Green thumb Christmas cool is all white with tactical plantings
WHITE flowers and white foliage create a cooling effect to the eye and lift other flowers and foliage in the garden. There are many tropical white flowering and foliage plants that are hardy and, once established, need little care.
Of course, soil preparation before planting is essential. Remove all weeds and old roots, add a bucket of manure or compost to every square metre of the garden bed and lightly turn in.
It is important to ensure the soil is well hydrated before planting and mulch is ready to apply before the holes are dug. The holes should be a little larger than the pot size of the plant. Fill the holes with water and water the plants in their pots so the roots are moist; always plant a wet plant in a wet hole as dry soil repels water.
After planting, sprinkle a little organic fertiliser around plants and mulch. Water again and water every second day for the next two weeks, every third day for the next three weeks, then once a week until the plants are established and can manage on natural rainfall.
Taller white shrubs should be planted towards the back of the garden or placed inbetween other shrubs to highlight the area. Smaller shrubs to the centre and, of course, small growing or ground cover plants to the front and edge of the garden.
Croton Icetone has white foliage edged with green and creates an interesting contrast with other green and coloured leaves. As with all variegated foliage, care must be taken to remove any branches that revert to plain green. Croton leaf colour benefits from regular fertilising with added sulfate of potash.
Wrightia Arctic Snow grows into a tall slim shrub, with pure white star flowers all year. It can be kept pruned to 1m high and will subsequently tend to bush out into a pleasing hedge-like shrub. This hardy, equatorial plant is comparatively hardy and pest-free but will not tolerate soggy areas.
Gardenia Florida is a low-growing plant, 1m in height, and flowers profusely throughout spring and will even spot flower all year. The large, double white flowers have a pleasant perfume. This open-growing shrub has light green leaves and is comparatively disease resistant. However, as with all gardenias, monitor and control ants, which bring scale and mealy bug.
Alternanthera snow mountain is a smallgrowing white foliaged shrub with a sprawling habit and can be used as a ground cover. It is also an ideal border plant, but it does require regular pruning to maintain the white foliage otherwise the older leaves turn green.
Zephyranthes candida, the white rain lily, is a small lily with dark green, strappy leaves. The flowers are triggered by low pressure systems and will bloom profusely in stormy weather. It can be planted in clumps or used as a border plant. The crinum caterpillar is a pest of this lily and control can be achieved with Neem oil.
Proiphys amboinensis, the Cardwell lilies’ large heart-shaped leaves are starting to emerge from dormancy and soon the spectacular heads of white flowers will open pure white for Christmas. This lily can be grown in pots or out in the garden for a stunning summer display.
Caladium moonlight’s delicate white leaves require some protection from the hottest sun and need to be kept moist in a well composted garden bed. The tubers multiply quickly and will transform any dark corner of the garden. C. Moonlight is a perfect plant for a patio pot and can be grown indoors in a well lit room.
Mussaenda filippica Aurora is commonly known as the white Bangkok Rose and is a large shrub growing to 2m. This equatorial plant is semi-deciduous in FNQ and returns to leaf and bloom in mid-spring. The small orange flowers are surrounded by large, white, felt-like sepals that are long lived and cover the bush in a spectacular display. Good drainage and a full sun position will ensure this tropical shrub has the opportunity to shine.
Ensure you mulch around young plants to shade the soil and prevent loss of nutrients in heavy rain. Water new plantings in the morning and see your garden bloom white for Christmas.