• 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…

  • the festive flowers of Baeckea virgata

    I have been admiring this lovely screening hedge on a busy road for years, always driving by too busy to stop when it is in flower. But at last I made the time to stop and photograph this row of Baeckea virgata in full festive flower last week, I think it rivals NSW Xmas bush…

  • The glossy leafed Eupomatia laurina

    This ancient flowering plant has a fossil record of 120 million years, it’s primitive flowers are a legacy from Gondwana. Isn’t that mind blowing!? The perfumed, glossy green tree with edible fruits is the perfect addition to a bush food garden. My Mum’s Eupomatia laurina is flowering and this is the first time we have…

  • Pomaderris Elliptica: feature screening

    After much sleuthing and a little bit of travel I have finally figured out which Pomaderris I saw flowering its head off in Cranbourne Botanical gardens last year. It only took a quick dash around Hobart Botanical Gardens, a few weeks ago, where I spotted it with a label! I am also guilty of planting…

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  • Correa baeuerlenii

    Here is another of my very favourite Correas that is such a useful plant in the landscape. Correa baeuerlenii or Chef’s Hat Correa is found naturally growing on the south coast of NSW on shady, damp sites, therefore it grows happily under large trees and will cope with periods of dry and also light frost.

  • So much Joy: Eremophila racemosa x maculata ‘Fairy Floss’

    This Emu bush is always a great performer in a difficult postion, providing so my joy with its multicolured buds and blooms. I have been growing Eremophila ‘Fairy Floss’ for a number of years now and have found it to be particularly tough and hardy. What I didn’t realise was that it is a cross…

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  2. Hi Kath We have a recently established costal Mediterranean garden in Victor Harbor featuring banksia coastal cushions along the frontage.…

  4. Great post. Thank you. Did you visit the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and if so did you find any Australian…

  6. Thanks Elly 🙂 I’m glad you’re finding it useful! Goodluck with your gardening

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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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