Plant Finder

A pink flowering sub-shrub that grows to 1m in height and produces pink-lilac flowers during spring. Like its close relative the Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis fruticosa) this is easily cultivated in the Cottage Garden. A hard prune every few years will improve plant habit and form. It resents over-watering.

Catmint is a low-growing, spreading or upright perennial with lilac-mauve flowers over spring and summer. It has a reliable flowering habit and pungent-smelling foliage. Many different varieties are available. Hard pruning after flowering in spring will produce another mass of flowers in 8 to 10 weeks time.

A relative of Parsley, this flowering perennial comes from NSW and southern Queensland. It forms an upright, feathery plant to 80cm in height and has white, woolly, daisy-like flowers over spring and summer. Best treated as a short-lived perennial and planted in a sunny, well-drained location.

One of the easiest flowers to grow is the Leek. Normally grown as a vegetable for its swollen stem bases, it can also be grown for its beautiful round heads of mauve flowers. These form over late spring and early summer from clumps of blue-grey ‘onion-like’ leaves.

A screening shrub for low screening and winter colour. A native of south-eastern Australia, this tough and durable shrub can grow up to 2m in height. It produces masses of globular, yellow flowers during winter-spring. Light pruning can further promote a dense, suckering habit if desired. Acacias are a food source and nesting site for birds.

Elegant tall screening shrub with attractive narrow foliage. Pale yellow flower heads open in spring. These wattles grow to about 5m. There is also a dwarf form, which is only 1m high and 2m wide. Can be used as a small shrub, or grown as a tub plant with regular feeding. The variety in this image is a dwarf form.

Erect evergreen shrub which becomes bushy with age. In spring, bright yellow flowerheads are produced. Leaves are reduced to flattened leaf-stalks called phyllodes which are mostly lance-shaped. Usually produced in winter or spring and found in tropical to warm-temperate regions such as; South America, Kenya, South Africa, Polynesia and Australia.

Tall, almost like a small tree. Usually open but can be bushy. The phyllodes are long and they are lance-shaped (also can be linear) with thin curved tips. 1-3 spikes of cylindrical, pale yellow flowerheads are produced from each phyllode in spring.

Tall plant with attractive foliage. Blue-green phyllodes are arranged almost at right angles to the stems. Pale yellow flowerheads are produced in clusters in autum and early winter. The buds are enclosed by brown bracts which fall off when they flower. This plant is quite hardy and drought resistant and grows between 2-4 metres.

Average sized, dense shrub. Leaves are large, green and triangular shaped. Flowers are yellow in colour, ball-shaped and are borne in spring. This plant is good for sand stabilising. Acacia littorea grows to about 3m high and 3m wide.

This is an arid plant up to 10m tall and 6m wide. This bushy evergreen tree has drooping foliage and has a pleasant demeanour with eye catching foliage.It can tolerate heavy soils and waterlogged sites. Acacia pendula is also highly drought tolerant, and moderately frost and wind tolerant. Weeping Myall prefers slightly fertile, well-drained sandy soils in full sun, and with occasional watering.

Large shrub, open in habit with short branches. Evergreen phyllodes are triangular and grey-green in colour. Flowerheads are bright yellow, fragranced and spherical and are produced in late winter and spring. Roughly 3-8m high and 3-7m wide. Mainly found in New South Wales and Victoria. It can be used as a windbreak or for shelter. Pruning after flowering is necessary to keep a denser habit. It can tolerate long dry periods, withstands frosts and exposure to coastal conditions. Preferably planted in a full sun or part sun position, Ovens Wattle can also grow in dappled shade.

Attractive massed bedding plant to 1.5m from Europe and Africa. Large dark green leaves provide the design motif for the french 'fleur de lis'. White flowers are produced in late summer. Acanthus should be grown in a spacious area. Difficult to eradicate once established. Considered dry tolerant, although it is not widely documented as such.

Native to arid Australia this silvery green shrub to 2m produces yellow open flowers from late winter to Spring. Moderately drought tolerant when established.

This is a spectacularly beautiful autumn foliage tree. It grows in temperate climates up to 15m high with a straight trunk and a rounded form. As a street tree it can cope with compacted soil. It offers a terrific autumn display, since the leaves turn crimson in fall. Claret ash trees accept sandy, loamy or clay soil. Plant trees in full sun for fastest growth.

This slow growing mediterranean tree has a neat rounded form up to 10m high. Its features include leathery leaves and red flowers in autumn. Edible seeds are found in the fruit pods of the female tree fruit. Carob is a chocolate substitute and this neat tree also makes good stock fodder. It is regarded as an effective hedging tree.

An eye catching black-foliage plant of the Common Aeonium, grown as either a succulent bedding or a feature plant. The fleshy leaves are produced at the ends of basal shoots. Bright yellow, star-shaped flowers from spring to summer. The plant is roughly 2m tall and 2m wide.

Often used for massed planting to define a path or road as it has a very regular form. The leaves are iris-like and green in colour. Flowers range from violet to blue to white in colour and are borne in winter and spring extending into summer. Agapanthus grows between about 70cm to 100cm high. This is not a declared weed in Australia but has weed potential in NSW, Victoria and SA. It is very tough and should be planted with care. Seed capsules should be removed if concerned about weed potential.

Originating from Mexico the plant leaves have a delightful striking form. It has a thick trunk, branching at the base with large green leaves. Greenish white small flowers are borne in the summer. The plant grows to about 1m tall and 2m wide and seems to grow across Australia, albeit preferring sheltered sunny spots in the southern states.

Ti-tree like bushy tree from Western Australia, with pendant branches and lance-shaped, bright green leaves with are 5-15cm long. Clusters of 2 or 3 white flowers are borne in summer. The plant is roughly 6-12m tall and 5-10m wide. Agonis' are grown mainly for the small fragrant flowers. A.flexuosa can tolerate frost conditions (around 0'C) for short periods of time. Fragrant oils in the leaves. Cultivars like 'nana' are more popular in gardens.