-
Good morning Iris: Orthrosanthus multiflorus
The flower spikes on the morning Iris really do say good morning all through Spring, it is such a luminous shade of deep blue almost purple that is impossible not to notice. The flowers are displayed on upright stems rising almost a metre above the tufted foliage. Orthrosanthus multiflorus can be found growing naturally on…
-
The oh so fun Leptospermum ‘outrageous’
Leptospermum ‘Outrageous’ puts on a show of brilliant pink-red flowers in Spring, and it absolutely covers itself as the weeks go on. This medium shrub has delicate weeping branches and it can be pruned into a low hedge or border plant. It is also showy enough to be a great feature shrub even when not…
-
Powerful medicinal tree: Pittosporum angustifolium
This is a small native Medicine plant affectionately known as Gumbi Gumbi, it actually has many names as it has many uses. It is also known as Western Pittosporum, Berrigan, Bitter Bush, Cattle Bush, Cheesewood, Butter Bush, Native Willow or Native Apricot. The properties of Gumbi Gumbi are quite potent and only those familiar with…
-
Tough as nails: Actinotus helianthi
I’ve learnt my lesson, plant them and leave them alone! I planted 5 potted Actinotus helianthi last year in my garden, 1 remains, the others were over loved and over watered I think, or there may have been some trampling going on courtesy of kids playing on the swing. Actinotus helianthi are wildflowers, it can…
-
Pimelea nivea: A shrub of contrasts
Pimeleas are wonderful species, they grow quickly and flower often, for long periods of time. However this particular Pimelea is my favourite of all time, forever. This is Pimelea nivea and hails from my home state of Tasmania, I have seen it growing on rocky headlands and gravely Eucalyptus under storey and it is a very…
-
Outstanding: Grevillea arenaria
This is an outstanding plant for attracting birds, providing nesting habitat, shelter and nectar for honeyeaters and insectivorous birds. George Adams ‘Birdscaping Australian Gardens’ Thanks George I couldn’t have said it any better! I love my copy of the above book and use it all the time, I also love Grevillea arenaria or the Nepean…
-
Shade-loving Ornamental Grass: Libertia paniculata
I use this handy little native grass alot in my designs. It looks wonderful mass planted in a shady position and when it begins to flower in Winter it brings a welcome highlight to a dark corner. The flowers last several months and can carry on into Spring. It does prefer part shade and can…
-
More Stenocarpus ‘Doreen’ please
These photo’s were taken of my very own Stenocarpus angustifolius ‘Doreen’ flowering in Autumn. A rainforest shrub native to QLD has delicate ferny foliage, and curly white flowers. Related to Stenocarpus sinuatus (Firewheel tree) but not as large, making it a better option for an urban garden. A cultivar of Stenocarpur angustifolius, we cannot find…
-
The Invaluable Grevillea ‘Dorothy gordon’
I struggle a little with some of the Large flowering Grevilleas, they tend to attract the more aggressive nectar feeding birds like Rainbow Lorikeets and Noisy Miners. These birds then tend to dominate the garden scaring away the smaller more timid birds. However I do make an exception for a hand full of large flowering…
-
Soft and Foamy Grevillea’Seaspray’
Generally I am drawn to plants which are tactile and gentle, whether that be a weeping habit, furry leaf or light breezy foliage. By nature many of our Australian native plants have a grey or silver leaf, which helps them withstand extreme heat or salty sea air, this type of leaf I love as it…
-
Hide it with Hibbertia scandens
Hibbertia scandens or Guinea Flower is one of the most hardy and useful native plants I know of. It can be used as a ground cover, a low shrub, climber or it can even be pruned and shaped into lovely topiary shapes. In the images of this post I used it as a screening species…
-
Leptospermum ‘Cardwell’: the most floriferous of them all
Leptospermum ‘Cardwell’ becomes fully veiled in white flowers from late winter through to spring and early summer, it appears to be covered in white fluffy snow and is quite the show stopper. The weeping habit is a favourite of mine and it will happily grow in tropical, subtropical, and in cooler temperate climates. An elegant…
-
Happy Wattle Day: The Ever useful Acacia fimbriata
The 1st of September is not only the first day of Spring, but it is also National Wattle Day! So if you have any flowering in your garden, cut off a sprig for a jar or pin it to your chest with pride. It has been a very mild Winter so welcoming Spring doesn’t feel…
-
The Mediterranean flavour of Grevillea olivacea
Grevillea olivacea is considered a fast growing native shrub for dry conditions, with its dense habit it is the perfect screening plant to block out any building, street or fence. I use it for its grey foliage and small spider flowers, because spider flowering Grevilleas are my favourites! I also like to incorporate it into…
-
Lucious, Shade-loving: Trochocarpa laurina
Note: The photos on this post were originally misidentified as Decaspermum humile. Thanks to @nightjarnatives who corrected the id on instagram! Trochocarpa laurina or ‘Tree Heath’ is a large shrub to small tree which loves the shade. I have recently spotted it growing under large Eucalyptus in full shade, it also enjoys dappled light. It…
-
Light it up: Grevillea lanigera ‘Mellow Yellow’
I have mass planted Grevillea ‘Mellow Yellow in a semi shaded position in my garden and have been surprised at its tenacity and ability to cover its self in blooms for an extended period of time. The small striking spider like flowers appeared in Summer and are showing no sign of slowing down as we…
-
Try hedging with something a bit different: Lomatia myricoides
I have already written about this large native shrub Lomatia myricoides or River or Long-leaf Lomatia, please see the link below. This post is not so much about this Lomatia as a specimen plant but about its potential as a fabulous tall screening shrub. I have found Lomatia myricoides to be extremely versatile in the…
-
Walks for winter-spring flowering plants on Dharawal Country
In our temperate climate the winter wildflower season is magnificent making it one of the best times for walking in and around the escarpment – or at least when it’s not too muddy! – and many of the winter flowerers continue to bloom through spring. Fingers crossed La Niña doesn’t hit too us too hard…
-
Native flowers in the deepest dark of Winter
It has been a long cold, wet Winter here on the southern NSW coast, off and don’t forget windy! In fact my garden experienced a mini tornado a month ago, a micro weather event which sent someones garden shed and contents flying into my garden and uprooted apparently wind break natives. So a couple of…
-
Luscious, Dense and Green: Xanthostemon chrysanthus
This showy small to medium tropical tree was flowering its head off on my recent trip to Brisbane and northern NSW. It was such a welcome sight after the damp, soggy Summer we have had, finally a species revelling in all the rain! Xanthostemon chrysanthus is also known as ‘Golden Penda’ and comes in a…
-
Summer Scents: Hymenosporum flavum
The scent of a frangipani marks Summer for many people, when I used to live in Sydney the frangipanis and jasmine filled the inner city streets in Summer giving off a potent scent in the warm weather. What many people don’t know is that there is a native equivalent, yes a native Frangipani! The native…
-
Habitat Gardening
My eye is repeatedly drawn to this delightful photo of a father Tawny Frogmouth and his hatchling. Tawny Frogmouth fathers look after their baby birds until they fledge and require wide branches or large forks in old trees to nest. The photo was taken by Darren Broughton from BIBY TV, a Youtube channel with many…
-
Portfolio: St Ives Landscape Design
This garden in the leafy north shore suburb of St Ives was designed last year and built only 7 months ago, by Ash from ‘Living on the Hedge’. Part of the brief for this garden was to have plenty of year round flowers for bees and birds and given these photos have been taken in…
-
The little purple pea that could: Indigofera australis
This is a common medium sized shrub that really can do anything…..it can fill a dark boring corner, it can flower profusely, it can provide lots pf nectar rich flowers for bees and butterflies, it can grow extremely quickly and it can look amazing! Indigofera australis or Native Indigo is a common 2 metre shrub…
Category: Butterfly attracting