Aussie Beauties
Forget the daggy 70s and 80s view of Australian plants; natives are back in a big way and it’s easy to see why!
These days there is a huge range of native plants to choose from with attractive foliage, showy blooms and long flowering displays. Plus a wonderful variety of compact native plants that are tailor-made for growing in small spaces or pots on the patio or balcony. Many Australian plants entice native birds into the garden and look great with little water or attention.
Look out also for the growing range of grafted Australian plants.
Why graft?
• So that we can grow particular plants in a wider range of growing conditions.
E.g. by grafting onto hardy rootstocks we can grow difficult to cultivate Western Australian varieties in the Eastern states of Australia.
• To improve disease resistance
• To guarantee flower colour e.g. Flowering gums
• The only way to commercial produce some plants is to graft them
• To maintain a particular height e.g. dwarf Flowering Gums
Here's my pick of some of the best Australian plants around.
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
• Small to medium shrub approximately 1 metre tall
• Bright red and yellow flowers create an explosion of colour from Autumn to Spring
• Frost and drought tolerant
• Bird Attracting
• Enjoys full sun
Kangaroo Paw Velvet Series
• A series of new hybrid Kangaroo Paws
• Strappy leaves to 50 cm tall
• Stunning flowers 1 metre tall in shades of ruby, red and green and gold in spring and early summer
• Flower attract honey eating birds
• Frost hardy
• Full sun and well-drained soil
• Perfect for pots and containers
• Use a slow release fertiliser for Australian Plants
Acacia ‘Lime Magik’
• Compact Shrub with weeping lime green foliage
• 4 metres tall and 3 metres wide
• Full sun to part shade and good drainage
• Protect from frost when young
• Feed with a low phosphorous native fertiliser
• Beautiful foliage plant
• Magnificent screen or feature tree. Can be grown in large pots.
Acacia ‘Minicog’
• Compact shrub to 1 metre tall and 1.8 metres wide with bright green foliage
• Full sun to part shade and good drainage
• Protect from frost when young
• Feed with a low phosphorous native fertiliser
• Ideal for rockeries and pots
Corymbia ficifolia ‘Wildfire’
• Grafting onto a specially selected rootstock ensures suitability for growing in a wide range of soil types, guarantees flower colour and limits mature size.
• 6 metres tall and 4 metres wide
• Brilliant red flowers from summer to Autumn
• Beautiful native feature tree
• Full sun to part shade and good drainage
• Feed with a low phosphorous native fertiliser
• Bird Attracting
Adenanthos ‘Silver Streak’
• An upright form of the Australian Woolly Bush
• Beautiful silky silver green foliage
• Ideal hedge or screen
• Small tubular red flowers all year round
• Full sun or part shade
• 3 metres tall and 1.5 metres wide
• Bird Attracting
• Feed lightly in late winter with a fertiliser specifically formulated for Australian Plants
