• the luscious elegance of Helmholtzia glaberrima

    It is a little bit of a misnomer that native shade loving plants don’t have a particularly showy flower and I can’t think of a better species to contradict this than the Stream Lily. As the name suggests it is a moisture loving native that is suitable for growing under large trees in moist conditions.…

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  • More Paper daisies to make you happy: Xerochrysum ‘Kimba Jewel’

    Well, well, well here we are again with me espousing the inherent joy of growing paper daisies, they are still one of my most satisfying and easy to grow recommendations for people wanting some colour in their garden. Xerochrysum bracteantha ‘Kimba Jewel’ has been one of my favourites for a couple of years now, I…

  • Tree on fire: Stenocarpus sinuatus

    The Firewheel trees are flowering their heads off this year, I’m not sure what it is, maybe the searing heat? maybe the deluge of rains, whatever, my tree has never had so many flowers on it and its not the only one.

  • Sweetly Scented Jasminum suavissimum

    I have been growing this native Jasmine in a forgotten corner of my back garden. It is in a raised bed and gets limited sun and is often very dry. The neglected conditions have not stopped this lovely Native Jasmine from thriving. Jasminum suavissimum has sweetly perfumed, white flowers which smell quite similar to the…

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  • the intrigue of Lythrum salicaria

    This is a very fun native pond plant growing in my garden, currently flowering for its second summer. It’s called Lythrum salicaria, or Purple Loosestrife, and it’s an extremely satisfying species to grow thanks to its long flowering period and deep pink-purple flower spikes. I’m growing it as a pond-edge plant, with its root ball completely…

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  • Planting for pollinators: Pelargonium ‘Applause’

    Put your hands together for this prolifically flowering joyful groundcover; introducing Pelargonium ‘Applause’. This is a between the Australian species Pelargonium australe and P. rodneyanum developed by Peter Ollerenshaw of Bywong Nursery. I have found this native geranium to flower from Spring through to Autumn with a height of its bloom in Summer. I am growing…

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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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