Story: Plant Highlights
Episode: 6
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 20th September 2025

As we emerge from a long cold and very wet winter, the plants that arrive first are always best! Trevor shares his favourites.

• For a period of approximately 4 weeks, a mature magnolia tree will produce as many as 200 flowers, and the colours range from soft pinks to pure whites and then darker colours like burgundy.
• Then there’s the members of the hibiscus family, the Abutilons or Chinese lanterns. There are lots of bold colours here, and a mature bush can carry 500 flowers in spring.
• Winter is the time for citrus and the last of the seasonal fruits to bloom.
• Cumquats may be a little sour depending on the variety, but that makes them even better when pickled in brandy, dried, or eaten fresh when mature.