From the sublime to the ridiculous

The powder-puff  pink flower
of the Thyme Honey-myrtle, 
Melaleuca thymifolia

Isn't this a delight? It is Melaleuca thymefolia, Thyme Honey-myrtle though I prefer an alternative name, Feather Honey-myrtle. 
It is flowering down by the lake at the moment, and we also have it in the nursery. It is native to Southern Queensland, is drought tolerant, and can survive light to medium frosts. Very popular as a garden plant it grows to about 1 metre high and wide.

If you want to know more about growing it in your garden go to www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp4/melaleuca-thymifolia.html

Melaleuca thymifolia
at Peacehaven Botanic Park

Now to the ridiculous, although another striking local native, in the Giant Spear Lily Doryanthes palmeri. I'm only calling it ridiculous in the comparison of size. This beauty has a flower that is about 12 mm wide, but that is not all. The flower scape or stalk can be up to 5 metres in length with many flowers as can be seen in the photo below.

A single flower

The flower head

The foliage is long and strappy and can grow to about 3 metres high and wide. It is a wonderful feature plant for a large garden, and it is tough being frost tolerant (although emerging flower stalks may be affected) and drought tolerant. 

Looking towards the rotunda
 from the dry creek bed
 with Doryanthes palmeri
and excelsa in the foreground.

There are several of these lilies dotted around Peacehaven with its close relative Doryanthes excelsa. They flower in spring but you can see a huge seed head on one near the low bridge (photo above). The flowers are full of nectar and are very attractive to birds. If you do decide to plant one be prepared to wait as they take 5 - 7 years to flower. 

Want to know more? Go to http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/2008/05/spear-lilies-in-seed.html

Both these plants are available in the Peacehaven Botanic Park nursery right now!