Best Australian Native Plants for Your Garden

There are so many different plants that you can use to take your flourishing garden to the next level. Keep in mind that there are so many different choices that are relatively exotic in nature from all around the world. Out of all of the different types that are currently available and growing around the world, Australian native plants are some of the very best that your money can buy. There are several different types of Australian native plants that have been applauded and praised over the years as being the very best options available.

Agonis Flexuosa

If you are interested in finding an Australian native plant that is great for coastal positions, then one of the very best that you can use is Agonis Flexuosa. It is naturally spreading, mounding and relatively low. Regardless of the inclement weather conditions that may affect your particular area or region, this particular plant has been widely known and publicly recognized for being able to outlast the salt-laden winds. It is also viewed as an effective protector when it comes to the roots of other plants that are nearby it, especially when there are drying winds that are blowing right by. 

Alyogyne

Within the Hibiscus family, the Alyogyne plant is a great addition that you should seriously consider as well. There are many people that refer to this specific plant as Blue Hibiscus as well. Contrary to popular belief, its name actually has nothing to do with it coloring but more so with its foliage instead. Each flower is different, but these plants will thrive very well when it comes to drained soils, especially in sub-tropical regions with cool temperatures. Once they have quickly reshaped after their feathers have been ruffled and the flowering phase is finally over.

Banksia Sentinel

Banksia Sentinel plants are great choices when it comes to covering narrow areas along walls and fence lines that are otherwise relatively difficult to cover. These plants are known for growing at least two meters in height. If it becomes a little too high to the point of causing damage to your property, you can very easily trim the leaves that are getting in the way, which will also create a habit that is much denser as well. Due to its overall design and style, the Banksia Sentinel has been viewed as being one of the very best plants for landscaping purposes for quite some time.

Bauera Rubioides

The simplistic yet captivating design and pattern of this particular plant makes it one of the most appealing options when it comes to finding the best Australia native plants available today. You can use the same pattern that is found on these plants in order to liven up the fabrics of your carpet and rugs within your home in addition to the flourishing plants within your garden. When it comes to the background foliage, it is furry and green and even comes with an overlay of bronze. Throughout the year, you will even see a wide range of miniature flowers that are shaped like magenta roses. This particular plant is capable of adapting to the vast majority of different climates as long as you do your best to keep them watered. Even if you have a garden that is located directly by the sea, this plant will thrive and grow beautifully over time. Professional landscapers have mostly decided to use this Australian native plant when choosing flowers for a media strip or traffic circle as well extensive banks and broad planting layouts.

Dianella Tasmanica

There are so many different plants that have established a head start when it comes to size, color, scent and texture over time. One of the most significant features of this particular plant, however, is its overall function in addition to its reliability. This foliage has been able to reach astronomical heights of 75 centimeters that are known for forming clumps within the same width. Some of the most captivating features of these plants include the cherry red leaf bases that are very striking in appearance as well as the graceful flower stems that are also known for catching the eye.

It is basically a multi-purpose plant that looks great when it is planted along path edges and driveways as borders or even within containers. If you are interested in creating a simple yet appealing effect, these plants can be stored within large beds as well. Soils that are well drained and in cool to tropical climates are ideal locations for the Dianella Tasmanica. Even if there is a moderate level of frost, making sure that these plants remain protected from salty winds should be a top priority.

Dianella Revoluta

If you have been searching for a smaller version of the Dianella Tasmanica, then you will be greatly pleased to find out more information about the Dianella Revoluta. The Dianella Revoluta is basically a dwarf selection, so you will be able to receive the same benefits and beauty of the taller Dianella Tasmanica native plant but within a much smaller package instead. Unlike many other plants that seem to suffer when it comes to size, the Dianella Revoluta seems to thrive where many other small plants have failed.

It is the perfect plant to use for professional landscapers that are specifically searching for borders that can edge the driveways, sidewalks and media strips of their clients. It truly is one of the most flexible types of plants that can be used for a wide variety of landscaping purposes and home exterior layouts primarily because of its petite size. You will only have to worry about managing a peak height of 30 centimetres primarily because it is grown progressively by tissue culture.

Goodenia Albiflora

If you are searching for a bright Australian native plant that is guaranteed to make you smile as it brightens up your day, then you should aim directly for the Goodenia Albiflora. As one of the best Australian native plants, this particular option is known for its captivating appeal and colourful nature.

You can very easily pop this particular plant in with other tiny plants. If you currently have purple or even green foliage, then you will notice that this option presents a great choice for contrast as well. The silver foliage is also a major highlight that should be taken into consideration too. The colour and shape of this specific plant may convince you that it needs to be planted within a beautiful pot and left directly in the sunlight. This is a great idea, so you should definitely follow your gut instinct when it comes to making this type of move. It looks beautifully with other small plants, regardless of whether you have them featured inside or outside of your home or office building. In order to maximize its appeal and truly take full advantage of its beauty, then your best bet would be to bundle them together and plant them in multiple groups. Large flowers seem to always run up towards the stems between the winters and summer months.

If you are interested in attracting different types of natural beauty, then you will also love these plants because studies have confirmed that they can effectively attract butterflies as well. It truly does not matter whether you are planting them within a flourishing garden or pot; these plants can grow beautifully and bountifully within a spot that is drained well. As long as they are planted in an area that is semi-arid or cool, they will be able to handle light frosts as well as a distant and clear view of the ocean.

Goodenia Bonnie Prince Charlie

One of the most beautiful Australian native plants has to be the Goodenia Bonnie Prince Charlie. The plaid patterns that are waving directly through the different glens will truly make you think of an Irish culture or event, such as bagpipes and fabric kilts. However, you will be primarily blown away by the abundance of bright and vibrant colours for which this particular native plant has become known over the years. For instance, the bright orange, gold and scarlet clusters will truly make you feel as if you are in Paradise – especially if you have strategically planted them among a wide variety of other small plants as well. Even if you do not want to necessarily group this plant with other options, you can always just allow it to grow on its own.

Grevillea Longistyla

There are just so many different types of honey-seeking birds that seem to track down the Grevillea Longistyla throughout the year. If you are looking for a rather tall plant, then you have truly found exactly what you are looking for with this selection alone. It is basically two meters in height when it has reached its maximum point of growth and is visually stunning, especially when you are looking at this particular plant from a distance after it has been strategically planted among a diverse group of bushes and shrubs.

One of the most profound colors that seems to stand out the most from within this group is red. It does great in semi-arid and sub-tropical regions. If you want to get the best growth from these plants, then your best bet would be to make sure that they receive direct sunlight. Even though they can grow with indirect sunlight as well, you will be hampering the growth by doing so.

Grevillea Chrysophaea

If you are searching for a small plant that is featured within the Grevillea family, then your best bet would be to go with a Grevillea Chrysophaea plant. Keep in mind that it is 40 centimeters in height and can reach a maximum width of 80 centimeters. It has fine dense foliage and a wide range of flowers that blossom between winter and spring months, providing honey-eating bugs and birds with a great place to eat their next meal. Many homeowners can truly appreciate this particular plant when it is placed within a container that is placed on a patio or deck. It is notably charming when used within small gardens that have dense flowering. As long as you keep these plants in a climate that is semi-arid and sub-tropical within soil that is drained well throughout the year, you will be able to get a lot of life from these natural beauties.

Leptospermum Petersenii

One of the most popular plants that you will find strategically placed within hedges and softening the edge of rockeries is the Leptospermum Petersenii. It is one of the best Australian native plants that are dwarfs, primarily because of its astounding appearance. This plant looks cute yet tough and can truly last through a wide range of different weather conditions and natural disasters that seem to kill off many other flowers and plants rather quickly. If you are searching for a beautiful 50 centimeter plant, then your best bet would be to purchase this particular plant.

Lomandra

There are so many other Australian native plants that can be featured within this extensive list, but the Lomandra demands a high spot on this list. Lomandra is basically a vast collection of mat rushes that serve a wide variety of different purposes. There are some people that use this plant for its foliage while others may decide to plant it primarily because of its appealing characteristics. These plants are able to thrive in clay loans that are well drained as well as gravelly soils. Even when frost comes into the picture, there is not very much that can be done to break this particular plant.

The Bottom Line

Regardless of whether you are searching for a plant that has beauty and appeal or function and foliage, there are just so many different options from which you can choose from these Australian native plants. The key is to make sure that you focus on caring for these plants properly when you do receive them. Otherwise, it really would not matter which one you choose because it would not live long enough to be fully enjoyed.

Useful links:

http://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/

http://www.anbg.gov.au/index.html

http://www.chah.gov.au/

http://www.ala.org.au/

Australia: The Land Where the Wild-flowers Really Grow

Blessed with an envious abundance of varying growth environments, there are in fact about 24 000 different species of Australian native flowers and plants.

The parched desert conditions of the centre of the country may have only the sparsest and heartiest vegetation, but other areas of this majestic country are nutrient rich, lavishly hydrant and exceptionally fertile. The perfect combination of elements to bring forth wonderous plant life, vegetation and foliage. From gum trees to tomato bushes, Australia has a complete landscape of plant life to provide food, medicine and building materials.

Australia has many coastal plants and shrubs, forested areas and bush land. Different regions of the country provide unique habitats for home grown plant life. Some of the native species to Australia have often been harvested to plant in other parts of the world.

The results vary greatly when Australian plants are grown in other countries around the world. Some plant life and vegetation stubbornly refuses to grow at all outside the borders of its home and native land. No matter how well acclimatized the new environment may be to replicate familiar conditions; there are many varieties of herbs, trees, flowers and plants that will never be found in any part of the world except Australia.

Fortunately, there are just as many other plants, trees and bushes, that have discovered how to thrive away from home. Some of the most popular and well known Australian species have taken on a completely new life. These plants, trees and shrubbery are adapting to new climates, soil and water, and unusual weather conditions with such gusto that the Aussie natives have taken over the landscape, refusing to let anything else grow in the same habitat. (A regrettable example can be found in the everglades of Florida.)

Whether at home or far and away, the different species of Australian native flowers and plants are clearly among some of the most sought after flora in the world. A large number are regularly tested and studied by scientists for natural properties that promote the health and well being of other plant life, animals and even humans.

A Few of the More Well Known Species

With so many varieties of plants, it is impossible to list them all here. However, there are some very well known species that are used in different applications around the world that many people are surprised to learn are native to the soils of Australia. Names of plants, trees and flowers you hear every day may indeed be from the land down under.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus

When we think of eucalyptus, koalas quickly come to mind. Some varieties of eucalyptus leaves are the only food that is eaten by many types of koalas. However, the eucalyptus has a diverse amount of uses for its approximately 700 different native grown species.

Offering a humble home for a host of wildlife from birds to small animals, the eucalyptus is a variety of gum tree. The oil from the large leaves is used in many medicinal products as well as skin care and beauty products.

Vapour rub and cold remedies take advantage of this natural expectorant to bring relief to head and chest colds, to help break up nasty congestion and phlegm. Muscle creams and joint rubs also use eucalyptus because of its anti-inflammatory nature, which provides relief for both swelling and discomfort.

Eucalyptus is anti-fungal, a trait discovered by early aboriginals who used the leaves to treat wounds. It is also used as an antiseptic, or the leaves are brewed into a tea to help bring down a high fever.

As a hardwood, the eucalyptus is an icon in the Australian timber industry. As far as burning it as firewood, the fragrant aroma of eucalyptus wood on a crackling fire brings a tranquil serenity unmatched by other burnable woods. The pleasant scent of the eucalyptus can be found in many other products used around the home, unmistakable and distinct as an Australian classic.

Melaleuca Trees

Not quite that familiar with the melaleuca tree? It comes in a variety of sizes from the very large 80 foot trees to smaller ones that are merely a few feet off the ground. Quite likely everyone in Australia is familiar with this densely populated native tree, but in other parts of the world, this tree is known by different aliases.

Sometimes called the paperbark tree, the smaller melaleucas are best known throughout the world as tea trees. The oil from the tea tree is among the most widely used natural essential oils in the world. Now have you heard of it?

Anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and antiseptic, the medicinal uses of tea tree oil are still being discovered and expanded upon practically every day. The natural healing properties can be found in skin care products, antiseptic washes, shampoos, body washes, skin creams and even toothpaste and mouthwash.

In recent years, tea tree oil has been singled out as a natural, non-pesticide treatment to get rid of head lice. Although there has not been enough scientific research conducted to verify how and why this appears to work, parents around the world swear by it.

Eremophila

While many of Australia’s native plant life is often cultivated to grow in other parts of the world, the eremophila is quite loyal to its homeland. There are perhaps 214 different varieties of the eremophila, all of which can be found exclusively in Australia.

Also known as emu bushes, the oil from this tree is another popular essential oil. Emu oil has a wide variety of uses but its most commonly used as in topical skin care products. Known for its intense rehydrating properties, emu oil is a favourite ingredient in natural body washes, shampoos, soaps and lotions.

Kangaroo Paws

This lovely plant is an Aussie relative of the lily family, whose scientific name is haemodoraceae. Over 100 species are in this variety of small plants, which have leaves that stretch out about 3 feet high and wide. The plant earned the name kangaroo paws because of the pretty flower bells, which are long and slim, looking very much like the paws of a kangaroo. The flowers do not carry much of an aroma, but are quite pleasing to view and ideal for certain types of birds.

Other Flowering Plants

Australia has a huge selection of beautiful flowering plants that are often cultivated in gardens around the world. Bright, vibrant colours, delightfully shaped petals and hearty growth make many of the native flowers of Australia a gardener’s paradise.

Many of Australia’s plants and flowers make great features in the garden, while others are planted to attract butterflies or birds. With so many flowers, there is hardly a lack of choice for adding colour and texture to any display.

Some popular flowers include several members of the mint bush, such as the seven different species of the hemiandra and forty varieties of hemigenia, all of which are exclusive to Australian soil.

In fact, for almost every major plant family, there are at least a few varieties that can only be found and grown in Australia. Daisies, acacia, hakea and many flowering pea plants are native to the country and keep their roots planted in home soil.

Weeds are Plants Too!

What is a garden without a few weeds? Plant life in Australia has many beautiful blooms and lush forestry, but it also has some rather interesting weeds. Many of the plants that were considered flowers a couple centuries ago are now in the weed category.

Keep in mind, a weed is a plant that has no purpose. No fragrance to enjoy; no beauty to admire; no benefit to the soil. Sometimes weeds are a magnet for other undesirables such as plant-destroying insects. James Russell Lowell once referred to weeds as “no more than a flower in disguise.” In the case of many of the weeds found in Australia, that is a fitting description.

Several types of plants in the wattle family such as cootamhundra, golden wreath and queensland silver, have grown too dominant to be considered anything other than a weedy nuisance. Even some species of melaleuca have overgrown their welcome is some areas around Victoria, making them treacherous to other plants trying to grow in the bush.

Interestingly enough, some of the plants that originated in Australia and were harvested and seeded in other parts of the world, have become to overbearing for their host environment and been classed as weeds. Therefore, anyone looking to plant an Australian garden would be wise to avoid planting acacia, melaleuca, a.cyclops and other native Aussie plants. These are among many of the greeneries that are so adaptable to new environments that they become dominant to the point they bring peril to the growth of other plants.

Fire Proof Plant Life

The threat of bush fires is ever dominant in many parts of the Australian landscape. Most plants and bushes will burn quickly and spread easily to others in their path. However, there are some very hearty plants, both native and non-native, found in Australia that stand tough in the face of fire.

That does not mean these plants will never burn at all. It means numerous studies and tests have been performed to see how resistant they are to burning. Fire resistance means it takes a longer time for the plant to ignite. Due to their natural ability to withstand the heat, Australians in high risk fire areas are recommended to plant these varieties around their property. Plants will not stop the fire from reaching a person’s home, but it might slow it down enough to reduce the damage.

Some of the fire proof Australian plants recommended for planting include many types of saltbush, including coast saltbush, spreading saltbush, silver saltbush, old-man saltbush and several others. Rounded noon-flower, creeping emu, bottle bluebush, frosted goosefoot, white cedar as well as all twin leaf plants have been tested and found suitable for fire prone areas.

Ground cover is just as important to keep a fire from spreading, and there are many plants recommended that help keep the fire from engulfing the area. Silver mulga, narrow rock-fern, spotted gum, silver wattle, water bush, blackwood and dozens of other low growing ground plants will not burn when the first contact with fire reaches them. However, due to the nature of fire, these plants will very likely lose all their moisture content during a fire, at which point, the dried leaves will become vulnerable to flame.

Australia’s Garden of Delights

An intricate source of pride for so many, the many botanical wonders that cast themselves upon the landscape are a treasured garden of delights. Very few countries can boast so many native specimens. By comparison, England is barely a garden country at all, with only about 1700 different plants that are native to the country. Of-course, finding new, undiscovered plant life in Australia’s vast forests and bush land does happen from time to time.

Will there ever be an exact number? It is highly unlikely. Some species have become endangered due to environmental changes. Fires have greatly reduced some fragile greenery, and the introduction of non-native plant life over the centuries has pushed out some weaker native species.

Nevertheless, Australia will continue to be one of the best places to look at when it comes to finding variety, colour, fragrance and diversity in all forms of plant life. Scientists will continue to explore the vast properties and characteristics of different vegetation to bring new medicine to the human race.

We are majestically humbled when we look at the immensity of the different species of Australian native flowers and plants. Indeed, it does make the human race rather insignificant by comparison.

Whether strolling by the garden gate, resting beneath a shady tree with a good book, or filling the air with aromatic presence of eucalyptus, there is no part of the world that has not been touched, changed and made better by the wonder of Australian plant life.

Useful links:
Australian flora | australia.gov.au
Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)
Florabank
Greening Australia
Planting the Seeds of a Healthy Environment