rainforest species – 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

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… Read more ›

06/06/2023

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Bush tucker, Butterfly attracting, Hedge, Illawarra natives, Medium Tree, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small tree, Tropical garden

bird-attracting, dense habit, heavy shade, moist shade, rainforest species, Reddish foliage, shade tolerant, subtropical species, Trochocarpa laurina, understory planting, weeping habit

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… Read more ›

27/04/2022 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Butterfly attracting, Feature shrub, Hedge, Medium Tree, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small tree

Autumn Flowering, bee attracting, feature tree, large flower, long flowering period, privacy screen, Quick growing, rainforest species, shade tree, Street Trees, summer flowering, tropical species, Xanthostemon chrysanthus, yellow flowers

White or Pink? How do you like your Blueberry Ash?

Elaeocarpus reticulatus is one of the Spring flowering native tree species which really knocks itself out during its flowering season. It consistently covers itself in the little white fairy skirt like flowers to the point that it gives the whole… Read more ›

16/12/2021 4 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Hedge, Medium Tree, Screening plants, Shade tolerant

bee attracting, bird-attracting, clay soils, Elaeocarpus reticulatus, Indigenous to the Illawarra, moist soil, part shade, pink flowers, protected position, rainforest species, Satin Bowerbird, spring flowering, white flower

As delicate as a rose: Archirhodomyrtus beckleri

This small feature tree really would fit in nicely in a garden full of roses, lavender and other English cottage style plants. The tiny flowers remind me of the blooms on climbing rose bushes and this pretty rainforest tree has… Read more ›

09/11/2020 2 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Bush tucker, Butterfly attracting, Screening plants

Archirhodomyrtus beckleri, bee attracting, Bush Foods, feature tree, fence screening, fragrant, perfume, privacy screen, rainforest species, Rose myrtle, shade tolerant, small garden, understory planting

Silver in the Shade: Plectranthus argentatus

If you are looking for a native understory plant to grow where no plant has succeeded before give Plectranthus argentatus a try. It will grow in the dry soil under large trees and ramble about filling in bare patches and… Read more ›

11/02/2020

Kath Gadd

Bush tucker, Drought hardy, Groundcover, Naturalistic garden, Shade tolerant

Bush Foods, Dianella caerulea, dry shade, foliage contrast, large leaves, Plectranthus argentatus, rainforest species, silver foliage, understory planting, well drained soil

Some like it hot! Buckinghamia celsissima

All this hot weather has certainly been of benefit to the Ivory Curl trees in and around Sydney, they are blooming themselves silly! This photos in this blog post are of a specimen in my mums garden in Wollongong, the… Read more ›

02/03/2018

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Butterfly attracting, Medium Tree, Small tree

bee attracting, Buckinghamia celsissima, clay soils, feature tree, Honeyeaters, insectivorous birds, large flower, native insect attracting, rainforest species, summer flowering, weeping habit, white flower

The Versatile Spider Lily: Crinum pedunculatum

I have only just realised how very adaptable this plant is after seeing it growing on the beach in Murramarang National Park last week, I had no idea it would grow on sand in a front line coastal position and look… Read more ›

23/01/2016

Kath Gadd

Coastal, Frost tolerant, Shade tolerant, Tropical garden

boggy soils, clay soils, Crinum pedunculatum, fast growing, large flower, rainforest species, Scented, summer flowering, understory planting, white flower, wind tolerant

Portfolio: Garden Design Mount Keira

Last Friday I completed the first stage of planting for this local project I have been working on in Mt Keira this year. I have written about this garden already as it is a very interesting brief, using only local… Read more ›

07/12/2015

Kath Gadd

Groundcover, Illawarra natives, Landscape Design, Naturalistic garden, Portfolio, Shade tolerant

creek planting, driveway, Hibbertia dentata, lawn pavers, lawn substitute, Microlaena stipoides, Oplismenus aemulus, parking area, rainforest species, turf pavers, understory planting

Why don’t Flame trees flower more often?

Brachychiton acerifolius is an amazing medium sized tree, when it flowers!!! Unfortunately I think I can safely put it in the same flowering category as Gymea Lilys, which is difficult… Doryanthes excelsa flowers on average after 7 years, Brachychiton acerifolius… Read more ›

24/11/2015 5 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Drought hardy, Illawarra natives, Medium Tree

Brachychiton acerifolius, clay soils, deciduous, feature tree, rainforest species, Red flowers

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'

Mt Keira: Site specific local indigenous species

There are two reasons why I am going to blog about this garden whilst it is still in the design phase, the first is that I am so excited to be designing a garden using local indigenous species to the… Read more ›

12/06/2015

Kath Gadd

Illawarra natives, Naturalistic garden, Portfolio, Shade tolerant

Citriobatus multiflorus, creek planting, Mount Keira, rainforest species, street address

Portfolio: Gordon Courtyard Garden Design

This small courtyard garden is part 2 of a 3 stage garden design for clients on the upper north shore. This was a middle garden that services a flat/studio attached to the main house, to say it was fairly un-loved… Read more ›

01/06/2015

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Portfolio, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Tropical garden

Acacia howittii 'Honey Bun', Banksia robur, Bird Bath, Ceratopetalum 'Johannas Xmas', Davidsonia pruiens, Doryanthes excelsa, Macrozamia communis, rainforest species, Rhododendron lochiae, understory planting

Portfolio: Gordon Garden Design

I am really enjoying watching the garden settle in, thank you for all your efforts This is Stage 1 of a garden I am working on in Gordon in the northern suburbs of Sydney. The front garden went in about… Read more ›

26/04/2015

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Feature shrub, Natives for containers, Naturalistic garden, Portfolio, Shade tolerant

Acacia 'Limelight' grafted Standard, Acacia aphylla, Baloskion tetraphyllum, Banksia 'Coastal Cushions', Dianella 'Little Jess', Doryanthes palmerii, foliage contrast, Hymenosporum 'Luscious', Juncus usitatus, Libert, Libertia paniculata, natives for pots, Philotheca difformis 'Starsprite', Pimelea linifolia 'White Jewel', Rain Garden, rainforest species, understory planting

Extremely fast growing screen: Homalanthus populifolius

You have to love a species that can pop up by itself, grow a couple of metres in a year and will do so in full shade. Well I do anyway, although it may appear uninvited in your garden (it… Read more ›

06/04/2015 13 Comments

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Illawarra natives, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Small tree, Tropical garden

clay soils, Homalanthus populifolius, large leaves, part shade, rainforest species, Reddish foliage, summer flowering

Portfolio: Connells Point Consults

I had the pleasure today of revisiting some regular clients in Connells Point for some follow up advice. I first began helping with this garden in 2013 and then planted and weeded some areas that were more difficult to get… Read more ›

31/03/2015 3 Comments

Kath Gadd

Naturalistic garden, Portfolio, Screening plants, Shade tolerant

Alocasia brisbanensis, Aphanopetalum resinosum, Banksia 'Mini Marg', foliage contrast, Hibiscus tiliaceus rubra, Hymenosporum flavum, moist shade, rainforest, rainforest species, understory planting, water logged soils

Portfolio: Leichhardt Garden Design

This garden was finished yesterday (Hoooray!) except for three plants I am still waiting for to complete the front, then it will be something else front and back. This small terrace was renovated a year ago and after a much… Read more ›

25/01/2015 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Bush tucker, Portfolio, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden

Acacia 'Fettuccini', Alpinia arundelliana, Austromyrtus dulcis, Banksia 'Coastal Cushions', Citrus australasica 'Rainforest Pearl', Dianella 'Little Jess', Modern Australian Native Garden, rainforest species, Syzygium 'Resilience', understory planting

Wombarra Sculpture Gardens

The Wombarra sculpture garden is best described by the owners own words below …a distinctive Illawarra rainforest native garden in harmony with sculpture. Gaby Porter and John Haymes bought the four hectare property in 1997 and have lovingly transformed it… Read more ›

14/12/2014

Kath Gadd

Bird attracting, Illawarra natives, Naturalistic garden, Shade tolerant

clay soils, Cyathea cooperi, Dipodium punctatum, Livistona australis, Lomandra hystrix, Poa labillardieri, rainforest, rainforest species, understory planting

Super Showy Waratah: Alloxylon flammeum

This is the QLD Tree Waratah, I have mixed feelings about this plant, there is something a little too showy about its blooms and whenever I see it growing in NSW it is always strangely devoid of bird life…why is… Read more ›

08/10/2014

Kath Gadd

Medium Tree, Screening plants, Small tree, Tropical garden

Alloxylon flammeum, feature tree, large flower, rainforest species, Red flowers, street address

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

The Temperamentally Fruiting Plume Pine: Podocarpus elatus

I am always excited when I get to taste a new bush tucker food, these Australian native plant foods seem to get a fairly bad rap when it comes to flavour and usually I am pleasantly surprised when something ends… Read more ›

14/05/2014 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Bush tucker, Coastal, Illawarra natives, Medium Tree, Shade tolerant

bird-, clay soils, feature tree, foliage contrast, Green Catbird, Parrot, Pigeon, Podocarpus elatus, rainforest species, weeping habit, white flower, Wompoo Fruit-Dove

Another Native Christmas Tree? Graptophyllum excelsum

Do you think this qualifies as festive looking? It is covered in beautiful bright red flowers over summer (and Christmas), lovely glossy green leaves, and has a sibling called a Holly, I think it ticks all the boxes. This is… Read more ›

24/12/2013 1 Comment

Kath Gadd

Hedge, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small tree

bird-attracting, Graptophyllum excelsum, Honeyeater, rainforest species, Red flowers, summer flowering

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

Shady Lilly Pilly: Syzygium wilsonii

There are so many Lilly Pillys around, different cultivars, that apparently grow faster, thicker, thinner, redder and so on, they are used for hedging everywhere (which is great, far better than Murraya) and can be a little over done. This… Read more ›

28/10/2013 4 Comments

Kath Gadd

Feature shrub, Hedge, Screening plants, Shade tolerant, Small garden, Small tree, Tropical garden

clay soils, pink flowers, rainforest species, Syzygium wilsonii, weeping habit

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The Bronze Highlights of Gymnostoma australianum

Lucious, Shade-loving: Trochocarpa laurina

Luscious, Dense and Green: Xanthostemon chrysanthus

White or Pink? How do you like your Blueberry Ash?

As delicate as a rose: Archirhodomyrtus beckleri

Silver in the Shade: Plectranthus argentatus

Some like it hot! Buckinghamia celsissima

The Versatile Spider Lily: Crinum pedunculatum

Portfolio: Garden Design Mount Keira

Why don’t Flame trees flower more often?

Illawarra native garden full of fresh ideas!

Mt Keira: Site specific local indigenous species

Portfolio: Gordon Courtyard Garden Design

Portfolio: Gordon Garden Design

Extremely fast growing screen: Homalanthus populifolius

Portfolio: Connells Point Consults

Portfolio: Leichhardt Garden Design

Wombarra Sculpture Gardens

Super Showy Waratah: Alloxylon flammeum

Exotic looking native: Rhododendron lochiae

The Temperamentally Fruiting Plume Pine: Podocarpus elatus

Another Native Christmas Tree? Graptophyllum excelsum

Wonderful Street Trees: Backhousia citriodora

Shady Lilly Pilly: Syzygium wilsonii