• Philotheca myoporoides and it’s many forms

    This gorgeous shrub is called Wax Flower or Philotheca, which apparently means “loving receptacle”. And that it is, providing plenty of flowers for pollinators and scent for humans, it is a very hardy species which can handle sun and shade in equal measure. Because of its hardiness it is one of the most widely cultivated…

  • The little brother:Rytidosperma racemosum

    I don’t know why but I have always thought of Wallaby Grass as the little brother to Kangaroo Grass. I adore native grasses, they are such an important part of a native planting palette, providing texture and movement and they also play a crucial role as a food source for wildlife. This sweet little native…

  • The multifaceted Eremophila Polyclada

    This is Twiggy Emu Bush, lives up to its name, this facinating emu bush seems to be showy no matter what stage of flowering it is at. The spent flowers leave behind these showy yellow fruits , and sometimes also left behind is the black remains of the petals, this creates a mix of white,…

  • Silver in the Shade: Plectranthus argentatus

    If you are looking for a native under story plant to grow where no plant has succeeded before give Plectranthus argentatus a try. It will grow in the dry soil under large trees and ramble about filling in bare patches creating a dense silver layer to a dark forgotten corner. Plectranthus argentatus has a lightly…

  • The purity of Grevillea ‘Ivory Whip’

    I am quite selective and fussy when it comes to large flowering spike Grevilleas, some of them I find incredibly garish and I dislike the way they attract the aggressive nectar feeding birds. For some reason this medium sized Grafted Grevillea remains an exception for me. The flowers of Grevillea ‘Ivory Whip’ are not in…

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  • The perfect Scented Screen: Leptospermum ‘Little Lemon Scents’

    This dwarf graceful, weeping tea tree is a wonderful addition to any garden, it can be used as a privacy screen, in a mixed hedge or as a soft backdrop in a layered planting. The compact habit of Little Lemon Scents is far smaller growing and more shapely than its parent, Leptospermum petersonii (Lemon-Scented Tea…

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providing resources for native plant gardeners and designers.


Mallee Design was created by Kath Gadd in 2012 to document and share her love for native Australian garden design. Her original motivation was to inspire those interested in learning more about native Australian plants. The Mallee Design blog has since grown into a rich resource, used by gardeners, horticulturalists, landscape designers and others.

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