• More Native plants for Containers

    I absolutely love growing native plants in pots or containers, it enables me to grow species which would just up and die if I planted them in the ground. It also means I am increasing the amount of flowers in my garden and providing extra food for pollinating insects. One species I have had several…

    2 responses

  • A Portrait of a Flower and a shrub: Hakea francisiana

    This is a 5 year old post which I am adding to as this grafted Hakea reveals itself to be a wonderful feature shrub or small tree. Hakea francisiana Grafted has a dense vase shaped habit and covers itself in the striking pink poker flowers from June to October. I have been increasingly using this…

    8 responses

  • 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.…

    One response

  • 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…

  • 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…

    2 responses

  • Bulbine Bulbosa the leek that creeps

    Say hello to this happy little native bulb, this is the native leek or Bulbine bulbosa and I have been using it in designs for the past few years around pond edges and in native cottage style gardens. The bright yellow fragrant flower spikes appear in Spring and when grown in clusters this plant can…

    3 responses

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  3. Hi guys – I have two grass trees. One seems to be growing well but the second is struggling. The…

  4. Thanks Marc, Have you seen the previous posts on natives for containers? https://malleedesign.com.au/native-plants-for-pots/ https://malleedesign.com.au/natives-for-pots-and-containers-part-2/ https://malleedesign.com.au/natives-for-pots-and-containers-3/ Best Wishes, Kath

  5. Absolutely love this! Please do more posts on natives in containers. Quite interested in trying some of the mallees althought…

  6. Hi Kath, Thanks for your advice. Since then I have still been trying to decide on the best choice for…

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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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