purple flowers – Mallee Design

The purple punch of Prostanthera ovalifolia

There is something about this particular shade of purple that is both eye catching and calming at the same time, it’s a lovely vibrant lilac which covers the entire shrub and lights up a shady corner. This native Mint Bush… Read more ›

09/10/2022 3 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bush tucker, Feature shrub, Hedge, Screening plants, Shade tolerant

bee attracting, fragrant, fragrant flowers, medium shrub, part shade, prolific flowers, purple flowers, Scented, spring flowering, understory planting, well drained soil

World Bee Day: Plant Three for the Bees!

Today is World Bee Day and the slogan of ‘Plant Three for the Bees’ is like a call to action! Anyone with an outdoor space can plant three bee friendly plants, even if they are in pots or containers. Calling… Read more ›

20/05/2021

Kath Gadd

Drought hardy, Frost tolerant, Natives for containers, Shade tolerant

bee attracting, blue-banded bees, fragrant, low mounding shrub, low spreading habit, native bees, plantthreeforthebees, pollination, Pomaderris lanigera, Prostanthera cuneata, purple flowers, small garden, understory planting, Wahlenbergia stricta, white flower, world bee day, yellow flowers

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

Bee Friendly Gardening

Bees play an important role in our ecosystem and we rely heavily on them to pollinate our food crops and our native bushland, not to mention supply us with delicious honey. There are over 1,500 native bee species in Australia… Read more ›

05/02/2021 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Groundcover, Medium Tree, Screening plants, Small tree, Winter flowering

Angophora hispida, Autumn Flowering, Banksia oblongifolia, banksia spinulosa, Bauera rubioides, bee attracting, blue flower, blue-banded bees, Brachyscome sp., Bracteantha sp., carpenter bees, Conostylis candicans, Correa alba, Correa glabra, Dampiera spps, Eucalyptus leucoxylon, Eucalyptus paniculata, Gahnia sieberiana, Goodenia ovata, Guichenotia macrantha, Hakea laurina, Hardenbergia violacea, Hibbertia sp., Jasminum suavissimum, Lambertia formosa, Lomatia myricoides, Lomatia silaifolia, long flowering period, Melaleuca thymifolia, Micromyrtus ciliata, Myoporum parvifolium, native bees, Oleraria sp., Ozothamnus diosmifolius, Persoonia pinifolia, Phebalium squamulosum, Philotheca difformis 'Starsprite', Plectranthus sp., pollination, Prostanthera sp., purple flowers, Scaevola Mauve Clusters, Scaevola spps., Senna artemisoides, summer flowering, Tecomanthe hillii, Tetragonula, Viminaria juncea, Viola hederacea, white flower, winter flowering, year round flowering, yellow flowers

Screening with Hardenbergia violacea

This climber always surprises me every year with how aptly it lives up to its common name of Happy Wanderer. The little pea flower spikes really do have tiny smiling faces with bright green eyes. Hardenbergia violacea is a local… Read more ›

23/08/2020

Kath Gadd

Groundcover, Illawarra natives, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Uncategorized, Winter flowering

climber, dense habit, Hardenbergia violacea, native insect attracting, privacy screen, prolific flowers, purple flowers

The display gardens of Austplant Nursery

I have been away in Victoria for the past few weeks, camping on Wilsons Prom and then visiting native nurseries and gardens on the Mornington Peninsula. It was a wonderful holiday that has left me with a touch of post… Read more ›

23/01/2019 3 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Groundcover, Hedge, Landscape Design, Small tree

Two more lovelies for the Emu Bush Challenge: Eremophila cuneifolia and rotundifolia

I am still very, very slowly working on my Emu Bush plant palette, adding these two beauties Eremophila cuneifolia and Eremophila rotundifolia makes six, I’m halfway to my desired dozen…phew Both these species were grafted where I saw them in… Read more ›

17/09/2018 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Coastal, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Frost tolerant, Winter flowering

bee attracting, Eremophila cuneifolia, Eremophila rotundifolia, foliage contrast, grafted, pink flowers, purple flowers, silver foliage, WA, well drained soil, wind tolerant

Another top Paperbark: Melaleuca viridiflora ‘Burgundy Weeper’

This October has been paperbark appreciation month for me, I love melaleucas as they will grow so easily in difficult heavy soils and their flowers are rich in nectar for birds and bees alike. Melaleuca viridiflora ‘Burgundy Weeper’ is no exception,… Read more ›

31/10/2017 15 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Coastal, Drought hardy, Medium Tree

Autumn Flowering, clay soils, fast growing, large flower, Melaleuca viridiflora 'Burgundy Weeper', paper bark, purple flowers, spring flowering, weeping habit, wind tolerant

Purple Shades: Anigozanthos ‘Landscape Violet’

The subtle purple shades in Anigozanthos ‘Landscape Violet’ are quite striking when on mass, the flowers on purple stems open to reveal bright orange and yellows on the inside adding even more contrast. Anigozanthos ‘Landscape Violet’ is part of Angus Stewart’s… Read more ›

17/10/2017 18 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Coastal, Drought hardy, Natives for containers

Anigozanthos 'Landscape Violet', cut flowers, fast growing, purple flowers, spring flowering, summer flowering, wind tolerant

It’s Happy Wanderer Time: Hardenbergia violacea

When in flower this hardy vine or ground cover easily lives up to its common name of ‘Happy Wanderer’, the dainty pea flowers occur in purple, white and pink with a few extra colour combinations in between. Hardenbergia is a very small genus… Read more ›

23/08/2017

Kath Gadd

Groundcover, Naturalistic garden, Small garden, Winter flowering

clay soils, Hardenbergia 'Flat White', Hardenbergia 'Sweet Heart', Hardenbergia violacea, purple flowers, spring flowering, white

Silky Emu Bush: Eremophila nivea Grafted

This has to be one of the most tactile of native plants, rivalled closely by Adenanthos sericeus, with its silver white foliage and hundreds of purple flowers it is a coveted specimen for many gardeners. The bees love it too as… Read more ›

28/12/2016 40 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Feature shrub, Natives for containers, Small garden

bee attracting, cut flowers, Eremohpila nivea 'Blue Velvet', Eremophila nivea 'Beryls Blue', foliage contrast, full sun, grafted, natives for pots, purple flowers, silver foliage, summer flowering, well drained soil

Tufted Herbs: Patersonia sericea

I need to admit I am not very competent when it comes to recognising and utilising Australian tufted perennial herby plants in a garden. For some reason I get the Theliomenas confused with the Thysanotus and the Sowerbaea and with Arthropodium!… Read more ›

25/11/2016 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Ornamental grass, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Uncategorized

grey green leaves, large flower, Patersonia sericea, purple flowers, spring flowering

Portfolio: Glebe Re-visit

I have done it again, another sneaky drive by whilst in the area, and another very pleasant discovery. This garden is looking wonderful and full of flower and interest as we enter the dull colder months. This tiny front… Read more ›

28/05/2016

Kath Gadd

Feature shrub, Naturalistic garden, Portfolio, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Winter flowering

Actinotus helianthi, Eremophila 'Nivea' Grafted, Grevillea 'Ivory Whip', Philotheca difformis 'Starsprite', purple flowers, white flower

Good Old Native Daisy: Brachyscome multifida

Brachyscomes are one of those native plants that have multiple uses in a garden, they brighten up a dull corner, keep weeds at bay with their dense mounding habit and add interest and contrast to a layered mixed planting. They… Read more ›

25/04/2016

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Butterfly attracting, Drought hardy, Groundcover, Small garden

bee attracting, bird-attracting, Brachyscome multifida, carpeting ground cover, fast growing, prolific flowers, purple flowers

Great in the Ground: Alyogyne ‘Blue Heeler’

There is one problem with this plant and I have failed to use it in gardens even when my instincts told me it would be perfect. It looks terrible in a pot in the nursery….not something that can be helped… Read more ›

14/10/2014 2 Comments

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Drought hardy, Groundcover, Natives for containers

Alyogyne 'Blue Heeler', Clematis 'Southern Stars', large flower, purple flowers, WA, wind tolerant

Tetratheca thymifolia at its best

This is a happy little native shrub that exhausts itself come late winter-early spring by covering itself in delicate little purple or white flowers. The white form is not as hardy as the purple mind you, especially in periods of… Read more ›

10/09/2014

Kath Gadd

Feature shrub, Groundcover, Small garden, Winter flowering

Border planting, purple flowers, Tetratheca thymifolia

Shady Winter Purple: Hovea acutifolia

Hovea acutifolia always takes my breath away when I see it in full bloom, it is quite something. For most of the year it is an almost nondescript medium sized shrub that is useful for filling shady spots in the… Read more ›

28/07/2014 2 Comments

Kath Gadd

Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Winter flowering

clay soils, fast growing, Hovea acutifolia, purple flowers, Quick growing, short lived, understory planting

Portfolio: Glebe Re-visited

I went back to this front Terrace garden in Glebe a couple of weeks ago to do some follow up work; re-mulching and pruning and I was struck again by how quickly the garden is filling out, it is still… Read more ›

12/06/2014 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Butterfly attracting, Drought hardy, Naturalistic garden, Portfolio, Shade tolerant, Small garden

Actinotus helianthi, Banksia serrata, Eriostemon difformis ‘Star Sprite’, Hardenbergia violacea, part shade, Philotheca difformis, Pimelea linifolia 'White Jewel', Prostanthera 'Minty', purple flowers, white flower

Portfolio: Memorial Garden

This is a garden that was a quick consultation a month back for a Pre-school in Sydney. It is a memorial garden for a well loved teacher that passed away, and it was such a pleasure to be involved in… Read more ›

01/11/2013

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Bush tucker, Kids gardens, Natives for containers, Portfolio, Shade tolerant

blue flower, Dampiera spps, purple flowers

Australian Plant Society Open Gardens: Collins Garden Gymea

This garden was at the end of my garden visiting trail, the kids were getting grotty and I was beginning to think we should just head home. However persevering paid off, as soon as my son and I entered the… Read more ›

19/09/2013 2 Comments

Kath Gadd

Groundcover, Kids gardens, Naturalistic garden

Banksia serrata, Dendrobium speciosum, Doryanthes excelsa, large flower, lawn substitute, Microlaena stipoides, Omalanthus populifolius, Prostanthera incisa, purple flowers, understory planting

Portfolio: Glebe Native Garden Blitz!

OK blitz is not a word I would usually associate with my gardens, and its a rather over commercialised word, however it does portray something of the” makeover” aspect that a new garden can be.This is how I feel when… Read more ›

08/09/2013 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Portfolio, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden

grafted, purple flowers, white flower

shady planting

This is a great example of colourful planting in shade, it is a simple combination of Baekea virgata dwarf, Indigofera australis and Thryptomene FC Payne. The Baekea is the lime green mound on the left which naturally looks like it… Read more ›

31/01/2013

Kath Gadd

Drought hardy, Shade tolerant, Winter flowering

Baekea virgata dwarf, foliage contrast, Indigofera australis, pink flowers, purple flowers, Thryptomene FC Payne, understory planting