Formal gardens – Mallee Design

The Bronze Highlights of Gymnostoma australianum

This almost Christmas like tree is part of the Casuarina family, at first glance can look like a conifer or pine tree, but fuller in habit. Its overall texture and colour is very similar to She Oaks when they are… Read more ›

21/07/2023

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Formal gardens, Hedge, Natives for containers, Screening plants, Small tree, Tropical garden

Autumn Flowering, bird-attracting, casuarina family, christmas tree, cone, dense habit, fence screening, foliage contrast, full sun, Gymnostoma australianum, part shade, privacy screen, prolific flowers, QLD species, rainforest species, well drained soil, wind break

Merry NSW Christmas Bush: Ceratopetalum gummiferum

I am a bit of a Grinch when it comes to Christmas and often one of the things which pulls me our of my un-festive slump is our Ceratopetalum gummiferum or native Christmas Bush. This year I was a little… Read more ›

23/12/2022 2 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Coastal, Feature shrub, Formal gardens, Hedge, Illawarra natives, Landscape Design, Medium Tree, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small tree

Australian Native Garden, bee attracting, Ceratopetalum albury's christmas, Ceratopetalum gummiferum, Christmas bush, cut flower, dense habit, feature tree, Festive, flowers and bracts, native bees, Pollinator Plants, Red flowers, spring flowering, summer flowering, well drained soil

Portfolio: Haberfield Landscape Design

The brief for this front garden in Sydney’s inner west was to create a modern native garden which is sympathetic to the era of the house and show cases an Art Deco water feature passed down through the family. The… Read more ›

30/07/2021

Kath Gadd

AILDM, Bird attracting, Feature shrub, Formal gardens, Landscape Design, Ornamental grass, Portfolio, Shade tolerant, Small tree, Uncategorized, Water plants, Winter flowering

Acacia 'Limelight' grafted Standard, Banksia 'Coastal Cushions', Border planting, clay soils, Decomposed Crushed Granite, foliage contrast, Grevillea rhyolitica 'Cherry Cluster', Hakea francisiana Grafted, large flower, Lomandra 'Mist', low mounding shrub, Melaleuca 'Mini Quini', Porphyry stone, understory planting, water feature, weeping habit, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii

To clip or not to clip …

Sometimes I find native gardens lack a little….structure. Its lovely to have a bush style garden with lots of flowing foliage and a naturalistic feel, however I am a big fan of breaking that up with some stronger forms which… Read more ›

10/07/2021 2 Comments

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Formal gardens, Shade tolerant

Casuarina 'Green Wave', Correa alba, Correa baeuerlenii, garden maintenance, Leptospermum laevigatum 'Foreshore', pruning

Trialling Banksia ‘Sentinel’

This is a favourite coastal hedging plant of mine which I have been including in my planting designs for the past 7 years or so….sorry, I’m finding it difficult to keep track of time ? I say it is on… Read more ›

17/07/2020 10 Comments

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Drought hardy, Formal gardens, Frost tolerant, Hedge, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small tree

Banksia 'Sentinel', coastal garden, dense habit, front line coastal, silver foliage, wind tolerant

A unique feature: Baeckea virgata Dwarf

I spotted this delightful front garden in Crows Nest a few weeks ago, I loved it for its simplicity, it shows off one of my favourite low mounding plants Baeckea virgata Dwarf perfectly! Baeckea has had a few names changes… Read more ›

23/12/2018

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Butterfly attracting, Feature shrub, Formal gardens, Frost tolerant, Shade tolerant

Baekea virgata dwarf, bee attracting, clay soils, low mounding shrub, mounding habit, slow growing, street address, summer flowering, white flower

One My Favourite Grafted Grevillea Standards: Grevillea ‘Green Glow’

This post is about one of my favourite grafted grevillea standards, I actually have 2 or 3 favourites and unfortunately they are all a little hard to come by however all worth trying to find a place for in your… Read more ›

20/08/2018 24 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Formal gardens, Frost tolerant, Small garden, Winter flowering

clay soils, feature tree, Grafted Grevillea, Grafted Grevillea Standard 'Green Glow', interesting foliage, Modern Australian Native Garden, Red flowers, weeping habit

The ‘New’ formal Native Garden

When most people think of a formal garden the first images that spring to mind are rows of neatly clipped Buxus borders with some Robinia topiary and maybe a screening Camellia hedge. These are some of the easiest plants to… Read more ›

28/11/2017

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Formal gardens, Hedge, Landscape Design, Uncategorized

Acacia baileyana prostrate, Baeckea imbricata, Banksia spinulosa dwarf, foliage contrast, grey green leaves, Hibiscus insularis, Modern Australian Native Garden, Myoporum parvifolium, Rhagodia spinescens, weeping habit

The spot flowering habits of Hymenosporum ‘Luscious’

It’s no secret that this is one of my all time favourite small shrubs, I love it for it ability to grow in dry shade and still look green and succulent, I love it for its wonderful shape, sometimes lumpy… Read more ›

28/11/2016 3 Comments

Kath Gadd

Butterfly attracting, Drought hardy, Formal gardens, Natives for containers, Shade tolerant, Small garden

bird-attracting, compact habit, fragrant, Hymenosporum 'Luscious', large leaves, Scented, spring flowering, understory planting, yellow flowers

Portfolio: Garden Design Centennial Park Update

Last week I went on a mission to visit as many of my garden design projects as possible, to collect photos and catch up. I love re-visiting these gardens especially when I am doing a little garden maintenance at the… Read more ›

25/06/2016

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Formal gardens, Hedge, Portfolio

Acacia 'Burgundy Cascade', carpeting ground cover, fast growing, foliage contrast, Grevillea curviloba, Grevillea olivacea Red, Red flowers, Rhagodia spinescens, weeping habit

Importing soil to your new native garden

This image is of a new garden design project for a home that is currently being constructed, and I have been asked to come in early! This doesn’t happen that often, usually I don’t get to site until the house… Read more ›

17/11/2015

Kath Gadd

Formal gardens, Landscape Design, Naturalistic garden, Small garden

alkaline soils, clay soils, imported soil, sandy soil, Soil, Soil pH, water logged soils, well drained soil

Illawarra native garden full of fresh ideas!

I visited the native garden of a passionate native plant lover last week to grab some inspiring photos and ideas; and the garden did not disapoint. This is the 4 th native garden for the owner and she began building… Read more ›

28/10/2015 2 Comments

Kath Gadd

Feature shrub, Formal gardens, Hedge, Medium Tree, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Small tree

Acacia 'Little Nugget', Australian Native Garden, Backhousia myrtifolia, Banksia serrata, Buckinghamia celsissima, Callicoma serratifolia, Eucalyptus 'Dwarf Orange', feature tree, lawn substitute, Leucophyta brownii, Melaleuca hypericifolia, Olearia tomentosa, Planchonella australis, rainforest species, Westringia 'Smokey'

Sandstone Plinth Bird Bath

This is the 2nd style of my plinth bird bath series, a half sawn and half picked sandstone pedestal. I am very excited about this base, it is solid sandstone 220mm x 250mm x 750mm and in perfect visual balance… Read more ›

06/09/2015

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Formal gardens, Landscape Design, Products

Bird Bath, wildlife habitat

Dodonaea Hedges

Dodonaea is a very useful shrub, it grows in heavy to dappled shade and also in full sun, it is a fast growing species that prunes and clips well and it is thick and therefore provides excellent privacy. Dodonaea viscosa… Read more ›

27/07/2015 7 Comments

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Drought hardy, Formal gardens, Hedge, Screening plants, Shade tolerant

Dodonaea 'Mr Green Screen', Dodonaea viscosa purpurea, foliage contrast, understory planting, well drained soil, wind tolerant

My Favourite Banksia spinulosa Dwarfs

There are many dwarf forms of Banksia spinulosa, so many it can be quite confusing and seem a little ridiculous when it comes to choosing one. There are slight variances in the foliage, the flower colour, the flower size and… Read more ›

03/07/2015 8 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Formal gardens, Winter flowering

Autumn Flowering, Banksia 'Birthday Candles', Banksia 'Cherry Candles', Banksia 'Coastal Cushions', Banksia 'Honey Pots', Banksia 'Stumpy Gold', banksia spinulosa cultivar, clay soils, large flower, understory planting, yellow flowers

Trialling Casuarina ‘Green Wave’

I love Casuarinas, all of them, from ground covers through to trees, their rusty red hue when they are in flower or lush green shaggy habit. They are tough, versatile and very varied in their shapes and forms. I discovered… Read more ›

28/06/2015 8 Comments

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Drought hardy, Formal gardens, Hedge, Screening plants

Casuarina 'Green Wave', clay soils, foliage contrast, front line coastal, Leucophyta brownii, wind tolerant

Portfolio: Centennial Park Garden Design

Thankyou so much for my garden, I really enjoy pottering around everyday and watching things slowly change, there is always something happening! This is a garden that has been totally transformed in the space of 12 months, the owner… Read more ›

06/03/2015

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Formal gardens, Portfolio

Acacia 'Burgundy Cascade', Acacia baileyana prostrate garfted Standard, Callitris oblongifolia Dwarf, foliage contrast, Grevillea curviloba, Grevillea olivacea Red, grey green leaves, Leptospermum laeviegatum, Modern Australian Native Garden, Rhagodia spinescens, street address, weeping habit

Exotic looking native: Rhododendron lochiae

There are several native plants that I like to use when either designing a planting that already has some exotic species established or when trying to convince people that not all native plants are straggly, open and dry looking. This… Read more ›

18/09/2014 4 Comments

Kath Gadd

Formal gardens, Natives for containers, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Tropical garden

cut flowers, large flower, rainforest species, Red flowers, Rhododendron lochiae, well drained soil

Myoporum Lawn: Myoporum parvifolium

I dislike lawn, not the idea of it but the maintenance aspect; mowing and edging, weeding and watering, fertilising and aerating, all this for a bit of green open space. I do like the idea of ‘green open space’ where you… Read more ›

19/08/2014 4 Comments

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Drought hardy, Formal gardens, Groundcover

carpeting ground cover, clay soils, lawn substitute, Myoporum parvifolium, white flower, wind tolerant

Bush Food Spheres: Citriobatus pauciflorus

I was quite taken when I saw these well clipped Orange Thorn a few weeks back in the edible section at Mount Anan Botanic Gardens, this section of the garden is kept quite manicured, bringing out the ornamental potential of… Read more ›

25/06/2014

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Bush tucker, Butterfly attracting, Formal gardens, Illawarra natives, Screening plants, Shade tolerant

Bush Foods, Citriobatus multiflorus, Citriobatus pauciflorus, edible fruit, Orange Thorn, Pittosporum multiflorum, Prickly, pruning, small bird attracting, understory planting, wildlife habitat

Portfolio: Crows Nest Garden Design

This garden in Crows Nest was designed at the beginning of last year and has been slowly and steadily taking shape. It is being lovingly built by the owner on weekends and through his careful attention and patience it will… Read more ›

29/05/2014

Kath Gadd

Formal gardens, Landscape Design, Portfolio, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden

Banksia spinulosa dwarf, clay soils, fence screening, Grevillea 'Green Glow' Grafted Standard, Grevillea 'Honeyeater Heaven', Grevillea candelabra'Pink', Syzygium 'Backyard Bliss', Syzygium luehmannii 'Lu Lu'

Wonderful Street Trees: Backhousia citriodora

I was driving through Huntershill and onto Ryde yesterday and I was overjoyed to see the most wonderful sight, rows upon rows of Lemon Myrtle in full bloom, planted out in the streets. Finally! a council using its head when… Read more ›

17/12/2013 3 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Bush tucker, Formal gardens, Medium Tree, Small tree

Backhousia citriodora, clay soils, feature tree, fragrant, rainforest species, summer flowering, white flower

CAD and a clean slate

This is a very large garden that is an ongoing project at the moment, yesterday was the first plant out day. I would say about 85% of the plants went in yesterday and today, Phew! it was a beautiful day… Read more ›

19/10/2013

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Coastal, Drought hardy, Formal gardens, Groundcover, Landscape Design, Naturalistic garden, Portfolio

foliage contrast, grey green leaves, WA, wind tolerant

Amazing nature strip garden with real street address!

Last week I went to a garden consult and this is what I encountered across the road from my destination, as I rounded the corner I nearly had an accident checking out these spectacular Xanthorrhoea! They have been planted all… Read more ›

13/10/2013

Kath Gadd

Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Formal gardens, Landscape Design

nature strip garden, street address, verge garden, Xanthorrhoea

Mallee Design

Native Garden Design & Consultation

Category Archives: Formal gardens

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The Bronze Highlights of Gymnostoma australianum

Merry NSW Christmas Bush: Ceratopetalum gummiferum

Portfolio: Haberfield Landscape Design

To clip or not to clip …

Trialling Banksia ‘Sentinel’

A unique feature: Baeckea virgata Dwarf

One My Favourite Grafted Grevillea Standards: Grevillea ‘Green Glow’

The ‘New’ formal Native Garden

The spot flowering habits of Hymenosporum ‘Luscious’

Portfolio: Garden Design Centennial Park Update

Importing soil to your new native garden

Illawarra native garden full of fresh ideas!

Sandstone Plinth Bird Bath

Dodonaea Hedges

My Favourite Banksia spinulosa Dwarfs

Trialling Casuarina ‘Green Wave’

Portfolio: Centennial Park Garden Design

Exotic looking native: Rhododendron lochiae

Myoporum Lawn: Myoporum parvifolium

Bush Food Spheres: Citriobatus pauciflorus

Portfolio: Crows Nest Garden Design

Wonderful Street Trees: Backhousia citriodora

CAD and a clean slate

Amazing nature strip garden with real street address!