Small garden – Mallee Design

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… Read more ›

31/08/2023

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Butterfly attracting, Coastal, Drought hardy, Frost tolerant, Screening plants, Small garden, Small tree, Winter flowering

Acacia fimbriata, bird-attracting, butterfly attracting, Fairy Wren, figbird, fragrant flowers, Honeyeaters, national wattle, National Wattle Day, privacy screen, weeping habit, wind break, yellow flowers

Pittosporum revolutum and its eye catching fruit

This is Pittosporum revolutum, a medium shrub with jasmine-scented blossoms which flowers profusley in Spring and then is covered in decorative fruit in Autumn. When flowering the scent permeates the whole garden and is often commented on by visitors. In… Read more ›

14/08/2023

Kath Gadd

Hedge, Illawarra natives, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Small tree, Uncategorized

clay soils, decorative fruit, dense habit, figbird, foliage contrast, fragrant flowers, grey green leaves, Illawarra natives, narrow habit, perfume, Satin Bowerbird, spring flowering, understory planting, wind tolerant, yellow flowers

The adaptable possibilities of: Banksia plagiocarpa

This Banksia not only has beautiful flowers but also eye-catching bright red new growth that is covered in tiny hairs giving it a velvety texture, similar to the new growth on Banksia robur. Banksia plagiocarpa has great ornamental potential in… Read more ›

22/06/2023

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Small garden, Tropical garden, Winter flowering

Australian Native Garden, banksia plagiocarpa, bee attracting, bird-attracting, drought tolerant, large flower, long flowering period, medium shrub, Native Garden Design, temporary inundation, well drained soil, wet weather

Australian Native Plants in Japan

It was inevitable that I wouldn’t be able to turn off my native plant nerd brain whilst overseas in Japan last month…. I tried, I really did. I took photos of Japanese plants, seed pods and flowers and researched after… Read more ›

16/02/2023

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Landscape Design, Medium Tree, Natives for containers, Screening plants, Small garden, Small tree, Winter flowering

Acacia baileyana, Acacia covenyi, Acacia decurrens, Backhousia citriodora, Brachychiton rupestris, Cissus antartica, Eucalyptus polyanthemos, Eucalyptus pulverulenta 'Baby Blue', feature tree, foliage contrast, grey green leaves, Hardenbergia violacea, Indoor plant, Leptospermum brachyandrum 'Silver', well drained soil, yellow flowers

A true carpeting ground cover: Pratia pedunculata

This is a native ground cover which sometimes gets classed as a steppable (not a real word ;)), meaning it works well between steppers and pavers and can be walked on occasionally without too much fuss. I like to use… Read more ›

08/11/2022 3 Comments

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Frost tolerant, Groundcover, Shade tolerant, Small garden

carpeting ground cover, clay soils, full sun, lawn pavers, lawn substitute, moist soil, native lawn, part shade, Pratia pedunculata, spring flowering, steppers, summer flowering, understory planting, well drained soil, white flower, wind tolerant

Bold Blue Tongue: Melastoma affine

The colour of this flower is contentious, is it purple or deep pink? it also looks different in the flesh as opposed to on screen and it comes in a white form. This is Melastoma affine, a medium shrub found… Read more ›

12/09/2022

Kath Gadd

Bush tucker, Shade tolerant, Small garden

bee attracting, Bush Foods, clay soils, edible fruit, large flower, moist shade, moist soil, purple flower, spring flowering, subtropical species, tropical species, understory planting, well drained soil

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… Read more ›

11/05/2021 2 Comments

Kath Gadd

Butterfly attracting, Drought hardy, Illawarra natives, Shade tolerant, Small garden

drought tolerant, frost tolerant, Indigofera australis, pink flowers, purple flowers, Quick growing, shade tolerant, spring flowering, understory planting, weeping habit

But what’s the difference? Banksia spinulosa Dwarfs

There are so many different cultivars now of Banksia spinulosa that it is difficult to know which to choose… although they all look similar independently when you see them next to each other whilst they are flowering they really do… Read more ›

28/04/2021 2 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Frost tolerant, Groundcover, Natives for containers, Small garden, Winter flowering

Autumn Flowering, Banksia 'Birthday Candles', Banksia 'Cherry Candles', Banksia 'Coastal Cushions', Banksia 'Honey Pots', Banksia 'Stumpy Gold', banksia spinulosa cultivar, Banksia spinulosa dwarf, Banksia spinulosa Dwarfs, bee attracting, dense habit, drought tolerant, large flower, low mounding shrub, low spreading habit, slow growing

Happy Eucalypt Day! Eucalyptus pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’

National Eucalypt Day is an initiative of Eucalypt Australia that aims to raise awareness of Eucalypts and celebrate the important place that they hold in the hearts and lives of Australians. I have taken some photos of one of my… Read more ›

23/03/2021 3 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Butterfly attracting, Coastal, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Small garden, Small tree, Uncategorized

Autumn Flowering, bee attracting, eucalyptaus, Eucalyptus pulverulenta 'Baby Blue', EucBeaut, feature tree, foliage contrast, grey green leaves, Mallee Eucalyptus, NationalEucalyptDay, native insect attracting, pollination

Small Scented Shade Tree: Leptospermum petersonii

I finally found a mature Lemon Scented Tea Tree to photograph which shows off its stunning weeping habit and shapely trunk and branches. Leptospermum petersonii really does make a wonderful small feature shade tree in the garden, the strong thick… Read more ›

17/01/2021

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Bush tucker, Coastal, Drought hardy, Frost tolerant, Screening plants, Small garden, Small tree

bee attracting, bird-attracting, Bush Foods, fast growing, fragrant, Leptospermum petersonii, privacy screen, Quick growing, shade tree, spring flowering, summer flowering, weeping habit, white flower, wind tolerant

Try something exotic! Tecomanthe hillii

How non native does this spectacular flower look?! It is the flower of the Fraser Island Vine or Tecomanthe hillii a gentle climber which is endemic to North Eastern Queensland. Tecomanthe hillii enjoys fun sun to part shade in a… Read more ›

20/10/2020 2 Comments

Kath Gadd

Butterfly attracting, Natives for containers, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Tropical garden

bee attracting, climber, large flower, native bees, pink flowers, shade tolerant, Tecomanthe hillii, tropical species, understory planting, warm climate, well drained soil

The Partying Pea: Chorizema cordatum

This outrageous little pea flower is growing in my daughters primary school, it thinks it is unassuming and doing its own thing, little does it realise what a show off it is! Chorizema cordatum is a wonderful South West Australian… Read more ›

15/09/2020 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Butterfly attracting, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Naturalistic garden, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Winter flowering

butterfly attracting, Chorizema cordatum, long flowering period, low spreading habit, orange flowers, part shade, pink flowers, prolific flowers, understory planting, WA, well drained soil

Dainty and Delightful Fringe Myrtle: Micromyrtus ciliata

This sweet little native shrub is in full bloom at the moment, it started in late Winter and can continue until Summer in some cases. Micromyrtus ciliata is one of those species which gets so covered in flowers that you… Read more ›

10/09/2020 5 Comments

Kath Gadd

Butterfly attracting, Coastal, Feature shrub, Frost tolerant, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Winter flowering

bee attracting, fast growing, fragrant, long flowering period, low spreading habit, Micromyrtus ciliata, part shade, sandy soil, understory planting, weeping habit, white flower, wind tolerant

Front garden makeovers

One of my ‘dreams’ is to walk down a suburban street and be able to admire one native front garden after another. I am always on the look out, when walking or driving, and the well-loved gardens (especially the native… Read more ›

07/09/2020

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Portfolio, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Small tree, Winter flowering

Acacia 'Mini Cog', Baekea virgata dwarf, Correa alba, Eremophila 'Nivea' Grafted, Eremophila nivea 'Beryls Blue', Eriostemon difformis ‘Star Sprite’, Grevillea 'Billy Bonkers', Grevillea sericea, Leptospermum 'Cardwell', Micromyrtus ciliata, street address

The Grevillea that ticks all the boxes: Grevillea ‘Winter Delight’

This low growing shrub is one of my favourite Grevilleas, it covers itself in pinky red flowers all through winter to attract the birds and the bees. It has a naturally dense habit which can only be improved with a… Read more ›

16/06/2020 4 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Coastal, Drought hardy, Frost tolerant, Groundcover, Small garden, Winter flowering

bee attracting, dense habit, Grevillea 'Winter Delight', grey green leaves, long flowering period, low growing, low mounding shrub, low spreading habit, part shade, pink flowers, Red flowers, small bird attracting, well drained soil, wildlife habitat

Portfolio: West Wollongong Revisit

The images in this blog post were taken of a local garden I designed a few years ago which has been filling out beautifully. The requested privacy is beginning to really take shape, the front garden has been reclaimed as… Read more ›

09/06/2020

Kath Gadd

AILDM, Bird attracting, Feature shrub, Groundcover, Hedge, Landscape Design, Natives for containers, Portfolio, Screening plants, Small garden, Winter flowering

Health Benefits of Gardening

Stress Relief, Connection to Nature, Connection to Community, Physical Health, Personal Growth ….just to name a few! I am no stranger to “stress weeding” or “stress pruning” for that matter. There is something indescribably satisfying about pulling unwanted weeds out… Read more ›

23/04/2020

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Groundcover, Landscape Design, Naturalistic garden, Screening plants, Small garden, Uncategorized

aildm_aus, Anigozanthos 'Landscape Lilac', Australian Native Garden, benefits of gardening, Eremohpila nivea 'Blue Velvet', Eremophila 'Nivea' Grafted, Everlasting Daisies, gardening, mental health, Modern Australian Native Garden, Native Garden Design, Rhodanthe chlorocephala ssp. rosea, stress relief, wellbeing

Portfolio: Summer Hill Garden Design

This tiny garden in Sydney’s inner west is very shady to say the least, there were three existing native trees in the garden competing for space. However, they are all relatively small and although they took up most of the… Read more ›

08/04/2020 7 Comments

Kath Gadd

AILDM, Groundcover, Naturalistic garden, Portfolio, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Small tree

Archirhodomyrtus beckleri, Carex appressa, Decomposed Crushed Granite, Dichondra repens, Leptospermum petersonii, Libertia paniculata, moraea robinsoniana, narrow habit, pathways, Phebalium squamulosum, Rhagodia spinescens, sandstone flagging, shade tolerant, steppers, Viola hederacea

Portfolio: Stanmore Landscape Design

This small garden in the inner west of Sydney is a sight to behold after the recent rains. It is hard to believe that most of these plants have only been in for 6 months, that is the beauty of… Read more ›

09/03/2020 4 Comments

Kath Gadd

AILDM, Bird attracting, Groundcover, Naturalistic garden, Ornamental grass, Portfolio, Screening plants, Small garden, Small tree

Softly softly: Eucalyptus ficifolia ‘Fairy Floss’ Grafted

These soft, gentle pink flower clusters belong to another grafted Eucalyptus (Corymbia) ficifolia dwarf grafted gum, this sweet small tree is called ‘Fairy Floss’, isn’t the name just perfect? This small feature tree flowers in the warm summer months between… Read more ›

29/01/2020 23 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Screening plants, Small garden, Small tree

bee attracting, Corymbia ficifolia 'Fairy Floss', Eucalyptus ficifolia 'Fairy Floss', Eucalyptus ficifolia grafted, feature tree, large flower, pink flowers, summer flowering, WA, well drained soil

Are native plants really drought tolerant? Casuarina ‘Cousin It’

When someone tells you they want a drought tolerant garden, what comes to mind? or you may be told a certain plant is ‘water wise’ what does this really mean? As the current drought wears on and wears thin and watering… Read more ›

30/12/2019

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Drought hardy, Frost tolerant, Groundcover, Natives for containers, Small garden

carpeting ground cover, Casuarina 'Cousin It', Casuarina glauca prostrate form, clay soils, frost tolerant, weeping habit, wind tolerant

I need to remember this fern: Blechnum cartilagineum

I am not very good with my native ground cover ferns, I have a handful which I use over and over again which I know to be hardy and pretty. I was walking in the Blue Mountains this weekend and… Read more ›

03/11/2019

Kath Gadd

Naturalistic garden, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Tropical garden

Blechnum cartilagineum, clay soils, dry shade, foliage contrast, heavy shade, moist shade, Reddish foliage, understory planting

Potfolio: Ashfield Revisit

I was very excited to be asked back to one of my favourite clients, to do a design for the rear of her property, it also meant I was able to have a proper nosey at the establishment of the front… Read more ›

01/10/2019 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Feature shrub, Landscape Design, Naturalistic garden, Ornamental grass, Portfolio, Small garden

aildm, aildm_aus, Banksia 'Coastal Cushions', Callistemon 'Little John', Eucalyptus 'wimmerensis 'Tuckertime Honey Pots', feature tree, grey green leaves, Lomandra 'Little Lime', Meeboldina 'Velvet Rush', Modern Australian Native Garden, Poa 'Kingsdale', Poa labillardieri, street address, weeping habit, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii

Portfolio: Northmead Garden Design

I was lucky enough to be asked back for some follow up advice for this charming native habitat garden in the outer suburbs of Sydney today. The renovations are finally over and the garden hasn’t faired too badly with all… Read more ›

16/09/2019

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Groundcover, Naturalistic garden, Portfolio, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Winter flowering

Mallee Design

Native Garden Design & Consultation

Category Archives: Small garden

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Archive

Happy Wattle Day: The Ever useful Acacia fimbriata

Pittosporum revolutum and its eye catching fruit

The adaptable possibilities of: Banksia plagiocarpa

Australian Native Plants in Japan

A true carpeting ground cover: Pratia pedunculata

Bold Blue Tongue: Melastoma affine

The little purple pea that could: Indigofera australis

But what’s the difference? Banksia spinulosa Dwarfs

Happy Eucalypt Day! Eucalyptus pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’

Small Scented Shade Tree: Leptospermum petersonii

Try something exotic! Tecomanthe hillii

The Partying Pea: Chorizema cordatum

Dainty and Delightful Fringe Myrtle: Micromyrtus ciliata

Front garden makeovers

The Grevillea that ticks all the boxes: Grevillea ‘Winter Delight’

Portfolio: West Wollongong Revisit

Health Benefits of Gardening

Portfolio: Summer Hill Garden Design

Portfolio: Stanmore Landscape Design

Softly softly: Eucalyptus ficifolia ‘Fairy Floss’ Grafted

Are native plants really drought tolerant? Casuarina ‘Cousin It’

I need to remember this fern: Blechnum cartilagineum

Potfolio: Ashfield Revisit

Portfolio: Northmead Garden Design