Plant Finder

One of the earliest used Mediterranean plants, the deciduous Pomegranate is an excellent small tree for the garden. It has attractive orange-yellow flowers in summer; yellow foliage in autumn; bronze new growth in spring; and pulpy red and orange fruits.

Compact shrub growing to 2.5 m tall and 2.5 m wide. Leaves are shiny, dark green, narrow and pointed with a jagged edge. Flowers are perfumed, white in colour (with a pink tinge), 8cm long and are borne in clusters. Flowering occures during late winter and spring. Following the flowering is the production of black berries with a bluish tinge.

This plant is a dense rounded mound. Its leaves are green, thick, paddle-shaped and have a smooth edge. Its new leaves are covered with grey hairs and its flowers---formed in clusters--are white and perfumed. Flowering occurs in summer but in warm climates, can go on throughout the year. Following flowering is the production of fruit; bluish black berries that are also formed in clusters. Rhaphiolepis umbellata grows to about 2m tall.

Hybrid between R. indical and R. umbellata. Rounded shrub. Leaves are oval and slightly toothed at the tips, shiny green on top and paler underneath. New leaves however are brown-green. Flowers are produced in tall clusters, pale-pink in colour and are borne from late winter through spring. Rhaphiolepis x delacourii grows to about 2m tall.

This small plant has small, narrow, greyish-green leaves. Flowers occur individually at the ends of the stems with yellow centres surrounded by white, papery bracts. Flowering occurs between winter and early autumn. Rhodanthe anthemoides grows up to about 0.3 metres high by about 0.6 metres wide. This plant is not drought tolerant.

Large shrubby plant. Leaves are roung, velvety and light green in colour. Flower buds are a deep burgundy colour and they are borne in winter. Later, these buds open to reveal bright yellow daisys. Roldana petasitis grows as a bush so height and width variable but generally not too large.

One of the most useful genera of Australian shrubs is the genus Correa. This species is quite variable, with different forms growing anywhere from 0.5 to 1.5m in height. It produces small green-red tubular flowers over winter and spring. This plant is a nectar source for birds.

Rosemary is a fragrant herb that is native to the Mediterranean. While most of us enjoy the aroma of fresh rosemary, today most people grow it for its culinary uses and ornamental qualities. It is an easy to care for creeping perennial herb suitable for the herb garden, perennial beds, containers, and rockeries.

Dense plant, forming a bush. Leaves are broad, light green with pointed tips. Flowers are not visible. Ruscus hypoglossum grows to about 1m wide and 1m tall.

A small, grey-leaved shrub from Mediterranean regions, Lavender Cotton grows up to 50 cm in height. It has tightly clustered foliage and form and produces yellow heads of flowers over spring-summer. It generally needs around 4 cuts per year to manage its form. This plant is drought tolerant.

Fast-growing tree with a spreading crown. Leaves are bright green in colour, heart to oval shaped with a pointed tip. In autumn, the leaves change colour to yellow, orange, red and purple. Flowers are greenish yellow in colour and are borne in late spring. Fruit is produced in autumn and this is in the form of capsules containing 3 seeds and covered with white wax. Sapium sebiferum grows to about 13m tall.

Dense small plant which spreads by suckering and layering. Leaves are small and bright green in colour. Flowers are a blue-mauve colour, are fan-shaped and produced along the branchlets in spring, summer and autumn. Scaevola 'Mauve Clusters' grows to about 0.2m wide and 1m tall. This plant is not drought tolerant.

Clump-forming bushy plant. Stems are green in colour and are not branched. Leaves are oblong, toothed, dark green in colour and about 12cm long. Flowers are star-shaped, deep pink to begin with, then gradually turning copper red. Flowering occurs in early autumn. Sedum 'Autumn Joy' grows to about 60cm in width and height.

Sedum spectabile is a bedding plant that has soft, succulent stems and as such is often used as a herbaceous perennial. It is a clump-forming, deciduous plant that produces spectacular star-shaped pink flowers in Autumn in large masses. This plant grows to about 45cm in width and height.

Distinctive succulent with spiky bluish-grey foliage. No leaves present and no flowers either. Senecio serpens good pot plant as it's about 2m wide and 15cm high. Looks good all year round, will quickly spread to form a carpet-like effect and fill in a large area, and only needs seasonal maintenance to nip off the flower stalks. Prefers a full sun to part shade position in well drained soil. Is very drought tolerant although will grow more quicky with regular watering. Suitable for garden beds, borders, rockeries, and looks great when mass planted. Ideal for container planting and hanging baskets. Great for coastal gardens.

This plant can survivice in almost any type of soil. The leaves are grey-green iris-like and about 30cm high. Flowers are a pale straw-yellow striped with purple on the underside of the petals. Flowering occurs in summer. Must keep well nurtured. Sisyrinchium striatum grows to about 60cm wide and 23cm tall. This plant is not drought tolerant.

Variable shrub with silvery-grey appearance. Leaves are round, dark-green and crinkled. Flowers are cream coloured and are surrounded by whitish leaf-like bracts. Flowering occurs in spring and summer. Tolerates dry periods and is frost resistant. Spyridium parviflorum grows to about 1m wide and 2m high.

Lamb's Ear is a tough and durable perennial with soft, silver, felt-like foliage. Growing to 50cm in height when flowering in spring, its felt-like leaves rarely grow to more than 20cm. Its vigorous growth can be easily managed by pruning and/or dividing the plants over winter. It should be cut back to tidy up and pots repotted annually.

Strelitzia reginae is a shrub-sized species. Its flowers are bright orange and blue in a pointed green bract edged with red, resembling a crane's crested head, hence the name. These flowers are produced from spring to summer. Its leaves are greyish-green and spoon-like with an oblong to lance-shaped blade on a long stalk. Strelitzia reginae grows to about 3m wide and 1.5m high.

This plant has a short tuft and narrow foliage. The tuft is green, blue-green or grey-green in colour and is grassy. Flowers are produced as spikes and are white to pink in colour. These are borne in spring and summer. Each flower has a trigger which is used to place pollen on insects backs. Stylidium graminifolium grows to about 0.3m wide and 0.3m tall. This plant is drought tolerant.