Rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) is generally grown as a dense shrub with masses of fragrant, thin, dark green leaves. Its flowers are usually small and blue in colour, although pink and white-flowered varieties are also available. Plants can grow between 60cm and 1.5metres in height, according to the particular variety selected, making them suitable for varied uses in garden plans. Prostrate-growing varieties are also available.

Rosemary is particularly suitable for growing as a hedge as plants respond well to pruning, provided that older wood is not cut into.

The pieces removed from the plant can be used as cuttings to establish new plants. Late summer is the preferred time for this to happen.

Because rosemary has smaller leaves it is generally more drought-tolerant.

Growing conditions similar to its native habitat, the Mediterranean, will assist in ensuring good, long growth. Well-drained positions in full sun are ideal.

In addition to its value as a landscape plant, rosemary is  most useful in culinary applications. It can be used to flavour lamb, pork, chicken and fish dishes .

Some of the different varieties of rosemary include:

“Gallipoli”, which forms a large, grey-green shrub to 1.2m in height and has mauve flowers borne in profusion between late July and October.

“Tuscan blue” has stiff, upright stems, making it an ideal hedging plant.

“Gorizia” forms a substantial bush to 1 metre. Its leaves are highly prized in Italy for cooking.

“Corsican Blue” is an upright bush variety. Its fine leaves have an intense fragrance. Rich blue flowers are also a feature.

 ‘Huntingdon Carpet’ is a prostrate grower, reaching about 25 centimetres in height. Plants are covered in beautiful blue flowers. It looks most effective when looks planted so it tumbles over rocks or a wall. It is also suitable for growing in a hanging basket.

‘Salem’ is a rosemary that came to Australia from Auckland, New Zealand. It's an upright grower, attains a height of just under a couple of metres, with a width of about a metre, and makes a great hedging plant with spikes of deep blue flowers through summer.

‘Pink Remembrance’ and “Majorca Pink” produce pink flowers instead of blue, while “Sissinghurst White” is a good white-flowered variety.

Hoyas, or waxflowers, are often thought of as being rather exotic, and, therefore, difficult to grow sufficiently well to be able to produce their very attractive flowers.

Plants produce fleshy foliage on long stems that climb through their local environment, without becoming invasive. The foliage is mainly produced in shades of green, although variegated forms, with pale or darker yellow patches, are available.

Interesting foliage shapes add an extra dimension to many varieties and can range from traditional, blade-shaped leaves, through to very elongated forms. Some varieties form heart-shaped leaves.

Foliage can vary from quite miniature in size through to leaves that are several centimetres in length. The flowers, which are slightly fragrant, come in shades of white, cream or pale and deeper pinks and often have a covering resembling sugar frosting.

Most varieties flower in clusters of star-shaped blooms, with up to 40 individual blooms present.

Because hoyas repeat flower from the original flower stem this should not be removed when the flower has died.

Although the flowers of hoyas appear to be quite delicate, they are much less demanding than their appearance suggests. They generally prefer moderate warmth and some humidity, although plants can grow very successfully in colder climates, provided they are protected from frosts by a glasshouse or similar structure. The stems produce a white, sticky sap, which may be an irritant to some people.

In more temperate areas, hoyas will grow and flower well if they have been placed in an area with indirect light or dappled shade. Because of their climbing nature, a support for their tendrils is an advantage.

They adapt very well to hanging basket culture, or their pot can simply be suspended from the branch of a tree, shrub or the frame of a shade construction.

Hoyas prefer to become somewhat root-bound, that is, they do not necessarily require repotting when the plant has filled its pot. An occasional spray with water, with the excess being allowed to flow through the pot, is sufficient.

Ideally, hoyas should be purchased when in flower, as the buyer can then select the flower type and colour that appeals. Hoya australis is a variety native to Australia.

Hoyas are quite easy to propagate, using two main methods. Sections of the plant can be layered, placing a stem across a pot of soil with the stem pressed into the soil. When roots have formed, the stem can be cut from the main plant.

The second method involves the taking of cuttings from a parent plant. The cuttings will generally grow quite well, if placed into a pot of loose, friable loam.

In general, hoyas are disease-free, although mealy-bug can sometimes be present in thicker, curled leaves. These will appear as small, sticky, white clusters. Spraying with white oil or dabbing the area with a cotton bud dipped in methylated spirits will control this problem.