Many of the same plants come up when discussing cottage garden planting – buddleia, digitalis, dianthus – but Australian native ptilotus is a beautifully soft and informal plant that just doesn’t get enough air time!
There are two varieties that I want to shine a spotlight on: ‘Matilda’ and ‘Joey’. These might seem like two cheeky kids’ names, but in fact they’re sassy plant siblings that make a big impact in the home and garden.
Here’s how to use them.
Ptilotus ‘Matilda’: The highlight of the vase
If you’re a lover of growing your own cut flowers to decorate your home, or even to offer to friends and family as thoughtful gifts, Ptilotus ‘Matilda’ is for you.
Developed by Benary, this plant grows to 70cm in height, with 10cm feathery purple blooms on long, sturdy stems.
The flowers have a long vase life – lasting over two weeks – and look just as impactful when used as a main bloom in a vase arrangement as they do when mixed with other flowers. They’re so fluffy and full, that even just a few stems can make an interesting display!
You can even dry them, too. This is ideal for use in a dried flower arrangement, or as part of a wreath or other creative display! To dry Ptilotus ‘Matilda’, hang them upside down in a dry environment while they’re still fresh, then leave them for two weeks.
Being from Australia, this plant is best suited to growing conditions that are dry and sunny, with well-draining soil. If planting in a mixed border, its ideal position is the middle or back, where it can stand proud above shorter front-of-border plants.
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Ptilotus ‘Matilda’ growing info Light: Full sun Water: Water sparingly Soil: Well draining Position: Middle or back of border Blooming season: Spring-autumn Care: Deadhead spent blooms |
Ptilotus ‘Joey’: A pot-friendly superstar
Just like ‘Matilda’, ptilotus ‘Joey’ is a South West Australian native that is right at home in a sunny position in the garden.
However, unlike his sister, Joey is a shorter variety that is really well suited to patio pots and borders. Growing to around 40cm in height, this plant can dazzle as a standalone specimen, or as an addition to a mixed container (try it with Eucalyptus gunnii SILVERDROP, Pentas lanceolata Northern Lights® Lavender, and/or Salvia farinacea Evolution®).
For the ultimate cottage garden style, block plant ‘Joey’ in the front or mid sections of your borders, and watch as those fluffy lilac plumes sway in the breeze!
Looking after ‘Joey’ is insanely easy. If placed in a sunny position in well-draining soil, this plant will pretty much look after itself. Water sparingly, and you’ll be rewarded with healthy blooms that last all summer.
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Ptilotus ‘Joey’ growing info Light: Full sun Water: Water sparingly Soil: Well draining Position: Front or middle of border Blooming season: Spring-autumn Care: Deadhead spent blooms |
Want to get to know Joey & Matilda a bit more? Watch their reality show here:
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Which ptilotus would you choose? ‘Joey’ or ‘Matilda’? Let me know in the comments section below!
Michael has been involved with gardening and plants since he was just five years old. He is a self-professed Plant Geek, and was listed in the Sunday Times top 20 most influential people in the gardening world, thanks to his plant hunter role at Thompson & Morgan.
Michael was responsible for new plant introductions such as the Egg and Chips plant and the FuchsiaBerry and keeps busy travelling the world in search of new plants as well as lecturing worldwide, including stints in Japan. He is very active on social media – so why not give him a follow at @mr_plantgeek or Facebook. You can also listen to The Plant Based Podcast with Michael and co-host Ellen-Mary on iTunes, Spotify and Google.
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