The leaves, usually measuring 2 inches, are sustained by an erect or ascending stem, are lanceolate and the stalks are 1/5 to 4/5 inch long. One of the main characteristics of the leaves is the hair that makes them seem as made of red velvet.

      Salvia reflexa has, not only a beautiful smell, but also beautiful pale mauve flowers, 12 mm long that are usually grouped in pairs. If trying to describe the flower, you can say it looks like two lips, the lower lip being longer than the upper one. The blooming period of Salvia reflexa begins in October and ends in May.

      Salvia reflexa is widely known for its use in treating several external or internal diseases such as: bronchitis, asthma, indigestion, excessive sweating, diabetes, tumors or infected wounds. It is also used with the purpose of revigorating the organism after a stressful period or in order to keep the natural color of the hair and maintain its shine. In cases of sensitive skin or teeth that are not white and shiny, it is also recommended to use Salvia reflexa.

      Another important role of Salvia reflexa, known even from ancient times, is in maintaining young the memory as it has an antioxidant effect on brain cells. Because of this, Salvia reflexa is also used in treating Alzheimer.

       Some species of Salvia have been even banned in some places and America is one of them. Salvia divinorum, the only species having this effect on the human body, is not only considered a plant, but also a drug. If smoked, the most dangerous is the extract of leaves, as it can cause dramatic feelings such as fear or even captivity. Salvia divinorum has several ways of being administrated: by smoking, chewing or even drinking it by inhaling the hot vapors.

Salvia reflexa Pictures Gallery

      Christmas Bells have thick roots that come in contrast with the delicate flowers that are absolutely eye-catching. Colors like: orange, scarlet or red and saffron yellow turn it into an explosion of beauty, a visual delight that will most definitely embellish any garden, no matter how gloomy it may be.

      Being named after George Spencer Churchill, the Marquis of Blandford, Blandfordia is the only genus in its family and it includes four species: Blandfordia cunninghamii, Blandfordia grandiflora, Blandfordia nobilis and Blandfordia punicea. Blandfordia punicea, also known as the Tasmanian Christmas Bell, is thought to be the most difficult in terms of cultivation.

      Christmas Bells are considered to be a bit exigent regarding the growing environments. The soil must be well-drained and of a sandy texture and the plant should be protected, not only from full sun, but also from heavy shade.

      The Christmas Bells propagate by seeds and planting them is nothing but a precise process. The quantities of peat and sand mixed in a pot should be equal. As a tip, in order to obtain a pH of 5.0, ideal for this plant, you can use a little lime.

      During growing the soil must be kept moist and any excess will most definitely kill the plant, not helping it to grow faster. The process of germination will end after three weeks but in case the environment is a warm one, the period will be shortened.

      During the process of germination the plant is mostly sensitive to fungal diseases. This problem occurs because of the inobservance of the quantities of water administrated to the plant. Make sure that the watering process is made properly, and you can enjoy the beauty of a healthy Christmas Bell.

Christmas Bells- Blandfordia Pictures Gallery

      Dianthus prefers low temperatures and this is the reason because of which it usually blooms at the beginning of winter. This plant is ideal not only as a garden flower because of the low temperatures it can resist to, but also as a vase flower, case in which, if taken cared of properly it can last even for a month.

      Dianthus can reach a height of 25 to 50 centimeters and it is one of the most appreciated ornamental flowers. Depending on the buyer’s preference, dianthus comes in color like: red, orange, purple, yellow, pink and white.

      Dianthus needs a fertile soil with neutral pH and 4 or 5 hours of full sun per day. The soil should be moist and if the quantity of water is bigger than needed the foliaje will sooner or later turn yellow. The plant needs to be treated with a liquid fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks in order to maintain its health.

      If the growing process is done indoor, you should pay a lot of attention to the temperature and humidity of the room. Dianthus doesn’t like dry air, problem that could be solved by aspersing the leaves with water and by seating the pot in a place where it isn’t exposed to artificial sources of heat or full sun.

      Dianthus is a plant that can be propagated by seeds, cuttings or layering. In the first case, the process of planting the seeds should start in spring and the seeds will germinate in an approximate period of 2-3 weeks. The easiest method of multiplying it is by layering.

      The plant is sensitive to diseases like: bacterial leaf spot, bacterial wilt, bacterial slow wilt, crown gall or fascination and to several fungal diseases like: alternaria blight, anther smut, calyx rot, charcoal rot, downy mildew, fairy-ring leaf spot, fusarium bud rot, fusarium stem rot, fusarium wilt, gray mold, greasy blotch, phialophora wilt, phymatotrichum root rot, pythium root rot, phytophthora wilt, rhizoctonia stem rot, rust, sclerotinia flowerspot and southern blight.

Dianthus Pictures Gallery

      The protection of the Hyacinth Orchid has begun in 1999, by including it in on the list of 2 Australian acts of significant importance for the environmental protection and for the preservation of biodiversity.

      Another name used by Australians when referring to the Hyacinth Orchid is the Christmas orchid, given the fact that this flower emerges in late October to November, but it only flowers in December and January. The flowering is produced at the top of a stem deprived of leaves that can reach up to 1 meter. The flowering part of this Hyacinth Orchid contains somewhere between 25 to 35 flowers which take the shape of a bell. The colors are usually white with spots of red or purple and the petals display an incurved shape, the shape making them similar with one another.

      Taking under consideration the fact that the Hyacinth Orchid originates from a warm climate with high temperatures and long-lasting sunlight, it would be better for cultivators to provide a close environment if they want to cultivate this flower in their own gardens.

      The cultivation process only requires attention and the willingness to provide the best conditions for this flower to develop properly, such as: a covered place, preferably a greenhouse, sufficient amount of water, a resourceful soil and moderate sunlight. Most cultivators tend to make mistakes when it comes to the watering process or that of exposing the plant to sunlight; they have the tendency to overdo it, thing that could be fatal to any Hyacinth Orchid. Excessive sun exposure and too much water can threaten this flower’s growth and can eventually damage it for good.

      Being terrestrial specie, it is not uncommon for the Hyacinth Orchid to occur in places that are not similar to its originating environment, such as forests or woodlands. Some of the places preferred by this plant belong to the Australian coast, where the Hyacinth Orchid is known to develop her habitat. Such places are: New South Wales, Northern Tablelands or Queensland.

      Famous for its amazing flowers, the Hyacinth Orchid is amongst the best selling flowers in the world, not only on a small scale, customer-florist based, but also on a larger scale, where companies contract florists in order to provide them with thousands of Hyacinth Orchids to use them in decorative purposes at special events, or in order to sell them to perfume designers. The Hyacinth Orchid has the freshest and sweetest of smells, not to mention its beautiful and exotic appearance. Definitely a flower designed to impress, the Hyacinth Orchid is appropriate to any event and to any occasion.

Hyacinth Orchid Flower Pictures Gallery