Top 10 Aussie Natives
1. Acacia Cognata Limelight
A fantastic miniature Wattle grown for it's lush lime-green weeping foliage and compact shape. This shrub has grown more popular over the years due to public awareness of drought tolerant plants. Acacia Limelight grows approximately 80cm high by 80cm wide and makes an attractive feature when used in garden beds or pots and can even be used in Balinese and Japanese style gardens. Very hardy and performs best in full-sun to part-shade in very well-drained soil.
2. Adenanthos sericeus ‘Silver Streak'
Native to Western Australia and also known as ‘Woolly Bush', Silver Streak is a beautiful native shrub growing 2 metres tall by 1.5 metres wide. Fast growing and compact makes it ideal for screening purposes or as a specimen planting in garden beds and pots. Grown predominately for its silver-green foliage, which is very soft to the touch and makes an ideal potted Aussie Christmas tree. The small orange-red pea flowers appear mainly through the warmer months, but have been known to occur most of the year. Very drought tolerant and low maintenance as it requires very little water and pruning is not necessary.
3. Alyogyne huegelii ‘West Coast Gem'
Native to South Australia and known as ‘Native Hibiscus', Alyogyne huegelii is a showy shrub growing 2 metres high by 2 metres wide, although it can be kept shorter. The lobed leaves are deep green in colour and the large hibiscus-like flowers are vibrant purple. A hardy garden specimen which can be used as screening along fences and paths performs best in full-sun, but will tolerate part-shade. Drought and frost tolerant, West Coast Gem prefers well-drained, rich soil in an open situation.
4. Anigozanthos
Known as ‘Kangaroo Paw' due to its unique flowers bearing resemblance to a kangaroos paw, Anigozanthos is a very tough garden or tub plant that will flower all year when spent flowers are removed. Height of Anigozanthos varies greatly between varieties with some growing to only 30cm in height, while others can reach the 2 metre mark. Kangaroo Paw are very showy when mass planted or can be features when planted singularly. The dark-green strap-like foliage perfectly compliment the tall, erect flower heads which come in a variety of colours including pink, red, orange, yellow, green and black. Performing best in full-sun to part-shade and tolerant of a variety of soil conditions as long as it is well-drained
5. Callistemon Kings Park Special
One of the most ornamental of all Callistemons, King's Park Special has slightly weeping branches with masses of bright red bottlebrush flowers appearing in Spring and Summer with occasional flowering in Autumn. Performing well in both full-sun and part-shade, King's Park Special thrives in moist, well-drained soil, but also tolerates drought, coastal and boggy conditions. Grows 3 – 5 metres high and 3 metres wide and enjoys light pruning after flowering which helps maintain compact growth.
6. Eremophila Nivea
A beautiful small rounded shrub with silver-green foliage and tubular mauve flowers appearing in Spring. Hardy and tolerant of exposed conditions, Eremophila Nivea performs best in well-drained soil in a full-sun position and enjoys being pruned back after flowering to maintain compact growth. Growing to only 1 – 1.5 metres tall and 1.5 metres wide, Eremophila is fantastic as a contrast feature plant in gardens, pots or mass planted for a sea of silver.
7. Grevillea Moonlight
A very showy Grevillea with large lemon coloured toothbrush flowers, appearing most of the year. The dark green and deeply divided foliage perfectly compliments the flowers which also attract nectar feeding birds. Performing best in full-sun to part-shade and growing 3 – 4 metres tall by 3 metres wide, Grevillea Moonlight makes an impressive feature or screening plant. Tolerates most soil conditions including dry periods when mature, but thrives in a morst, well-drained situation while establishing. Prune well after flowering to encourage bushy growth.
8. Orthrosanthus Multiflorus (Morning Flag)
An outstanding native with dark green, grassy foliage and vivid blue flower spikes full of star-like flowers appearing in Spring. This beauty is fast growing, low maintenance and tolerant of a wide range of conditions providing the area has good drainage. Growing 50cm high by 50cm wide and performing well in both full-sun and part-shade.
9. Scaevola Zig Zag
This hardy, fast growing groundcover is absolutely gorgeous when in full flower in Spring and Summer. The deep green foliage is almost completely covered with stunning blue and white striped flowers. Growing only 15-20cm high and performing at its best in full-sun and well-drained soil, Scaevola Zig Zag can be used in rockeries, embankments, pots and hanging baskets.
10. Westringia Wynyabbie Gem
An interesting and hardy small shrub with grey-green leaves with soft white underneath and masses of lilac flowers throughout the year.. Fast growing and tolerant of most soils and conditions, Westringea Wynyabbie Gem is perfect to use for hedging or screening purposes and also tolerates exposed and coastal conditions. Performs best in full-sun to part-shade and grows to 1.5 metres high by 1.5 metres wide, although it can be kept shorter with regular pruning. |
