock grown in tubular pots about 10cms long. Their compact size means they're ultra-efficient when it comes to space, allowing nurseries to offer a greater variety of unusual plants. Studies have shown that after two to three years in the ground tube stock will equal the size of larger plants and at five years, they will exceed them in their growth rate.
Ring ahead: If you're looking for a special plant it's a good idea to ring the nursery in advance. Nurseries produce their greatest amount during autumn and winter as that's a great time to plant.
Explore: Part of the fun of visiting the nursery is checking out new varieties, variegations, hybrids and cultivars. Keep in mind that native plants originally grown in bushland that have been specially bred for certain characteristics may need more delicate care in a garden setting.
Think local: A further distinction is native versus indigenous varieties. Native plants originate in Australia and abroad, whereas indigenous plants are specifically local to one area. Selecting indigenous plants means they will already be adapted to local soils, conditions and wildlife.
Featured Plants:
GREY MYRTLE - Backhousia myrtifolia
BRIBIE ISLAND PINE - Callitris columellaris
HOLLY FUCHSIA - Graptophyllum ilicifolium
UMBRELLA CHEESE TREE - Glochidion sumatranum
CASCADE LILLY PILLY - Syzygium luehmannii x wilsonii
POWDERPUFF LILLY PILLY - Syzygium wilsonii
RIBERRY - Syzygium luehmannii
NATIVE ELM - Aphananthe philippinensis
BLUE UMBRELLA - Mackinlaya macrosciadea
BANKSIA - Banksia menziesii
GREVILLEA - Grevillea sp.
WARATAH - Telopea sp.
TREE WARATAH - Alloxylon flammeum
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