It’s spring sale time for all green thumbs and gardening enthusiasts alike, with the debut of another new release from Kings Park’s plant breeding program.
Alyogyne cv ‘Blue Heeler’ is ideal for small gardens in need of low maintenance yet striking floral displays. With a lovely Hibiscus-like shape, the bright purple flowers bloom throughout the spring and summer months. Its compact form allows the plant to develop a beautiful semi-cascading habit when grown in pots and hanging baskets, making it the perfect addition to sunny courtyards or balconies.
First discovered on the WA south coast by Kings Park’s Luke Sweedman, the Alyogyne specimen was collected and planted in the Botanic Garden in 2007. Following successful trials, the Blue Heeler variety has become an exciting addition to the Kings Park plant breeding collection. Senior plant breeder at Kings Park, Digby Growns, believes it is a terrific step forward for the program.
'This versatile plant has revealed a fantastic opportunity to further develop other compact lines of flora and experiment with different flowering times in future trials. The Blue Heeler species is a worthy fit for any style of garden, including both exotic and native designs.'
A limited number of Alyogyne cv ‘Blue Heeler’ plants will be available from the Friends of Kings Park native plant sale from Saturday 29 September to Monday 1 October, as part of the 2012 Kings Park Festival.