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Future release plants and the Ozbreed gardens - A sneak peek

By Katrina Layt

Many of the new plants in this article are not yet available in New Zealand, but the majority of them are now being trialled in New Zealand. We are estimating that these plants would be released within 1-2 years, some in 6-12 months. We want to make sure these plants are suitable to New Zealand before they are released, but this is a great sneak peek for now. If you are interested in any of the plants in this article, talk to one of your Ozbreed growers and let them know! This is the best way to make sure these plants will be available in the future.

The new additions to our trial gardens are from our own breeding programs and from other various internationally-known breeders. They include plenty of new shrubs and groundcovers, many new perennials with great foliage and flowers and some exotics too. All of which are selected for their aesthetics and toughness.

The previous summer has been very wet throughout much of eastern Australia with some record hot days as well. This has given us a good chance to really see how these plants will hold up to heat, humidity, and RAIN (A Lot of Rain!)

We've expanded the gardens and we continue to expand our palette to include a wide range of Australian natives as well as exotics. So we have to make room for more trials! In this garden, we have planted some of our new drought hardy shrubs and groundcovers including Westringia, Hardenbergia, Grevillea and many more.

For most gardeners in eastern Australia, Westringia are a mainstay because they are so tough. We have teamed up with the University of Sydney and Nuflora to introduce several new and useful forms of Coastal Rosemary.

Westringia Naringa (top of photo) is a hedge form of the ever-popular native Coastal Rosemary. It was selected because it will require far less pruning to maintain its shape. This is a selection from our partners at NuFlora/University of Sydney.

Westringia Mundi (front of photo) is from the same breeding program as Westringia Naringa. Selected after 5 years of trialling to find the “lowest growing, groundcover form” of Westringia. If left unpruned, Mundi will only reach about knee height after 7 years. The nearest comparator was about twice this high! Yes, these will still need some pruning to keep a hedge but nowhere near as much as others currently available.

Hardenbergia Meema (top of photo) was selected after almost 10 years of trials to find a “shrub form” Hardenbergia. Yes, it will occasionally need some light pruning to hold its shape, but it can be produced without staking and can be used in the landscape as a hedge or trained to climb as a vine. Great flowers seem to persist significantly longer than other Hardenbergia varieties available today.

This photo is a great example of how Australian plants can be used to define spaces, hold embankments and still be water wise. Pictured here are our Scaevola Purple Fusion (left front), Westringia Mundi (groundcover, right of Purple Fusion), Westringia Naringa (hedge, back left), Hardenbergia Meema (hedge, back right) with some Lomandra intermixed for textural interest. 

Shown here is our Grevillea Gold Cluster. We are currently trialling many new shrub and tree forms of Grevillea. Some from our own breeding and some from other reputable breeders in Australia. When used in the right place, Grevillea are a great drought tolerant plant that can provide many months of colour. Some of the new selections coming through have beautiful flowers and form.

Liriope Pure Blonde planted here with Black Mondo. Cut it back in late winter and the new foliage flushes white (“blonde”) and stays that way for a couple of months until eventually reverting to green in the heat of summer. This plant is best positioned with some protection from strong winds. It has amazing colour contrast and is a very unique plant (some love it, some hate it). These plants will possibly be released depending on demand. So the more you talk to your suppliers about it, the more likely these plants will come through.

A great mix of natives and non-natives are shown right. Our lawn alternative Liriope Isabella is planted around Westringia Naringa (which has been cut back to a smaller height), Phormium Flamin with a few of our Velvet Range Kangaroo Paw in the background. 

For over 2 years we have been evaluating Isabella’s potential as a lawn substitute with encouraging results! As you can see, this highly rhizomatous selection has completely filled this area making it a great choice as a low water, full sun to 90% shade alternative to Mondo; grows to around 40cm high. We have maintained this area by mowing it once a year.

We are always exploring new opportunities with some of our old favourites! Shown here is a research area where we are measuring the Carbon-holding capacity of many Ozbreed varieties: Lomandra Nyalla, Lomandra Katrinus Deluxe, Lomandra Tanika, Dianella Cassa Blue, Dianella Revelation and others.

There is always a demand for this New Zealand native with their wide range of colours and sizes. Shown here is our Phormium Sweet Mist; arguably the most dwarf bronze Phormium available today. Foliage is much “softer” than other Phormium. With Flamin' in the background.

Aussie gardens typically aim to mimic the natural landscape. This Aussie garden has many architectural grass-like plants with great foliage texture, colour and even some with great blooms.  Of course these are all great for low water gardens too. Shown here are Phormium Flamin, Dianella Little Jess, Lomandra Katrinus Deluxe and several of our Velvet Kangaroo Paw. The Kangaroo Paws pictured here are our Gold Velvet (left) and Amber Velvet (in front of Gold Velvet). Both were bred for ink spot resistance and general landscape hardiness.

Flower power! Here’s a shot of our Agapanthus Queen Mum from a world-known Agapanthus breeder. Selected for its contrasting violet and white flower and massive size/flower count. This variety has very low seed and viability, making it a safer choice of Agapanthus. This plant needs your interest, start talking to your suppliers.

A funky spin on Tibouchina. This one is from a New Zealand grower. Princess Flower is, as the name suggests, usually distinguished by their awesome flower but you will easily pick this one out by its foliage! This is available through Dawn Rothay Nurseries.

The future is bright and growing for Australian native plants and for Ozbreed. So as we continue to build our Ozbreed and Foliage First ranges, we are very excited by the potential of our new plants. We will keep you updated on when these plants are released in New Zealand. 

For information on the plants listed, visit www.landscapegardeningplants.com.nz or contact Nathan Dutschke: sales@ozbreed.com.au