Go Plant Crazy At Ellerslie Flower Show 2005

September 29 2005

Go Plant Crazy At Ellerslie Flower Show 2005

Ellerslie Flower Show 2005 is set to showcase the latest and greatest in plant species, with fabulous opportunities to witness varieties like never before.

From exotic colour combinations to ethereal plants and lustrous natives in their natural environment, the rare plants on offer at this year's Show are guaranteed to inspire those with green fingers.

One of the most colourful additions to this year's Show comes from West Coast Orchids of West Auckland, where scientists David and Nancy Beck have been busy creating their own colour variations from their highly successful Red Dragon bromeliad plant.

Dr David Beck says new colours such as orange, yellow and purple spikes would complement the Red Dragon, which will be featuring in the Gardeners Sanctuary at the Show.

"This has never been done with this genus of plant before and certainly not with this species," says Dr Beck.

It's a new challenge for the Beck's who estimate the additional shades will expand their exports to around one million stems in five years.

To see plants that could be from another world, you'll need to be at the Inplants Ltd exhibit situated in the Show's Hort Galore Marquee.

Plants never before seen by the New Zealand public will be on display, encased within an eerie atmosphere of contrasting colour and unusual foliage.

Among the plants will be a giant Podophyllum with extraordinary umbrella-like leaves and two huge Begonias. One of the Begonias has a pewter-like spider pattern while the other is characterised by a dramatic cream, green and purple foliage.

And don't miss a fantastic variegated orange Alstroemeria with cream and pink edged foliage, a large vibrant foliage Fuchsia, a rainbow of brand new foliage Heucheras and the stunning Ajuga Black Scallop.

You'll have the opportunity to get back to nature at the Pacific Retail Finance Marquee designed by Xanthe White. The marquee will be home to an abundance of beautiful New Zealand natives, including Kahikatea, Apium 'White Denticles' and Lastreopsis Microsora.

The Kahikatea has an ethereal appearance that contrasts with the subtropical nature of much of northern New Zealand forestland.

'Apium White Denticles' is a small native herb hailing from Auckland's west coast. Ellerslie Flower Show 2005 will be virtually the first time this newly discovered rare native plant will have been included in horticulture. Its near relative Apium Prostratum is the native celery, hence the plants' respective inclusions in the vegetable garden!

The Lastreopsis Microsora is a plant that deserves attention. A groundfern with a delicate appearance, the Lastreopsis microsora looks similar to a miniature silver fern. It is tolerant of a wider range of conditions than most ferns, including dry conditioner and higher light and has a lot of commercial potential, fitting as a groundcover in many different styles of garden, such as native, woodland or tropical.

So make the most of the amazing plants on offer and go plant crazy at Ellerslie Flower Show 2005 - you won't be disappointed!

ENDS

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